Christians, is going on debates worth it?

[Sweetener_]

I know we go on debates to prove a point, but I'm starting to find it tiring. I can hardly have respectful debates out here, people are not genuinely curious their main focus is just to prove you wrong and call it a day.

People want to be my friend till they find out I'm a Christian. Any time I tell them I can't do certain things because of my beliefs that's when they think it's okay to go back and forth on the subject. This is why I don't have friends and I enjoy being alone because I'm tired of people not accepting me for me.

If I stick to just preaching God's love instead of preaching about the dangers of sin people will ask me questions about certain sins just to get a reaction out of me and argue, I think you all pretty know what I'm talking about. I just don't see the point of going back and forth with people. A minority of people want genuine answers while the majority are just rude and time wasters.

Yes

No

[AlexanderAnttila]

You need to now what people to give your time and energy to and what people not to. The Scriptures say: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
-Matthew 7:6

This means that there are people who will only mock you when you offer them the truth and the Gospel, and won't appreciate the message of Christ but rather "trample it" and "tear you to pieces" i. e. angry outbursts.

But as long as you can find the balance on who to engage with and not, you need to be speaking of Christ's love *and* the dangers of sin. There's no one sided coin with the truth, and we don't have the right to choose that only one part of the Bible is worth preaching. Now more than ever it is crucial to warn people of the danger and seriousness of being headed towards Gehenna, both unbelievers and false Christians. You should do one without neglecting the other as Jesus said. There are people as well, who needs tough love and needs to have fear of the Lord imbued in them rather than simply hearing of God's love. "and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
-Jude 1:23

If you only focus on, and speak of God's love and forgiveness you risk falling into the "hippie Christian trap" as I call it. Where there's mercy despite willful sin, and Salvation without repentance.

[AlexanderAnttila]

Another call to active apologetic is found in the verse: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."
-1 Peter 3:15

[Suziedicostah]

I found your opinion helpful to me.. I haven't read Bible yet. May I ask you regarding this topic by dm?

[Sweetener_]

Thank you! @AlexanderAntilla

[AlexanderAnttila]

You're welcome!

@suziedicostah Sure, I'll help best I can.

[Sweetener_]

*Anttila, sorry 😂

[AlexanderAnttila]

Since the "countess" resolved to be a hypocritical coward I'll make my closing remark here so that there's at least a public sensible finish to this exchange. What I mean by clumping us together as theists is that not all theists have the same kind of faith in God, nor believe in the same God, nor adhere to the same practices or teachings of God. A Muslim will not engage in the same way with believers as a Christian and vice versa. Hence it is unwise to treat us as if we all act the same and say the same things.

And that description is just your bias showing, it isn't an argument nor can you prove that is the case with "most" of us. You're just badmouthing us.

How ironic. You accused theists of dodging questions and critique, but when I tell you that I should get a proper response even if I say, offer a perspective rather than ask a question, you go ahead and do the very thing you decried. And this is exactly why many do not engage in these puerile fights. We see them coming.

[Suziedicostah]

@alexanderanttila I have sent you a message

[Suziedicostah]

@alexanderanttila also followed you

[Dchrls78104]

Consider Proverbs 29:9 : "When a wise man argues with a foolish man, the fool only gets angry or laughs, and there is no peace and quiet."

[BCRanger10]

I'm starting to wonder the same thing. I don't really care about insults or other goofy stuff like that because 1) my feelings aren't easily hurt and 2) it says more about them than it does about me.

Another reason I don't debate much is because I don't really have time.

But honestly, in my dealings with people who think differently than me, the majority of them aren't interested at all in having reasonable discussions. There have been a few recently that have been good, but most of the time, that's not the case. So in many cases, it's not worth the spare time that I do have.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing to debate.

Its really very simple, the default position (for anything / everything) is non belief with the burden of proof lying with the claimant.

This is the only way to know anything. It isn't something which is made up to discredit religion, it applies to everything.

