Reasoning

I don't know whether it is in deductive or deductive reasoning which has led for many Christians to be lumped with Christians that they disagree with. Perhaps it is simply because of the name, how much easier it is to presume, the way around it is to simply ask the person, to learn about the individual, yet this does not often or always occur because it takes time.

As a theist, I expect to be challenged about the existence of God or a deity, what I don't expect is for the person I'm debating with to state, "How can you persecute homosexuals?" Yes, I persecute myself.

"How can you damn people to hell?" I don't, I don't believe in hell.

"How can you vote for the Republicans?" I don't, I'm English and I've only just become eligible to vote. Furthermore, I wouldn't vote for the Tories (the British equivalent).

"You are backward and stupid." Thank you, thank you very much. If sitting with Neanderthals means I get respected, than I shall merrily walk back through the Dark Ages and beyond.

"You obviously were brainwashed." By whom? By myself? I didn't go to a faith school, my parents aren't Christians, I wasn't stalked by Christians until I gave them a chance, I didn't go to  a church or Christian youth group, I didn't have any friend who tried to make me a Christian. Brainwashed indeed.

"Religion lacks reason. You're part of a religion. You lack reason." This very statement lacks reason.

"Your an idiot." Pot, kettle, grammar.

However, I do know some wonderful atheists and the wonderful atheists I know aren't the ones on the internet, they are the ones I know personally. Rather than getting incensed behind a keyboard, we can discuss with a normal amplitude ideas, beliefs, and rather than going, "HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ABSOLUTE BUFFOON?!" We instead politely ask, "Why do you believe what you do?" Followed by letting the other person speak. Now, we aren't saints of debate, things can get a little heated at times and sometimes one may just want to have a big tantrum. But the point is, I don't ram a Bible down their throats, they don't ram Dawkins down mine.

Face-to-face respect happens a lot more than internet keyboard warrior respect. Ultimately, it may come down to the fact that the written word doesn't have a voice, it only has the voice which the reader gives it.

The Collective

The atheist who calls the theist stupid, is stupid, and by saying this, I am stupid. We are collectively stupid, collectively ignorant, collectively intelligent, collectively knowledgable. 

God is Love

How can people justify things like this:

Well, there must be a good reason. Let me go and get my Bible and see what God and Jesus have to say: 

God is love. (John 4:8)

Hmm, this has started badly. How can I bash gays now? 

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5: 42-48)

Aha! Jesus told us to love our enemies! That means I can say that we hate them and should murder them! Wait...? Are you seriously suggesting that I have to love everyone? That's a tad disappointing. 

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (John 4:20-21)

So by not loving other human beings, we are not loving God? That is utter gibberish, let me find that verse which explicitly states God hates homosexuals.  

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:9)

By making people become depressed, oppressed, repressed and making them turn away from their faith, I am doing no ill to my neighbour therefore my love fulfils the law. 

The Bible doesn't really talk about love anyway, it's only mentioned about 730 times which is pretty inadequate. And have patience, I'm still trying to find that verse in the book of God Hates. 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1Peter 1:22)

Jesus loved the Pharisees. Jesus said for us to love everyone and for some reason he didn't go, "except" afterwards. 

My search for the verse that states "God hates fags" is going badly so I'm going to make it up. 

And on the 30th February, God commanded that we hate all homosexuals because they have a good dress sense and have made the musical wonderful. (God Hates 69:666)

Architects - Daybreaker

Even though I am a theist, a follower of Jesus Christ, I still enjoy (well, I don't always enjoy it) and delve into the opposite view. The opposite view of course being that of an atheist. The beauty of faith is that it is there to be challenged. It isn't necessarily something to keep hidden away, dwelling and becoming stagnated. As soon as one becomes self-righteous enough to presume and bark that they are completely right and have the absolute truth, then we have a problem. More specifically, they have a problem. This can range from music, favourite Renaissance artist, fruit, to philosophy, science, religion and whether or not socks and sandals are acceptable to wear together. Clearly on this last point, the world should be in unison that it is an abomination to choose such a combination.

Carrying on though and back to the point, this is more to do with reading or talking or interacting with those who believe differently. This occurred recently when my favourite band released their new album, Daybreaker (it's terrific, by the way). The band, Architects, are a group of atheists and quite rightly, they are very much entitled to writing about atheism and making songs about it. If a band like The Devil Wears Prada or Demon Hunter can sing about God, Architects can sing about the lack of a God.

Perhaps a good idea to keep in mind is this:

"It is by doubting that we come to investigate, and by investigating that we recognize the truth." Peter Abelard


I remember hearing a particular line from "These Colours Don't Run" (watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHHJF2cUwyY):

If there was a God, you would be the death of him

Obviously, I believe there is a God but this line certainly does resonate. It's an explicit statement about how the very people who believe in a God, often are the very folk who murder their God. Indeed, the entire song is powerful, it's just this is a stand out line.

The next song I heard (which made me go "uh-oh" as soon as I heard the title) is "Alpha Omega", which, correct me if I'm wrong, is in reference to, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22:9) But when I listened to it I found myself thinking how remarkably similar their vein of thought is to mine. The song discusses the divisions caused, the oppression and repression caused, the power and control, as well as the deceit and lies of religion. I think I am probably right in suggesting the album focuses more on Christianity due to the references to biblical imagery, but I am sure it encompasses more than this religion. The point is that a religion focussed on love and being good to one another has been corrupted to the point that it is for some, merely a form of control. A religion that according to some is led by "The First Socialist" has become a cog in conservatism and capitalism is frightening, absurd and a downright shame.

"Daybreaker" focusses on uniting humanity, eradicating the greed and corruptness of the world, and basically, being decent to one another. Their points about religion being a weapon and mechanism of control and form of oppression; spot on. Their points about how America lost its way; spot on. Their points about thinking; spot on. The list continues.

I highly recommend you purchase the album but if metal is not your musical genre, research the lyrics. Hopefully you'll find something that resonates or worth debate.

Here are some further links:

Architects - Alpha Omega
Architects - Unbeliever
Daybreaker Lyrics