Recenlty,
John Loftus posted an answer to the question " Why Do My Arguments Not Convince Devout Believers to Leave Their Faith?" He wrote the following:
I merely offer up good arguments against their faith. That's all I can do. Devout believers (my target audience) won't seriously consider them until such time as they have some sort of crisis in their lives that cannot be adequately explained by a good God. They'll seriously consider them at that time. My arguments are like seeds of doubt ready to sprout if and when they experience that crisis. Since many believers do experience some kind of crisis in their lives there will be a certain percentage of believers who, having been previously exposed to my arguments, will leave their faith at that time. It's a waiting game.
I've got a couple of problems with his answer. I've watched 3 of his debates and he lost each of them.the description of "good" is not what I would use to describe the arguments he used. Based on those arguments alone, he deserved to loose. I agree that loosing a debate, (in Lofuts' case - several debates) does not invalidate a person's ideas nor means that they are stupid. I think it takes a great deal of gut to expose your self to public scrutiny of your ideas and worldview. Not for the faint-of-heart. However, it's silly to think that you can argue anyone into or out of faith. It really is bigger than any of us, When I see an apsotate and listen to their arguments, it does not move me in the slightest because I know that they were never truly a Christian. No one becomes "un-born again".
22Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."- John 10:22-30
and
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
- 1 John 2:19
and
9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:9-11
One more thing:
8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. - 2 Corinthians 13:8
Debunking Christianity: Why Do My Arguments Not Convince Devout Believers to Leave Their Faith?
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