So over the past few months I've been very curious about god and earlier in the year, I have attended church but as an atheist. Me being there really didn't feel right as everything they said to everything we sang to every quote in the bible announced, I didn't agree with. After two months of attending church, I decided stop. At the time, I wasn't as interested in god and religion as I am today so I didn't get a chance to ask them questions. So, in the upcoming school holidays (aussie) I am going to head back down to that church and ask them a few questions.
But before I do, I'd like to get some feedback from you guys and gals. If I were to ask questions (from an atheist POV), will they be open to my opinion about god/religion and take in what I ask and answer it logically or will they not be open and throw random bible quotes at me which really, is a waste of time? I have never been to church and asked questions before, because I was never interested. The only reason I attended church was because my parents made me so I don't know how the system works, if they're open or just not.
There are so many questions I want to ask but when I think about it, none pop in my head and I fear when I arrive at the church, asking a priest of a preacher or whatever, my mind will be blank, my lips become dry and speechless. So what would be some really good questions I can ask?
- Thanks, David.
Religion: Christianity
Questions I will possibly ask
1. What made you first believe in god?
2. There are so many religions all over the world, what makes you think Christianity is the correct path to god? (Because, I've heard Christians only believe Christianity is the only path to god)
3. If god is real, why doesn't he show himself?
4. Is heaven just something made up so people won't be afraid of what will happen when they die?
5. Why were there endless amounts of mistakes in the bible? If the bible be what you believe in, why do you believe in a book of mistakes?
6. Why does the bible promise prayers will be answered when many prayers are not?
[MOD - title changed to correct typo - Bikerman]
Last edited by Denvis on Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:35 pm; edited 1 time in total
| Denvis wrote: |
| If I were to ask questions (from an atheist POV), will they be open to my opinion about god/religion and take in what I ask and answer it logically or will they not be open and throw random bible quotes at me which really, is a waste of time? |
Depends completely on which church it is and who you ask. Some churches are very good and open-minded whereas others consist of complete morons, and everything in between.Well, for people who are religious, the Bible is real evidence. It is all we need to believe in God. Sadly, you either believe it, or you don't. The chances are better than not that they will try to use the Bible as proof. You also have good chances of them becoming....er...not mad, but possibly "unhappy"? (I don't know exactly how to describe it)
But along with that, the saying goes, "You may have better chances of being struck by lighting than winning the lottery, but you can't win if you don't play."
| tchaunt wrote: |
| Well, for people who are religious, the Bible is real evidence. |
Actually, none of my Christian friends believes that the Bible is the word of God.It depends on the type of church and especially the individual you speak to. In my experiences, a lot of pastors I've talked to are pretty humble and are willing to have a discussion. They tend to get hostile if backed into a corner though and sometimes will simply try to end the talk if they feel like they're being outsmarted. I try to avoid any religious person that looks like a nutcase and looks like they'd be impossible to ask questions.
Again, this is based on my experiences alone and I'm in no way trying to stereotype. The thing is, if you show interest in their religion or sort of imply that you're trying to "find God" they're usually very open. If you come in saying "there's no archaeological or historical evidence of Noah's Ark and the flood" you might not get such a great response.
| catscratches wrote: |
| tchaunt wrote: | | Well, for people who are religious, the Bible is real evidence. |
Actually, none of my Christian friends believes that the Bible is the word of God. |
Neither do I. The Bible was written by humans, lots in it originated from word by mouth accounts. There have been additions, deletions. Yet for me it has something spiritual in it. | catscratches wrote: |
| Actually, none of my Christian friends believes that the Bible is the word of God. |
Interesting. I am curious, though. If the Bible is not the word of God, then it is irrelevant, and it wouldn't matter if it existed at all(the Bible, that is). So, let's assume the Bible was never written. How would your Christian friends even know about God?
As for Denvis' OP.
What are your curiosities about God? What interests you in such a way that makes you want to attend church? Do you want to ask a preacher if God is real? I don't understand what you are looking for, so I can't really suggest what to ask them. If you have a general curiosity, then I would say just attend the church as an observer, forget about asking questions right away. Just listen for a while, see what they have to say about God to each other, and eventually you will come up with questions aplenty.
Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for. | Ophois wrote: |
| So, let's assume the Bible was never written. How would your Christian friends even know about God? |
Word by mouth? Probably how the Bible came into existence, people got to write it down. | Denvis wrote: |
There are so many questions I want to ask but when I think about it, none pop in my head and I fear when I arrive at the church, asking a priest of a preacher or whatever, my mind will be blank, my lips become dry and speechless. So what would be some really good questions I can ask?
|
Asking a preacher or priest would be a very good idea, but hopefully you'll find a good one like the one in the church I grew up in.
What makes one 'good'?
-Taking the time to take you seriously
-Not getting angry, irritated, or dogmatic when you disagree with something.
