If you are a Christian and post frequently on social media, you will no doubt run into the social media atheist. I blog a lot about how to deal with these atheist, and this post is an actual discussion I posted on one of the many “Theist vs Atheist” debate groups on Facebook. If you do run into these atheist and they are posting that God is a tyrant God, that says to worship Him or He will toss you in with the french fries, then you should explain to them their error. This is the actual post, and feel free to post it yourself on your favorite social media hangout where atheist pop in and out with these ideas. Remember, they got these ideas from religious fanatic fundamentalist.
Here is something to keep in mind. If indeed Christ has visited mankind, and assured some of us of Himself and life in general (which if Christ indeed exist now, He would be perfectly capable of doing), then it would be also true that to preach against this “good news” of His would also be an indoctrination; and this indoctrination would be without foundation of any rational known truth that it is based on, full stop. Here are a few quotes to consider from the op:
“So teaching children that myths are true is OK with you”
Does this look like a statement from known truth, or an assumption?
“I think electric shock treatment may be a little more humane… give the kid a shock collar.” Whut?
“This whole “wait until they’re adults and can choose for themselves” always sounds a little silly to me. Think about it, teaching your children no religion, is teaching them an irreligious worldview.”
These comments show the two worldviews, and the ideology behind the them. I understand the reasons for the division, and I think herein lies the problem. Many Atheist assume that the teachings of fundamentalist religious fanatics (that are no more spiritual than the Atheist themselves) are representative of spirituality, or “true religion”. (Please, no ‘no true Scotsman’ fallacy comments. Popular to contrary belief, not all situations qualify for a fallacy just because someone thinks the words in a sentence are in some sort of correct position, and yes, I wrote that in the position I wanted it 😀 ). The following statement is NOT at all true…
“I can’t think of anything more evil than brainwashing an innocent child to live in constant fear of eternal damnation, can you?”
Although the idea may true and I agree with it, it is not consistent with the Christian doctrine. Christ, His teachings, and the message of the Gospel tells an entirely different story. According to Scripture, man’s “common ancestor”, Adam, by his own free will and choice did something that caused the spiritual blindness and death of our entire race, which is literally the “death and hell” mentioned in Scripture. If you look at this passage, you will see that hell, and the lake of fire are not even the same thing, and also a second death that corresponds with the phrase “being born again” (which is literally born again of the spirit, and the reason for the division and blindness between theses two worldviews)
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Rev.20:14 KJV).
So this hell is something we are all headed for, as many say, “by an inheritance of the natural evolution of Adam’s choice”. I’m sure nobody can argue this, lol (dreaming now). Christ came to redeem us from this natural curse of spiritual blindness and death, and offers a hand out of the pit, simple as that. There are many passages of Scripture dealing with the veil that is in place to blind mankind, and Christ lifting it allowing anyone to see the spiritual world clearly, again which if He exist now He would be capable of doing. God did not put us in this situation, our “common ancestor” did.
Another comment from the op…”This whole “wait until they’re adults and can choose for themselves” always sounds a little silly to me. Think about it, teaching your children no religion, is teaching them an irreligious worldview.”
Now I’m sure that some here are quite happy with the state of affairs as is, and there is a ‘dug in’ ideology that …”it just is this way, and that’s just the dim truth of life”. This couldn’t be further from the truth, and this same Christ has healed the spiritual blindness of all who have accepted His offer so far. So you can keep your “just is” death is certain ideology if you wish, the choices Adam faced are still very much available, and still very real, no matter what you “believe”…trust God, or take your own chances under your own power, which is what it is, and I do wish you well if you do.
This blog post is a good analogy of what is actually the Gospel message. Please don’t think I’m trying to acquire converts, another fundi occupation. If you want to jump off a cliff, knock yourself out. I think it’s sad, but I can’t hold anybody’s hand here, and wouldn’t if I could. I am simply relating a truth that many of us know to be absolutely true. We are also aware that some represent this knowledge as “blind hope”. It may have been hope at one point that led us to search for the truth, but once found, the truth has made us free from hope and uncertainty, and you can do whatever you want to with this information.
-Peace
Below is the blog post I attached to this post in the group. Below that is another that is really relevent to this, and a must read for any Christian that wants to increase their faith.
https://twocent2c2.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/a-morning-fable-the-greatest-pitfall/
https://twocent2c2.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/potholes-pits/