Do Christians really think that public displays of delusion count as evidence?

Question

I was once at a social gathering and someone told a Christian there that I was an atheist. For the next hour, that Christian took it upon himself to try to prove that his religion was true to me. Right from the start I told him, “There is no evidence for any of the superstitious nonsense you’ve been brainwashed to believe, there is no argument for your religion you can use that hasn’t already been debunked and we have science now to explain the universe; your religion is a legacy of our ignorant and savage past. There is no god and even though I can’t prove that, it’s the default state until evidence of a god is discovered.”

He responded to me as though he didn’t even hear what I said but was merely waiting for me to finish speaking, “I stood in front of over 300 people and I publicly accepted Jesus into my heart; why would I do that if it was all just a superstitious myth?” I told him that public displays of delusion don’t count as evidence and I gave him an example of a jungle tribe of savages in Papua New Guinea who attach vines to their legs and jump off a platform in the name of superstition. “That seems like a stronger display of faith to me,” I told him. But he brushed all that aside with, “But they don’t believe in the true God and they don’t accept God’s word.” How do you deal with this kind of unrepentant stupidity and prideful ignorance?

Answer 1

Yes, they do believe that their own bizarre personal fantasy is not only real but convincing. For example when the pastor lay hand on them and push them backward to signal a 'fall out' they genuinely want others to believe god did that

Answer 2

Many of them do,yes.



Your mistake was speaking to the person.If you refuse to get into a conversation.Say hello if introduced.If the person asks directly either smile and walk away or say you make it a point not to discuss religion or politics.If necessary find the host/ess and ask them to speak to the annoy er.



I don't tolerate preachy people very well.This is the fiftieth year I've been an atheist.I was an atheist before I knew the word.Please,take my word on this:the less contact with "preachys" the more clarity there is to life.Reality is a truly wonderful place to live.

Answer 3

You just made yourself look silly. You even acknowledge that you cannot prove there is not a God, but presume to call Christians delusional. There is one level of delusion. When the evidence to the contrary of (insert whatever here) is indisputable then the word "delusion" works. Here's the m-w definition.



1: the act of deluding : the state of being deluded

2 a: something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated b: a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary ; also : the abnormal state marked by such beliefs



Indisputable evidence to the contrary is the key. If someone cannot provide indisputable evidence (not "lack of evidence") of someone's claims, then you cannot effectively call them delusional.



How would you explain our spiritual encounters/experiences? What science would you use? As for evidence, what you will accept as evidence appears to be much more strict, but that doesn't mean that what we accept as evidence is invalid. We do accept our experiences as evidence (public or private). That's faith for you.

Answer 4

It was wrong for the Christian to bring the attention to you like that it was actually very rude. My question to your post is why does it matter so much to you that someone believes in God? What is the problem? Many say that there are aliens, and that man never walked on the moon. Does that bother you?



Stupid to believe differently?-No, I think not. We live in a country that allows us to freely believe what we wish and to practice that faith. Be thankful you can say that you have many religions represented in your country that you do not believe.



I am a Christian and I know that just because you can not touch something it does not make it unreal.

Answer 5

he sounds like a born again. i found that basic christians will usually giggle and point when they find out they you don't believe in a god. they act almost astonished and simply amazed. a sure freak of nature, since they all assumed that everyone believed in the no name god.



born agains on the other hand are really obnoxious. and will spout off everything about their religion, and listen to nothing about yours. it's like they were saved a second time (from what i'm unclear), and they now have to return the favor by converting or convincing others.



my game - i tell them the benefits of the devil. telling them that i like him more than god because at least with the devil - you get the truth. if he's going to kill your family and make you watch, he'll do it. where as god will hide it in verse and attack you when your head is turned. then make you thank him for the service.



when you mention the devil, see how many times they yell Jesus - or something related. then reply - yes did you call?

Answer 6

I'm a christian and I would agree with your statement that public dispalys of faith are evidince of nothing other than the person's belief. Faith goes beyound reason. If I operated on reason alone I would be agnostic.

Answer 7

I don't deal with it.



Instead of calling him an ignorant moron I would've asked him WHY he believes in all of this stuff, challenging someone on these things will at least plant seeds of doubt if they don't make them begin to doubt during the conversation.



This person obviously wasn't listening to a lot of the stuff you were saying which means they weren't in the mood to learn or have their mind changed, they were in the mood to argue which meant they were in the mood to hurt



If I didn't want to deal with them, I would've told him to leave me alone before I called him an ignorant moron. Calling someone an ignorant moron to their face is pretty harsh and hurtful, these are things I try to avoid.



Ignorant moron or not, he's still a human being just like me and that makes us brothers who should love each other. Being the non-ignorant morons (pertaining to this matter anyway) the loving part would be up to me or you.

Answer 8

No, I can't believe nobody pulled him off of you, that is what is appalling to me.



The bible clearly states that these people will get their full recompense in the judgment, so if you are wrong - you will get to see it, if you are right, it doesn't matter. But it does tick me off too, everyone knows Im the type that would pull the guy off of you. I have mocked people publicly for doing that.



For example, a bunch of us were at dinner and we were all christians except for one guy. One of the guys makes a negative comment about jews, like he is gonna get them "saved". I butted in with, dude, why would he want to be like us if we don't know what we are talking about?



What would Jesus do? Probably throw a diaper on him, throw him in a play pen where nobody can get hurt.



What a person believes is reality to them, period. I can't make anyone believe anything. I can't even prove I exist.

Answer 9

No..Public professions or confessions of faith,are not intended to provide indisputable evidence for the existence of God...Public confession of Jesus Christ,is simply an act of obedience and evidence of genuine conversion...



btw,I profess Jesus Christ,as my Lord,Savior and coming King....Ok,now are you convinced or would you prefer my special water-boarding evangelistic technique?



Hang in their kid...God knows your address and is capable of revealing Himself..

Answer 10

I wish I had an answer for this. The same thing happens to me all the time. And I don't even start the debate. I don't wear a t-shirt that says "I AM AN ATHEIST". People hear I'm an atheist and all of a sudden they flock over trying to convert me.

Answer 11

The default state for which you should be in before evidence for anything is presented is agnostic. There is as much evidence for a deity as there is against it--none.

Answer 12

In order for you or anyone to say there is no evidence, such would have to know everything. If you do, please tell me how many grains of sand are there in this earth. Thanks that be great.



You assumed this person was brainwashed without any sufficient evidence. You dont know how this person was raised nor how any Christian was raised. No one does.



www.godandscience.org

www.carm.org

www.answersingenesis.org

www.evolutionisstupid.com

www.rationalchristianity.net

Answer 13

It's not evidence; it's testimony. It's proof to that person.



We don't really expect anyone else to accept it as proof.

Answer 14

King James Version Bible





John Chapter 5



43. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.



44. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?





2 Corinthians Chapter 6



14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?





Philippians Chapter 2



14. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:





Amos Chapter 3



3. Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Answer 15

A nice, unverifiable anecdote to support another one of your tirades.



I realize the other atheists out here eagerly eat it up unquestioningly, but the rest of us don't give your supposed past encounters much credit.

Answer 16

Absolutely. Just like public displays of being an atheist prove to the world you are better than us :)

Answer 17

As soon as you walked away...he probably had 20 christians walk up to him to reaffirm his delusions. It can't be beat. ******* lost cause to break that delusion.

Answer 18

Yes, and it's extremely difficult to debate a "true believer".

Answer 19

I suspect you have no basic manners.