-You can somewhat tell a good pastor/priest from a bad one by the growth of that church. If that specific church is growing, he's probably a good one. If it is shrinking, he probably isn't that good. Of course, you can't take that too strictly, there could be a lot of other factors involved.
-Et cetera.
What questions should you ask? Only you can know what's important to you, so I won't attempt to. Write down a list if you have to. | Ophois wrote: |
| What are your curiosities about God? What interests you in such a way that makes you want to attend church? Do you want to ask a preacher if God is real? I don't understand what you are looking for, so I can't really suggest what to ask them. If you have a general curiosity, then I would say just attend the church as an observer, forget about asking questions right away. Just listen for a while, see what they have to say about God to each other, and eventually you will come up with questions aplenty. |
I've always been at least a little bit curious of god and religion. The bible and the false promises it proposes, the contradiction of prayer and god's plan, the afterlife, why they believe in god, how they exclude scientific evidence, stories and rumours on pedophilic priests and the list goes on and on and on. Although, If I decide to pop the question "why did you rape him? huh? huh?!" then I'd be kicked out. If you get what I'm saying.
The first time I've ever been to church was when I was at the age of 12 maybe earlier but I was only a child. My parents and relatives are very religious and it wasn't until I told them I don't want to attend church because I don't believe anymore, I stopped. The church I went to (a few months ago) was introduced by a friend. I have many friends which are indeed, very religious so I am heavily pressured, so I decided to check it out.
The church that I decide to attend this upcoming holidays is the same one I attended a few months ago. I've attended the church as an observer and I believe it's time to ask questions. I'm just unsure of how to structure an appropriate question which will not offend them or give them the impression I'm religious in anyway.
| ocalhoun wrote: |
Asking a preacher or priest would be a very good idea, but hopefully you'll find a good one like the one in the church I grew up in.
What makes one 'good'?
-Taking the time to take you seriously
-Not getting angry, irritated, or dogmatic when you disagree with something.
-You can somewhat tell a good pastor/priest from a bad one by the growth of that church. If that specific church is growing, he's probably a good one. If it is shrinking, he probably isn't that good. Of course, you can't take that too strictly, there could be a lot of other factors involved.
-Et cetera.
What questions should you ask? Only you can know what's important to you, so I won't attempt to. Write down a list if you have to. |
Hopefully I will find a good one, the church is ever-growing and new members are joining each passing week. I can get irritated really quickly when I ask a logical question and then they decide to throw a bible quote at me and attempt to rationalize what I'm asking. I don't believe I can ask all the questions I want in the one interview. So I was thinking general questions and each following Sundays I'll continue to ask more questions but go deeper. Maybe questions like...
What made you first believe in god?
There are so many religions all over the world, what makes you think Christianity is the correct path to god? (Because, I've heard Christians only believe Christianity is the only path to god)
If god is real, why doesn't he show himself?
... I can't think up anymore at this current point 
Well Denvis, it seems like you have got some good questions right there in your last post. It wouldn't be a bad idea to write them down. Take a note pad full of questions with you, treat it almost like an interview. The one thing that ministers will appreciate is a curiosity about their religion.
You mention that there is pressure on you due to the fact that many of your friends are extremely religious. I would think very hard about this. Subscribing to religion out of pressure from other people is absolutely the wrong reason to do it. If it isn't you, it isn't you, and you shouldn't pretend otherwise, just to lessen the outside pressure.
Well, it depends on how mischievous you want to be. For example, you could try
a) What do you think happens to people who DON'T accept Jesus Christ as their saviour? Do they all go to hell?
b) Do you think God is omnipotent and omniscient? If so then how do resolve that inevitable paradoxes that this poses?
c) Can you please explain, in clear terms, what is meant by the 'Trinity', and where the idea comes from?
After that it rather depends on which version of Christianity you are talking about. If it is Catholicism then I'd have some questions about transubstantiation, for example...
| Bikerman wrote: |
| Well, it depends on how mischievous you want to be. |
As much as I like the idea, I really don't like to provoke these people in public. I live in the South, and heckling religion is a bit of a no-no down here. | Quote: |
| After that it rather depends on which version of Christianity you are talking about. If it is Catholicism then I'd have some questions about transubstantiation, for example... |
You mean 'symbolic ritual cannibalism'? | Ophois wrote: |
| Bikerman wrote: | | Well, it depends on how mischievous you want to be. |
As much as I like the idea, I really don't like to provoke these people in public. I live in the South, and heckling religion is a bit of a no-no down here. |
Well, you have to wonder, in that case, why ask the questions? If you are just going to ask 'easy' questions then there is little point - the answer is entirely predictable.
| Quote: |
| Quote: | | After that it rather depends on which version of Christianity you are talking about. If it is Catholicism then I'd have some questions about transubstantiation, for example... |
You mean 'symbolic ritual cannibalism'? |
Well, most Christians indulge in that. My question would be more specific for Catholics.
It is a matter of Catholic doctrine that the bread and wine actually BECOME the body and blood after the consecration, and are most certainly NOT just symbols or icons.
