I Have Something to Say

I wish christians would learn the difference between evidence and propaganda. They claim they have solid evidence of their god but, when asked to produce it, they just spew out more propaganda.

They also seem to think self verification is valid - "the bible must be true because it says it is" - or employ circular logic - "god exists because the bible says so; the bible is god's word so must be true".

Some of us can see through all the deception but they also target impressionable young children. That is really beyond the pale.

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MartinII · 70-79, M

Do they claim to have evidence? The ones I know claim to have faith, which is a very different matter. They also show charity towards those who don’t share their faith.

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@MartinII Yes, they claim the bible and various other items of propaganda are evidence that their god is real. Some also claim that one needs to (blindly) believe in order to see the evidence - which rather negates the point of evidence. Many also look down with contempt on those who do not share their beliefs.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@suzie1960 Well that’s not my experience. And you have produced no evidence to support your assertions.

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@MartinII You've produced no evidence to support your claim that christians show charity toward those who don't share their faith.

Here's what one christian (Firechrist) wrote -
( https://similarworlds.com/19-Spirituality-Religion/1067165-Is-there-a-limit-to-christian-arrogance )
[quote]Jesus is the Son of God he is not just the figment of our imagination. Millions of people have encountered him and He has changed mine and many peoples lives in miraculous ways. People have died just to spread the Gospel. That could not happen if he was not real and alive.[/quote]

Here's an example of christian charity - https://similarworlds.com/19-Spirituality-Religion/822792-Do-you-have-faith-in-this-man-Is-he-your-God

Then there are those who flood this site with their propaganda. Take a look here - https://similarworlds.com/Lincoln98 He's claimed several times he has proof and invited me to look at it. The first few times I did so but I just wasted my time as I found myself just listening to more unsubstantiated claims and propaganda.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@suzie1960 A few examples are not evidence. I did not claim that Christians in general show charity towards those who don’t share their faith (though I believe that most do). I merely informed you that those I know do. It is also true of those I have known in the past. And what are your continual posts if not propaganda?

suzie1960 · 61-69, F

@MartinII Those examples are evidence of what I said. What more do you want?

My posts are expressions of my views and , [i]inter alia[/i] to counter christian propaganda. Unlike the christians I mention , I do not post propaganda in place of evidence. If you believe I do, provide real evidence. As you don't accept examples as evidence, obviously you will need to use something else.

Maybe some christians are tolerant of non-christians but a lot aren't. When I first tried to break free of christiaity I was continually harassed to return. When that didn't work they followed up with threats and even physical assault. If you had gone through what I did you'd understand my views a lot better.

MartinII · 70-79, M

Maybe I have misunderstood. I thought you were claiming that Christians in general, or Christians typically, behaved in the way you describe. To substantiate such a claim, more than examples would be needed. But if you are only claiming that some individual Christians behave in that way then there is no dispute, and examples of the kind you quote demonstrate it. One might add, however, so what? The same could be said of adherents to almost any religion or any quasi-religious belief system, such as political ideologies.

I’m sorry to hear about your own experience, and I quite understand how that might make someone hostile to Christianity or at least a particular branch of it. Mine is, as it were, equal but opposite. Having been brought up as a non-conformist I decided, aged 12 or 13, that I was an atheist and I have never wavered from that decision in the subsequent 55 years. My consequent withdrawal from Sunday School, the Boy Scouts etc occasioned no reprisals, just a degree of disappointment on the part of my mother. Much later I was married for 17 years to a Roman Catholic and was treated with nothing but consideration by believers with whom I came into contact, including especially the priest who married us and the priest who intoned the Requiem Mass over her body. Of course neither my experience, nor yours, proves anything more general about Christians or Christianity.