As there is no evidence supporting the claim for the existance of God choosing to believe that there is, is a choice to separate yourself from reality.

I'm sure you have heard this before and that i am wasting my time, but the fact remains that this is the situation.

So, no, there isn't any point in trying to debate anything with you because you aren't interested in the truth and you are the one creating this problem.

[CountessSarah]

Theists are seldom interested in actually having debates - they want soapboxes.
I see it all the time. They just want to proclaim what they believe, and then leave without addressing any criticism.

I love this subject and am happy to discuss it with theists who are genuinely interested in debate. Unfortunately those people are few and far between.

[AlexanderAnttila]

I can't speak for the authenticity of all you've met whom you clump together as "theists", but Christians are extremely active in apologetics. But those who might not engage in long back-and forths might just have a very evangelical-focused mindset and desires not to entangle themselves in fruitless bicker, which is extremely common when discussing with hostile atheists or others and is indeed something the Bible warns us of.

[CountessSarah]

@AlexanderAnttila
That's just... confirming what I said. Dishonest theists who want soapboxes and just want easy targets who will unquestioningly accept whatever is said to them.

[AlexanderAnttila]

How is that what you said? I'm not saying that those averse to long back and forths loathe to discuss faith in any way, shape or form. Just that they are understandably on guard against "debates" that are really just nonbelievers wanting to scream at them how stupid they are. As I also said there's not shortage of apologetics. But there's a time and place for everything, so maybe you've engaged Evangelicals when you ought to engage with pastors and theologians. I really cannot agree with this whole "soapbox" narrative, because it sounds extremely prejudiced as if spoken from behind the computer screen by people who've had little to no actual talks with believers and it is far from my experience.

[CountessSarah]

@AlexanderAnttila
"... that are really just nonbelievers wanting to scream at them how stupid they are"
"I really cannot agree with this whole "soapbox" narrative, because it sounds extremely prejudiced"

The lack of self awareness is hilarious.

[AlexanderAnttila]

I don't see the need to be rude nor arrogant. If you're implying that I mean that I'm being hypocritical I really don't see how. There are many who approach believers in the guise of wanting discourse but only wants to shout at them. Not all, but many, and thus many Evangelical whose calling is to preach the Kingdom of God and Jesus' love, do not always engage with everyone who tries to start deep debates. Now, are you going to explain your reasoning or just make snarky commentary?

[CountessSarah]

You haven't asked a coherent question that warrants a proper response.

[AlexanderAnttila]

I clarified on why it might seem to you that "theists" do not wish for discussion, and why it isn't wise to clump all you meet together in the "theist" category, as well as going against your notion of "theists only wanting soapboxes" you denied that as a clarification and instead stood by your accusation. This was never about a question asked nor do I need to ask you a question to receive a "proper response" if the countess is familiar with decency.

[CountessSarah]

@AlexanderAnttila
Do you not know what theist means? It's just the collective term for anyone who believes a god exists. So christians, muslims, maybe the occasional hindu or jew, whatever. They all argue for slightly varying claims and different holy texts, but I'm talking about what they all have in common - bad arguments and often a refusal to acknowledge criticism beyond their initial comments, then they just run away or dodge questions.

"This was never about a question asked nor do I need to ask you a question to receive a "proper response"
Oh, well on the block list you go, then. If you just want a soapbox yourself, thanks for proving my assertion.

[Sweetener_]

@alexander she's not worth your time, trust me.

[slatyb]

If you say "I believe...", then no one can argue with that. If you assert that the Exodus was real, that's a testable claim and reasonable people may disagree. Or if you assert that everyone should behave according to the tenets of your faith, reasonable people may disagree rather strongly.

[Waldoe]

as a Christian... you must share the "Good Book" Christ Died because he told the Truth, and the Romans killed him. I doubt that anyone will kill you, but you might bring someone to Christ... Wouldn't that be wonderful? Maybe talk to your Minister, Priest, Chaplain or another faith leader, get some pointers... Christian share, they don't hide

[Lionman95]

No because debates have an aggressive admosphere. A debate never ends in a satisfying result people start to shout at each other and you´ll probably won´t make any point.

