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Convoluted Rationalisations

Entry 622, on 2007-10-11 at 17:08:23 (Rating 5, Religion)

Today I stumbled on some interesting movies at YouTube. They all involved criticism of belief in the Bible and in Christianity generally. One of the better ones was an episode of "Bullshit" by Penn and Teller which showed how the "Damn Bible" is bullshit. For a mainstream entertainment program it certainly pulls no punches, and it was very disrespectful. I generally find than even critics of religion tend to hold back to some extent from being completely critical and insulting, but this told it like it really is.

Another movie was a bit more restrained but perhaps even more disconcerting to believers. It was called "10 questions that every Christian must answer". The ten questions themselves weren't that important but the idea that intelligent, educated Christians should consider their own beliefs in a rational way was quite compelling.

The questions included: Why won't God heal amputees? Why are there so many starving people in the world? Why does God demand the death of so many innocent people in the Bible? Why does the Bible contain so much anti-scientific nonsense? Why is God such a huge proponent of slavery in the Bible? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why didn't any of Jesus' miracles in the Bible leave behind any physical evidence? How do we explain the fact that Jesus has never appeared to you?

These, and other questions, can be answered through sometimes quite complex rationalisations. In fact, looking at them objectively they are clearly convoluted. Now it could be that all the rationalisations are real, but there is an alternative. Instead of a whole series of convoluted rationalisations with no supporting evidence we could just say "god doesn't exist".

Its so obvious that I wonder how anyone could be so stupid that they believe Christianity is true. I could perhaps understand limited acceptance of some of the New Testament but the Old Testament is laughable, grotesque, and pathetic all at once. It seems to me that only a real idiot would believe it, yet many people (who I don't consider idiots) do. Its a clear case of self-delusion.

If you're an intelligent person and believe the Bible stories then I challenge you to watch this movie (just search for the title at YouTube) and honestly answer what they ask. If you still believe that Moses parted the Red Sea, that Noah's flood really happened, and that God created the world as described in Genesis, then I suggest you go and get some psychiatric help. And watch out for the goblins and unicorns too!

Comment 81 (1723) by OJB on 2008-10-09 at 19:58:25: (view earlier comments)

I think I have listened but I still think you are confusing a straightforward issue and avoiding the question. That's why I asked a very simple question which you seem to be determined not to answer. Why is that?

Comment 82 (1725) by SBFL on 2008-10-10 at 07:46:00:

Well, as is often the case you are wrong. And your problem is that you need to see things in absolutes, in a simple form maybe so that you can understand, I don't know. How you can think that that is a straightforward issue indicates to me that you haven't been listening at all. Am I determined not to answer? No. Maybe it's you who are determined not to listen - especially if the answers and discussions are not to your liking. I am determined not to answer again! As I said, re-read the thread (where you and I have been chatting). *sigh*

Comment 83 (1728) by OJB on 2008-10-10 at 08:22:27:

Some of these threads have got quite long now. Why not just humour me and just quickly (again) tell me the best bit of evidence for god because I really don't remember seeing it here previously. Alternatively, if there is no evidence just say so.

Comment 84 (1731) by SBFL on 2008-10-10 at 16:44:44:

Well if you don't listen the first time, how can I trust you will the second? If you're so lazy that you can't go back over the matter we have discussed, and that you now demand a one line answer to an issue where you have forgotten the context, I ask you this: Would you bother with people who treat you this way?

Comment 85 (1732) by OJB on 2008-10-10 at 16:51:45:

Actually I would probably make the same point you have made regarding forgetting my valuable philosophical point, but then repeat the point (maybe with a copy and paste). Or better still, I might rephrase it since it might not have made much of an impression the first time (since the other person has already forgotten it).

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