Assuming that there was an award for most annoying theist, then the RRS seems to want to present user SugarFree with that coveted title.  She (I think) is trying to witness to this group, as am I, but she tends to take on the role of RRS Mommy.  Her theology is easy to poke holes in.  Let’s observe a few inane comments.

First, Jeremiah Smith posted an argument that is the very reason I consider myself a Calvinist. In response to SugarFree, who said that God can’t reach atheists because they are too hard of heart, Jeremiah writes:

“Hmm, that Jeremiah Smith! He has strayed from the path into the darkness of atheism! I must find a way to guide him back into righteousness! I will begin working on this problem immediately!”
“Using my twin powers of Omnipotence and Omniscience, I have devised the perfect plan to convince Jeremiah Smith of my existence. Now, to put it into action!”
“What is this?! My plan… it’s not working! His atheism is too much for me! It’s… impossible… to overcome… my almightiness is no match for this human! I’m too weak! My me, my me, why have I forsaken me?”

It’s always hilarious to hear theists say things like “God’s calling you but you’re too stubborn to listen!” As if God’s too stupid and/or impotent to come up with a solution that will actually work. You treat atheists as if their “stubbornness” is some sort of kryptonite to God, and when you do it, frankly, it makes you look like a fuckin’ idiot. God can make universes and part seas and predict the future and rule over time and space and raise the dead, but apparently he can’t convince an atheist he exists. He managed to convince a bunch of desert nomads, Jews, and Romans just fine. Did God finish last in his class at Deity School? I bet if God had been valedictorian we wouldn’t have to deal with all that bullshit about “atheists are too stubborn even for God!” Think about this for a moment. Every time you say “God’s calling you but you’re too stubborn to listen!”, I want you think to yourself “I’m a big idiot who thinks God is too impotent and weak to convince a measly little atheist or two that he exists.” I thought God was the shepherd who would leave 99 sheep to look for the one that wandered off. It would appear that God just stands around, says “Sheep? Where are you?” a few times in a quiet voice, and then gives up. And then the other 99 sheep say “Well, I guess that last sheep was just too stubborn to listen.” Come on.

Jeremiah is correct.  God, who is omnipotent, is castrated by the notion that He can’t reach atheists simply because they are so hard of heart.  Instead, the Bible teaches that God will continue to harden a person’s heart who willfuly rejects salvation.  The hardening doesn’t render God impotent; it brings God’s judgment.

Then, JCE (aka Julie) responds to SugarFree’s annoying inability to back anything she says up with hard facts:

To sugarfree: You are, in fact, beginning to become rather antagonizing. Now, while I do not mind playing with you, it does get tiresome when you will not support your statements with anything more than “I feel that I am right.” Everyone feels they are right. The difference is that most of us can support our statements with logical, reasonable arguments. You seem to just want to come here and keep saying the same things over and over. I would encourage you to read posts by razorphreak. He and I have had several discussion and I truly understand where he is coming from in his beliefs. He has carefully explained them and supported them. I do not always agree with him, but we certainly have a better understanding of each other. I would like to achieve this same understanding with you but when you are asked to define or support your beliefs you take a defensive posture and become quite sarcastic about it, which leads us to believe that your beliefs are bullshit.

Razorphreak posts much more thoughtful arguments.  SugarFree tends to just say “I feel…” or “I know that….”  She never seems to provide evidence to back those claims up.

The RRS is big on evidence, folks.  Any theist planning to argue with the atheists over there had better gear up with a lot of evidence.

Yeah, I know how this guy feels.

Saying you’re a good Christian is akin to saying you’re a good bigot, a good hypocrite, or a good Nazi. It’s a tremendous misuse of the word ‘good’. Someone needs to teach those of faith the real meaning of the ethic of reciprocity (you know, the ‘do unto others’ bit). Like the ‘love thy neighbor’ mantra, Christians love to preach it but fail spectacularly at practicing it.