Given that I'm pretty sure a mass-spectrograph would show that the bread and wine remain physically unchanged, I'm wondering how this view can be sustained. Remember that Protestants were condemned (in some cases to death) by the Catholic Church for their, apparently, much more sensible interpretation that the sacrement is representative, not an actual change in substance. | Ophois wrote: |
Well Denvis, it seems like you have got some good questions right there in your last post. It wouldn't be a bad idea to write them down. Take a note pad full of questions with you, treat it almost like an interview. The one thing that ministers will appreciate is a curiosity about their religion.
You mention that there is pressure on you due to the fact that many of your friends are extremely religious. I would think very hard about this. Subscribing to religion out of pressure from other people is absolutely the wrong reason to do it. If it isn't you, it isn't you, and you shouldn't pretend otherwise, just to lessen the outside pressure. |
Thanks, I will take a note of it and i'll try to write it all down and post their responses to the questions too when I get a chance to ask. Yeah, I have many friends that are strongly for religion and the idea of god but I also have friends that are atheists. I guess i'm kind of pressured into going church but I also want to go at the same time because i'm interested so it's more like a reason for me to attend church. I find it really weird when an atheist attends church just for the sake of going, or maybe that's just myself.
| Bikerman wrote: |
Well, it depends on how mischievous you want to be. For example, you could try
a) What do you think happens to people who DON'T accept Jesus Christ as their saviour? Do they all go to hell?
b) Do you think God is omnipotent and omniscient? If so then how do resolve that inevitable paradoxes that this poses?
c) Can you please explain, in clear terms, what is meant by the 'Trinity', and where the idea comes from? |
I'm kinda going to agree with Ophois and not ask as many provocative questions as possible. They will just throw biblical quotes at me. Although, I will take those questions into account, thanks.
So a couple more questions I thought of...
Is heaven just something made up so people won't be afraid of what will happen when they die?
Why were there endless amounts of mistakes in the bible? If the bible be what you believe in, why do you believe in a book of mistakes?
Why does the bible promise prayers will be answered when many prayers are not? | Denvis wrote: |
| I can get irritated really quickly when I ask a logical question and then they decide to throw a bible quote at me and attempt to rationalize what I'm asking. |
Well, getting Bible quotes as answers is likely.
Someone who knows their stuff should be able to back up what they say with scripture.
As long as they're giving you a quote that answers your question, not one that dodges it, don't get upset.you can be an atheist and still have a life that makes God happy!
| spinout wrote: |
| you can be an atheist and still have a life that makes God happy! |
It:
a) depends entirely on what religion and what version of that religion you go after when making that statement.
b) does not (in my eyes) have much with the subject to do | spinout wrote: |
| you can be an atheist and still have a life that makes God happy! |
Here we go again. Presuming we know what makes God happy. We don't even know who He is. Perhaps better put would be that atheists can lead lives that are close to or even better than that which is prescribed for Christians, by Christians. That I can relate to. My dads family were all atheists, my aunt and grandmother led exemplary lives. They did not even argue religion, they just had the utmost of respect for everyone and tremendous sense of humour. Both of them died very peacefully when their time came. | spinout wrote: |
| you can be an atheist and still have a life that makes God happy! |
But, if you're an atheist, why do you care if God is happy or not? | ocalhoun wrote: |
| spinout wrote: | | you can be an atheist and still have a life that makes God happy! |
But, if you're an atheist, why do you care if God is happy or not? |
I may be wrong, but think spinout is a believer who has faith in good behaviour of atheists. He is a Christian.I don’t like that… I see a lot of people who behaves very bad, very often being jealous and wishing something bad too happen to a person close to them… but still they are going to church, just to be seen... like they are some sort of saints… 
| biljap wrote: |
| I don’t like that… I see a lot of people who behaves very bad, very often being jealous and wishing something bad too happen to a person close to them… but still they are going to church, just to be seen... like they are some sort of saints… |
Who knows, they may even be doing it during church, when they see the people they are disapproving off and plotting how they are going to deal with them. Anyway, people are people, and people who go to church aren't necessarily that much different from anybody else in life. We're all sinners. | deanhills wrote: |
| and people who go to church aren't necessarily that much different from anybody else in life. We're all sinners. |
But only some are hypocrites. | ocalhoun wrote: |
| deanhills wrote: | | and people who go to church aren't necessarily that much different from anybody else in life. We're all sinners. |
But only some are hypocrites. |
I've been thinking a lot about that word lately. Since I am worried that it may go off topic, have started a new thread on whether atheists who attend church services could automatically be regarded as hypocrites:
http://www.frihost.com/forums/vt-110957.html&sid=1a796defc559b3cd7ccf9ce008062191ophois wrote:
| Quote: |
| You mean 'symbolic ritual cannibalism'? |
According to what I have been told by many very devout catholics there is nothing "symbolic" about it. They believe it truly turns into the "flesh and blood of jezus".
