Whetstone
Member
mQUOTE="April_Rose, post: 970069, member: 9186"]Out of sheer curiosity I was looking at an atheist forum because I was really curious on what looked like and I saw that they allowed theists too for debate. So I started having certain thoughts on whether or not I should join to try and show them that God is real and convert them but then I saw all of the nasty things that they were posting about Him and what if my faith is challenged too much and they make me start doubting myself? So I'm sort of looking for advice on this one. No matter what I don't want my relationship with Christ to be harmed so that's a definite reason for me to say NO.[/QUOTE]
The fact that you're asking this question suggests to me you wouldn't be able to hold your own there. However I am of the opinion that for anyone to hone a skill, whatever it is, you have to constantly practise in a relatively real life scenario. You can't learn martial arts from a book. You can't learn the piano without playing it often. Equally you can't grow your strength in the art of discussion and debating (and yes, it IS very much a skill imo) unless you submit yourself to discussion forums.
When I first started discussion forums many years ago I was "green" and naïve and was quickly battered around and others ran rings around my ideas and views. I wasn't skilled, wasn't experienced, wasn't prepared. I learned so much as I went along and now consider myself a very competent debater. I always argue from a position of strength and have plenty of source material to back up points.
In the context of atheists you'll come very quickly unstuck if all your armoury consists of is nice warn fluffy feelings of Christianity and personal testimony. Atheists are not interested in that, and for good reason. Atheists are ruthlessly logical and will challenge you with very sound arguments. Unless you know the key classical arguments through and through you'll struggle. However the experience, if you can remain humble, will be character building. You only find out your weaknesses when you are put to the test.
As an example consider how versed you are on the subject of suffering and the current pandemic. Consider how versed you are on the cases of prolific paedophiles who have harmed countless innocent children.
Can you defend the concept of an all-powerful all-loving God in the face of millions of people being allowed to die of Covid or thousands of innocent children being allowed to be sexually abused by paedophiles? Can you reconcile these problems to the Christian concepts?
It's not enough to just say "It's all ok, God is in control"
That's just pure denial. You have to be clear in your mind why an all-loving all-powerful God would literally sit there whilst a wicked paedophile rapes a tiny child.
And if you're not clear on that then you very much need to revisit your faith.
Overall I'd say go for it. Go with the intent of learning how atheists think and reason NOT on the basis of intent to change their minds. Stay humble. Your weaknesses will be exposed very quickly. If you are insulted, turn the other cheek and stay humble.
The fact that you're asking this question suggests to me you wouldn't be able to hold your own there. However I am of the opinion that for anyone to hone a skill, whatever it is, you have to constantly practise in a relatively real life scenario. You can't learn martial arts from a book. You can't learn the piano without playing it often. Equally you can't grow your strength in the art of discussion and debating (and yes, it IS very much a skill imo) unless you submit yourself to discussion forums.
When I first started discussion forums many years ago I was "green" and naïve and was quickly battered around and others ran rings around my ideas and views. I wasn't skilled, wasn't experienced, wasn't prepared. I learned so much as I went along and now consider myself a very competent debater. I always argue from a position of strength and have plenty of source material to back up points.
In the context of atheists you'll come very quickly unstuck if all your armoury consists of is nice warn fluffy feelings of Christianity and personal testimony. Atheists are not interested in that, and for good reason. Atheists are ruthlessly logical and will challenge you with very sound arguments. Unless you know the key classical arguments through and through you'll struggle. However the experience, if you can remain humble, will be character building. You only find out your weaknesses when you are put to the test.
As an example consider how versed you are on the subject of suffering and the current pandemic. Consider how versed you are on the cases of prolific paedophiles who have harmed countless innocent children.
Can you defend the concept of an all-powerful all-loving God in the face of millions of people being allowed to die of Covid or thousands of innocent children being allowed to be sexually abused by paedophiles? Can you reconcile these problems to the Christian concepts?
It's not enough to just say "It's all ok, God is in control"
That's just pure denial. You have to be clear in your mind why an all-loving all-powerful God would literally sit there whilst a wicked paedophile rapes a tiny child.
And if you're not clear on that then you very much need to revisit your faith.
Overall I'd say go for it. Go with the intent of learning how atheists think and reason NOT on the basis of intent to change their minds. Stay humble. Your weaknesses will be exposed very quickly. If you are insulted, turn the other cheek and stay humble.
