It has been my persistent experience that the majority of the reasons Atheists give for why they believe God doesn’t exist are actually irrelevant to whether he does. In other words, often, even if their complaint were true it says nothing about whether God exists.
Addressing a common atheist objection: “I didn’t get a good answer to my question about God, so He doesn’t exist”
December 7, 2013 by 11 Comments
Sifting Reality 
Hello John,
You say, “It has been my persistent experience that the majority of the reasons Atheists give for why they believe God doesn’t exist are actually irrelevant to whether he does. In other words, often, even if their complaint were true it says nothing about whether God exists. ”
Given that the passion narratives of the gospel are quite literally contradictory and mutually exclusive it is not at all irrelevant to the question of God’s existence. Unless, that is, if you are an adherent to a Non-Biblical God. For example, Muslims are quite content to agree with scholars that the New Testament is filled with errors and contradictions. They can agree with scholars because they have their own book and therefore don’t need to insist that the Bible is inerrant and infallible.
For a Christian, however, God’s existence seems to depend to an unhealthy degree upon the Bible’s correctness. That’s why Christians object to modern Biblical scholarship, science and philosophy.
You see. If the bible isnt true is says nothing about whether God exists, only which one doesnt. You should be an agnostic deist.
The author of the original post clearly misread the atheist’s point. She said that when she was young, she didn’t receive an adequate answer, and followed up with “then I discovered many other contradictions…” To me, I read this as one bad answer leading to exploration and many other bad answers. It is definitely relevant if the so-called authorities on a topic are stumped by easy questions.
I saw that too brian. However the point still stands, I believe, because there are answers to those contradictions. Did she continue to seek answers after she didnt get a good one initially? Or did she just presume there are no good answers at all?
Its hard to know without more info.
I do think the Christian church as a whole tends to ignore challenges more often than arguring them. They seem to think there is something spiritually noble of closing off challenges and just believing with their heart.
Hello John,
You say, “I saw that too brian. However the point still stands, I believe, because there are answers to those contradictions. Did she continue to seek answers after she didnt get a good one initially? Or did she just presume there are no good answers at all? ”
No, there are no good answers to all of the contradictions of the Bible. I have read books attempting to solve all of these contradictions and more often than not the Christian author(s) engage in deception, invention and straight up lies.
You say, “I do think the Christian church as a whole tends to ignore challenges more often than arguring them.”
Well, you could do the following:
1. Identify one Biblical contradiction.
2. Solve the contradiction.
Christians don’t do this because they cannot.
Christians do it all the time. The problem is the skeptic is the one who determines if its a satisfactory answer TO THEM. They can always gainsay any explanation.
Hello John,
You say, “Christians do it all the time. ”
If you are going to make a claim I must insist that you provide either a source demonstrating that Christians actually are doing what you claim or that you provide the demonstration of your own by identifying a contradiction and explaining it away (if that is at all possible).
There are at least 1000 contradictions in the Bible. Pick one and resolve the problem. Don’t resolve it to my own satisfaction. Resolve it to your own standard (whatever that is …)
David there are dozens of books written by Christians addressing contradictions in the Bible as well as many websites do your own homework for a change
Hello John,
You say, “David there are dozens of books written by Christians addressing contradictions in the Bible as well as many websites do your own homework for a change ”
There are dozens of books written by Christians which attempt, and fail, to solve the Bible’s contradictions. I am asking for even one (just one!) such explanation from you. You can reference any book you wish or create your own argument.
Provide one example of a Biblical contradiction and resolve the contradiction. That’s all I am asking.
Exactly my point. You just dont accept the explanation. No one can force you to concede. Tell you what, I dont accept that what you think is a contradiction is in fact a contradiction. It is your job to prove what you believe to be a contradiction is irreconcilable.
Really, Dave. Why not just present what you think is the most damning contradiction, the most impossible to resolve. I don’t think there are any contradictions between the Gospels at all. Bring it.