Regarding atheists, Richard Dawkins said that

They believe in life, they believe in science and art and poetry and love and marriage and family — they believe in all those things. They just don’t believe in supernatural magic. . . . [P]eople thank me over and over again for saying what they themselves would like to say, but somehow feel they better not.

The Nicole Smalkowski case is a shining example of the misunderstandings between Christians and atheists. I have found that atheists and Christians differ in one respect only: belief (or lack of belief) in God. I expected to join Rational Responders to convert atheists, figuring that it would be easy because there is no foundation in what they believe.

Only I found out that they have many historical, philosophical, and personal foundations for what they believe. While Christians have many of the same, if not more, foundations for what we believe, I find that the average atheist is far more articulate in why they hold that belief while the average Christian is not articulate in why they believe what they do. Atheists are, by and large, some of the most intelligent people I have met.

In Romans, Paul describes pagans in less than glowing terms. I think that many Christians believe that atheists are the embodiment of the evils described in Romans 1. One of the first visible proponents of atheism, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, was an extremely bitter and vitriolic woman. It was apparent that she had an axe to grind. She didn’t pull punches and she was an all-around horrible person to work with. Combined with the Romans 1 list, this is what Christians think of atheists.

After all, Nicole was removed from the basketball team first for unsubstantiated theft allegations and then for allegedly threatening to kill a teammate. Once she admitted to being an atheist, the Christians immediately think of the Murray O’Hair plus Romans 1 formula.

I’ve found that the opposite is normally true. A Christian website acknowledges that atheists are very intelligent when it states “the simple fact is that an Athiest is nothing more than an intellectual terrorist. Some terrorists attack America using bombs and guns. Athiests attack America with their evil words and ideas.” What is evil about questioning a person’s beliefs?

Recently, I’ve found that I have better and more interesting discussions–worthwhile discussions that further my own faith–with the atheists on the RRS message boards than with the Christians on CF. The Christians on CF seem to have a cult mentality–like removing a post where I questioned a moderator. The RRS, however, welcomes challenges from Christians and give solid arguments from history and philosophy in support of atheism.

The average Christian I know would not be able to do that with his own faith, even though we have more in philosophical and historical support for the Christian faith. It saddens me whenever I see atheists with better knowledge of the Bible than Christians.

Is it any wonder that atheists are founded in making the accusations I reprinted at the start of the entry?

Jesus came to save the lost. The behavior of the town is not being salt and light to the world, it is not trying to reach them. Is this what Jesus would have wanted?

I doubt it. The Apostle Paul exhorted the Romans to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom 12:10). Surely this isn’t showing honor to Nicole’s beliefs.

After all, why should she believe anything that we have to say about anything if we can’t get the core of our beliefs right? If we’re going to ostracize a 16 year old girl and try to run her family out of town because they don’t share our belief in God, why would they think that Christ is a good thing to have in someone’s life?

I am appalled by this town’s behavior. If you’re reading this, Nicole, I’m sorry that you were treated this way by people who are my brothers and sisters in Christ. That was inexcusable.

Selling Salvation
A Poem by Amanda Sandoval

I joined WritersCafe.org yesterday, and I started reading some of the writers’ material, in particular a young woman by the name of Amanda Sandoval. Amanda has a way of capturing the emotion of the moment with her words, to make you feel what her character feels in the moment. I gave a positive review to one of her stories, and told her I looked forward to reading more.

Different Faith
A Story by Cory Tucholski
What happens to the husband and wife who, sadly, do not share the same religious beliefs? How the Christian handles it.

Of course, as a writer I had to post one of my own stories. So I grabbed something that I had not published anywhere else and edited it for a broader distribution. Then I posted it and went to bed.

When I revisited the site, I discovered that Amanda had posted the poem above. I assume that this is likely in response to my own post. It’s an unexpected honor when someone posts something in regard to your own work, even if they haven’t specifically mentioned you by name.