[KrakenAttackin]

The left is so wildly unreasonable and hypocritical. The left will talk all day long about how "awful" Christians are, only because they associate Christians with white Americans. The left has no idea there are more Christians in China than in the U. S. Muslims routinely execute Christians but you won't hear a word of criticism from the left.

The left is not to be argued with. We need to simply wait until the civil war begins than we can put their heads on sticks.

[007kingifrit]

debates do not seem like the correct forum for a religion because religion isn't about proof... its about faith

[supercutebutt]

Christianity has no facts. That's why you lose debates. It's all based on stubbornness, wishes and magic.

[JosyJosy]

Yes it is, if the other person is openminded enough, even if there is no agreement, you might still make a friend, or learn something from eachother

[Kas19]

Not a Christian, but no. You're not likely to convince others of anything.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

It's not worth it. While you can't prove God don't exist, no one can also exactly prove his absence so it's pointless.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

While you can't prove God *exist,

[jimmy2]

God bless you let your light bless all in your world

[JesseJayNeak]

Well, in a way yes because you can understand their POV and try to change people's minds. Yet again, science hasn't disproved His existence on a whole so I'm not worried about it

[Guffrus]

Science essentially has done exactly that.

The only reason that it cannot actually disprove it is because you cannot prove that anything doesn't exist.

But it doesn't have to.

That isn't how knowing things works.

The burden of proof is with your to prove that IT DOES exist and so far there is no evidence, what so ever.

What that means is that if you choose to believe in something for which there is no evidence you are making a choice to depart from reality.

[JesseJayNeak]

@Guffrus tell me how it did that

[Guffrus]

I literally just explained it to you.

[JesseJayNeak]

@Guffrus so tell me. On point of view, how did the universe form itself?

[Guffrus]

There is no point in trying to get into anything complicated if you are incapable of grasping and accepting why the burden of proof lies with the claimant.

So lets try to look at that.

If i go into my bank and ask them to give me money from my account they are not going to give it to me unless i can demonstate to them that I am indeed who i claim to be and that there are sufficients funds available.

The default position, for anything and everything is non belief. The bank has to assume that I am not who i claim to be until I can prove that I am.

[JesseJayNeak]

@Guffrus but why not? I just want to see your POV

[Guffrus]

Because you clearly know as well as i do that science cannot tell us anything before the start of the big bang because at this time we do not have any data.

So you are obviously going to try to tell me that God did it. This is called 'the God of the gaps'.

[JesseJayNeak]

@Guffrus that's what I believe. God did it. What about you?

[Guffrus]

Im not entirely happy with the way i answered that question because it doesn't really get to the heart of the matter with regard to what you asked me.

You asked me why I dont want to try to get into anything complicated if we can't get past the basics.

So the problem is, is that humans are terrible at accurately percieving the world and we really struggle with things like understanding probability. We suffer from things like confirmation bias. We also dont like not having answers for things, if we dont know something we tend to make something up to fit because it is irritating to not know, we say 'maybe this happened?' and a whole load of other ways in which we are awful at knowing things.

So in order for us to try to establish what is actually real we have developed tools of thought and methods to eliminate the problems. This is the point of science and logic etc.

Proof is required for everything and for at least the most part, if not for everything we are not certain about anything but what we do have are testable, working ideas which have validity and substance in the real world.

Without proof, we aren't sharing a reality we are forever isolated from each other trapped inside our own ignorant minds.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

No. Its a waste of time. The Bible teaches to avoid debates and strife.

[scorpion2662]

Muslims also have this. most guys or girls turn away from a girl of faith

[COMMODOREII]

Welcome to the club girl 😉

[strateguy632]

too bossy, good riddance to rubbish