Armageddun wrote:
A real Christian's job is to use discernment as he/she seeks truth.
People are satisfied with Christians as long as they shut up and keep their beliefs in the church or to themselves.
Strange how it is ok for Atheists and agnostics to share their thoughts and beliefs and not expect any rebuttal.
A sensible honest person who is mature enough to have a modicum of social skill , self control and discipline, religious or nonreligious, should not fear others thoughts or comments. Especially rebuttal. Reasonable debate between parties of differing views may tease out inconsistency or reveal heretofore unrecognized agreement. It is unfortunate to note the extent of hostility sometimes engendered when deeply held beliefs conflict with secular rights and preferences.
The faithful resist having their faith questioned or "disproven," as they have staked a supposed eternal life upon its veracity. The secular or scientific mind resists the notion of persisting too long in factual or theoretical error, considering the brevity of this short life precludes wasting time traveling down blind alleys. This may explain the energy these debates engender and the sting each sometimes feels from rebuttal.
Philosophy and religion help to anchor one securely to one's roots. To find meaning and purpose to existance beyond cold facts and dry understanding. To create and sustain human social connections of inclusion in family, community and the world at large. Less empirical, but equally crucial for human well being. Extreme fundamentalists of any ilk seem to have in common a tendancy to, once their core faith is defined, stop seeking outwardly, having attained some ultimate unquestionable state of perfect knowlege, or at least access to the source thereof. Their continued efforts are directed towards deepening their understanding and belief of their truth.
I would point out that espousing reason, logic and empirical facts as an approach to understanding the reality of the world around us, accompanied by an open mind to new understandings and a willingness to jettison a disproven theory in view of newer information has allowed us to progress in our understanding of the natural world, develop amazing technology, and progress beyond this planet into space.
Whatever else, it is clear that the withdrawal from each other into our private personal worldviews, shaking our heads at the recalcitrance of "the other" vs putting on our big person pants, organizing our thoughts and venturing into debate with an honest desire to increase understanding even if agreement is not possible, is the choice before us all.
There are also the unattractive options of derision, divisiveness, intolerance, hatefulness, war and mutual global destruction.