MarcoPolo

I got this recently from a christian trying to back me into a corner by describing to him the god of the bible how I perceive it. Obviously he would then turn around and tell me how I'm wrong and he wouldn't believe in that kind of god either.

I want to cut him off before he even gets started and I know I can rely on you guys to help with a comeback that he won't be able to reply to.

His quote:
Help me out!

cheetah

In all seriousness, I would respond to this guy that the god you believe in is the one as described by his "word" the Bible. I would use multiple quotes from the bible to support each aspect of his personality, and be careful of not "interpreting" too much.

However, in reality, he may still find a way to say you're interpreting the Bible wrong, and I don't have a snappy comeback other than the above.

john_v_h

The burden of proof lies with the person making the assertion. Unless you are asserting that there is no God (i.e. the strong atheistic position), it's up to the Christian to define his god and show that it exists.

I ate Pascal's Wafer

Yeah, I agree with John. It's not your job to falsify every concept of God out there. He is the one asserting that his god exists, so it is up to him to define and support his deity. The default position is not theism, and that you have a different idea of what God is than him does not mean that you should accept his concept of God because it is different than your own.

Also, accepting the existence of God is not about which deity sounds the best. You don't pick a god in the same way you pick fruit. That a deity is nice and friendly is not a requirement for his existence. God could be evil and hateful while still existing. Disbelief in God should not be based on the simple premise that God is evil (although it is a compelling argument for not believing in said god if he did exist).

-Nick

Family Man

Why not just tell him that you don't believe in any Gods? That covers all the bases.

Godot

I can't remember whom to attribute it to, but there is a quote out there along the lines of "I maintain that we are both atheists, I merely believe in one less god than you do."
It boils down to the idea that if they can rationally eliminate the possibility of disbelieving a particular deity, why can't they apply this same degree of reasoning to their own pet god? If a god concept cannot hold up to rational inquiry, then what point is there in believing in it anyways?

architect

You could always side step the question by asking to prove that the bible is true and accurate.

orpheus last chant

here is an answer to the question that i've put for 100 post thread on a christian forum. the quesiton was: what evidence supports the divine origin of the bible.

My faith in Jesus Christ was brought about by Divine revelation, and accords to what is plainly revealed in the Holy Bible. I have learned that God’s word is my final authority in all these areas. Yes, salvation is always by Divine revelation, and that is not my opinion, but the plain teaching of Scripture. You may see that as subjective or emotional, but that is fine. I cannot prove God scientifically, but there is very reasonable evidences for His existence of which I am thoroughly persuaded.

You do not have the luxury of such reasonableness, and what logic and rationalism you do have, is really a borrowing from my own Christian worldview. We think and reason because we are made in the image of God. That is why we possess logic. You cannot say such things with your Atheist worldview, you need to account for logic/reason apart from a Creator. No Atheist has put forward reasonable evidence for such things that I am aware of. Their arguments contain too many contradictions and speculations to really take seriously. Better men than me have greatly exposed Atheist thinking and I have studied it hard.

I have knowledge also which is consistent with what I find in the Bible. Science, logic, reason, reality, experience, wisdom, knowledge, good, evil, relationships, finances, parenting, morality, death, life, heaven, hell, spiritual, history, language, art, music, culture and most of all, my relationship with my Creator are all set forth throughout God’s word. I have been given “eyes” to see these things.
I am not perfect, and stumble every day in life, but my relationship with God who has made himself known to me, continues every day. There are good days and bad days, as I have very much to learn from Him, who speaks to me through His word and those that love Him and know Him.

Lord Bless
Mark

And yes Iulia, that mirage that mocks us, can indeed become real. I tell you the truth.


Quote:
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Isaiah 35:7 And the mirage shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of wild dogs, where they lay down, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.Literal translation.
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BigJim

Tell him you only believe in one fewer gods than he does. When he can explain to you why he doesn't believe in all those others, you can explain to him why you don't believe in his.

PopeInTheWoods

Sigh, another overdraft from the logically bankrupt account of presuppositionalism. OLC, tell the yahoo that wrote this that any other metaphysical system can make the same claim. "My worldview is right because it says it is".

Andy