Agree or Disagree? "Arrogant Pseudo-Intellectual" is a phrase that atheists should use to describe Christian apologists or "scholars"!?

Question

We're talking about Christians who even DARE to attempt a justification or explanation for all of the superstitious nonsense in their bible by using some sort of pseudo-rational, pseudo-analytical process of argumentation while committing almost every logical fallacy there is.

We're talking about Christians who because they were educated in theology at some college or at some "theological seminary", arrogantly assume that their apologetics conveys some sort of intellectual nuance when all it conveys is a level of conceit that blinds them to their own biases, prejudices and ignorance.

We're talking about Christians refuse to acknowledge any similarities between their bible stories and Bronze Age superstitions bout virgin births and sacrifices because the Bronze age occurred some 2000 years before Jesus?

We're talking about Christians who are unwilling to subject their own superstitions and dogmatic beliefs to the same level of scrutiny or critique that they subject their opponents to, which often is expressed in such clever and witty rejoinders as "can you prove that atheism is true"? Or "it takes just as much faith to believe that something came from nothing",... as though these arrogant pseudo-intellectuals have any iota of regard or respect for, logic, reason, or the scientific method in general.

In many regards these arrogant pseudo-intellectuals are worse than their fundamentalist counterparts and thus should be called out and condemned as such.

Agree or Disagree?

Answer 1

I agree, "arrogant pseudo-Intellectual" is a phrase that atheists should use to describe Christian apologists or "scholars."



But there is another class of Christians that also needs a phrase to describe them. That is the lay Christians who use the crap put out by the arrogant pseudo-Intellectuals, such as those who frequently post their stupid crap here on Y!A.



The phrase that we atheists (and even non-atheists) can use to describe them is "arrogant ignoramus."



There are some people who are ignorant about certain things, but who understand that they are ignorant and ask genuine questions in order to learn. They are not being arrogant.



On the other hand, the arrogant ignoramuses don't understand they are ignorant and ask ignorant questions based on their ignorance with no intent of learning anything but rather only to challenge because they ignorantly believe their questions (and answers, for that matter) cannot be answered, and they ignore the answers when they ARE given.



Most of the creationists who post here are particularly of the arrogant ignoramus type.

Answer 2

Hmmmm....



Do I agree that there are plenty of sickeningly arrogant, intellectually dishonest apologists? Absolutely, yes! But there are also some that are genuine.. People who are sincere about their motives, who don't deliberately try to manipulate people, and who are usually able to reconsider the information they present, and admit to making errors. They might still be misinformed, and ignorant, about a number of different topics! (As most humans are...) And they might have attended schools that only presented to them ONE specific, thoroughly biased side of the whole picture. But then again, MOST of us are unable to understand the whole picture! And I think the only thing you can really demand of people in that sense, is that they do their best. That they remain humble, and willing to admit potential errors. That they remain truthful, and do not willingly try to deceive their fellow humans. Then hopefully, as they go along in life, they'll keep learning more and more, and increase their own understanding over time. :)



I do think you're right, however, that MOST apologists aren't very genuine about it.. MOST of them don't seem to have that much integrity.. Take Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron, for instance. They don't really care if what they present is the truth or not! Their faulty arguments keep getting debunked, time and time again, but they still keep using them! Because it's not really ABOUT finding truth... It is about converting people, and earning money through that, at whatever cost! So they are perfectly willing to be intellectually dishonest and deceitful, if only it serves their purpose! Which, personally, I find to be completely distasteful, and immoral, and disgusting!



There are also apologists like C.S. Lewis, though... I mean, I'm not even a Christian, but I've always liked the guy! I liked his fictional books, as a kid. And now, as an adult, I've come to learn more about his arguments, and his role as an apologist. :) I do not agree with all of his arguments! Like for instance, I find the whole "liar, lunatic, lord" argument to be based on a very obvious false trichotomy. But... He also has a lot of interesting thoughts, and makes a lot of valid observations! And if you read his personal conversion account, it is a very beautiful, heartfelt and sincere story, of a man who experienced something very real, and something thoroughly life-changing! I think Lewis has obviously got integrity, and sincerity.. While he was alive, he was obviously NOT one of those charlatans, or "arrogant pseudo-intellectuals"... You don't have to agree with him. Like I said, I agree with SOME of his observations, and not with other ones. But I still very much admire the guy, and his experiences, and the beautiful, heartfelt way in which he managed to present his message to the world.. I guess being such a gifted author, probably helped him a LOT with that. :)



Also, I feel like pointing out that as a non-Christian, non-atheist, I see just as many atheists who would qualify as "arrogant pseudo-intellectuals." People who sincerely think the fact that they no longer believe in a god of any kind, automatically makes them a smart cookie, and intellectually superior to anyone who disagrees with them, almost by DEFAULT! I actually see far more arrogance, smugness, intolerance and unjustified cocksureness coming from hardcore anti-theists on here, than from any other group. And it really is not the slightest bit pretty!

Answer 3

Sounds about right to me.



The other stuff you wrote - I agree.



The problem with god-soaked scum is they think the words "belief" and "faith" are good things as if accepting moronic bullsh!t that couldn't possibly have any evidence is a virtue.



The religious morons also think everyone has beliefs. That's bullsh!t. If something has no evidence I throw it out. That's what any normal person would do. But there is nothing normal about cowards who are willing to believe any childish nonsense that makes them feel good.

Answer 4

I agree. Pretending ancient philosophical nonsense correctly describes the nature of the physical processes which govern reality was the height of Roman Catholic arrogance and led directly to burning countless harmless heretics at the stake because they dared to state the obvious -- that the objective physical realm exists independently of human mental processes.



To this day, people who have allowed their beliefs to overwhelm their knowledge continue to assert that their personal mental experiences amount to proof of God's purported existence. Sadly, humanity will never achieve its full intellectual potential until we are finally able to discard the superstitions of our ignorant ancient ancestors.



What still blows me away are the legions of deluded Christians who still doggedly pretend their personal mental experiences amount to proof of God's supposed existence. Who are these people and why haven't they been properly educated? Were they homeschooled? Were they raised by ignorant superstitious fools who failed to distinguish between objective physical reality and subjective mental experience? ...evidently, they actually were.

Answer 5

I don't like it when people are pseudo-intellectuals, but it is hard to figure out people, especially online. Like you, you talk very strongly, but I have a hunch you are a great guy. :)

Answer 6

I think Chris is right here. They do a fine job of proving their merit without help.

Christians are disassembling christianity faster and more surely than any outside influence ever could.

they are nasty, dishonest, and promote superstition.

Leave them to it, they are destroying their primitive superstitious religion from inside.

Answer 7

I'm not sure name calling is helpful in demonstrating that they are intellectually bankrupt when they prove it themselves with every word they utter.

Answer 8

Tis only nonsense to you, Because you have no idea what it is about and could care less.......

Answer 9

well, you can either listen to them who preach of Jesus

or Jesus himself.

in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

that the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ may be made apparent.

Answer 10

How come YOU can NOT FEEL any LOVE?!