Where's the challenge?

[Zzyzx]

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Increasingly, it seems as though Non-Theistic arguments prevail in these debates.

Could it be that arguments in favor of supernaturalism only “work� if there is no opposition? They must seem convincing in church or Christians-only environments judging from the responses of believers – but don't fare well in open debate with strong opposition.

Could it also be that acceptance of supernaturalism is based on emotion and imagination rather than evidence and reason – and that “Take my word for it (or his or this book)� is the mainstay of religion and is convincing to those who believe what they are told (without verification)?

Those representing “Traditionalist� Christianity pass through regularly but very few stay to defend their positions after a few encounters with strong opposition (doses of reality). Non-Traditional Christians seem better able to present and defend arguments in favor of their preferred sub-set of the religion. They are wise to avoid attempting to defend all the baggage of Christendom and it literature.

It might be tempting to think that Christians are greatly outnumbered in the forum or that they post far less often – but that is not verified by site statistics.

Perhaps part of the answer is that Christianity is so fragmented that “fellow believers� believe very differently and do not agree with one another – or consider others and “not REAL Christians� (internecine warfare). There is no need for opponents to “divide and conquer� because the sects have divided themselves.

I personally think that promoters / proponents of all forms of Theism have chosen the weak side in debate because beliefs are just that – beliefs – not backed by evidence and reasoning. Quite often those beliefs are based on ancient folklore (considered “sacred� by many) that tells stories and makes claims that are unreasonable and are all but impossible to defend as rational.

Additionally, many Theists appear to be accustomed to discussing matters in church, Sunday school, or other Christians-only environment. Arguments that may seem compelling in that venue do not hold up well in the face of opposition and challenge (perhaps for the first time many Apologists have encountered actual Non-Theist rebuttals).

As someone has said, “When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.�

Whatever the reasons, the lopsided nature of most of our threads and the weakness of theistic arguments reduce the challenge in debate.

Other thoughts (discussion – not debate)?

[rikuoamero]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

Could it also be that acceptance of supernaturalism is based on emotion and imagination rather than evidence and reason – and that “Take my word for it (or his or this book)� is the mainstay of religion and is convincing to those who believe what they are told (without verification)?

Aye. I've come across two people this week (who will go nameless in this thread) who say they believe in what they believe because it's unproven. Not that they believe it despite the fact that they can't prove it on this forum (such as I can't prove my belief that I was a child prodigy who started school devouring encyclopedias), but that they think that their belief being unproven and unproveABLE is somehow a point of merit in their favour.

Additionally, many Theists appear to be accustomed to discussing matters in church, Sunday school, or other Christians-only environment. Arguments that may seem compelling in that venue do not hold up well in the face of opposition and challenge

If you're talking about who I think you're talking about, yes. That individual seems to be thinking that ALL claims made in ancient documents are somehow of equal merit, that historians have to give equal attention and care to ALL claims.

[bluethread]

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Increasingly, it seems as though Non-Theistic arguments prevail in these debates.

Interesting, it seems to me that there are an increasing number of discussions I have that end with me asking a question to which there is no response.

[Divine Insight]

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Increasingly, it seems as though Non-Theistic arguments prevail in these debates.

Interesting, it seems to me that there are an increasing number of discussions I have that end with me asking a question to which there is no response.

This necessarily has to be a figment of your own imagination.

What question do you think non-theists shy away from or are afraid to answer?

Please do us all a favor and ask it HERE. And let's see how many non-theists shy away from answering it or addressing it head-on should it happen to be a straw man question.

Moreover, if you aren't getting an answer to a question that you have repeatedly asked, why not start a thread on that particular question if you feel that it is such a STRONG question that non-theists can't deal with it.

For you to even claim that such questions exist is highly suspicious.

Would you be kind enough to post them here?

After all this thread is asking "Where's the Challenge?"

If you claim to have questions that "Challenge" non-theists now's the time to speak out.

[Zzyzx]

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Increasingly, it seems as though Non-Theistic arguments prevail in these debates.

Interesting, it seems to me that there are an increasing number of discussions I have that end with me asking a question to which there is no response.

If you will point out those unanswered questions with URL some of us will likely address them.

[bluethread]

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Increasingly, it seems as though Non-Theistic arguments prevail in these debates.

Interesting, it seems to me that there are an increasing number of discussions I have that end with me asking a question to which there is no response.

If you will point out those unanswered questions with URL some of us will likely address them.

I hope you will grant me the time to research them, since I have moved on. Unlike some, I do not keep record of such things, but consider them to just be the nature of discussion.

[OnceConvinced]

I hope you will grant me the time to research them, since I have moved on. Unlike some, I do not keep record of such things, but consider them to just be the nature of discussion.

You could always just start a new thread with one of those questions. I'm confident that there are no questions that we non-theists will try to avoid. We will always do our best to answer them.