In Your Own Words

[connermt]

When asked a question, many believer supply biblical quotes as an answer. Surley it's expected that a believer uses the bible as reference.
When a person asks a question of a believer, why is it that most of the believers seems to only supply the biblical quote?
Surely the person asking can look up said quote on their own, so why can't a believer use their own words along with the quote?
Can a believer only spit out fed data?
Can't a believer not think for themselves and use their own words?
Is it taught to use quotes when their faith is challenged to avoid contradiction?
To the believers who apply this method: why can't you answer questions in your own words?

[cnorman18]

When asked a question, many believer supply biblical quotes as an answer. Surley it's expected that a believer uses the bible as reference.
When a person asks a question of a believer, why is it that most of the believers seems to only supply the biblical quote?
Surely the person asking can look up said quote on their own, so why can't a believer use their own words along with the quote?
Can a believer only spit out fed data?
Can't a believer not think for themselves and use their own words?
Is it taught to use quotes when their faith is challenged to avoid contradiction?
To the believers who apply this method: why can't you answer questions in your own words?

Well, since you address this to "believers" and not just to "Christians," I feel entitled to answer:

What on Earth are you talking about?

I use my own words.... um... well...

Pretty much ALL the time. I don't have much use for "proof-texts" myself, and I don't use them.

When I do use a Bible quote, it's more often to explain a different interpretation of it, or to explain why it no longer applies; as the BEGINNING of a conversation, not the END of it.

Once again -- as happens so often around here -- we see a member speaking of Christians, and in this case even "believers,' as if knee-jerk fundamentalist literalism were the only kind of Christianity, and the only kind of "belief," that exists.

Stereotypes are NEVER helpful. If you don't like Christians holding up Stalin and Pol Pot as normative atheists, then don't do THIS.

[Zzyzx]

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[Replying to post 11 by cnorman18]
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I very seldom find reason to disagree with what Cnorman presents, but in this case I must.

Connermt qualified his comments / questions with "many" and "most" to begin the discussion and is, therefore, not making a blanket accusation or statement.

His point is well taken. In many (not all) instances bible quotations are used in lieu of one's own words.

A secondary point phrased as a question asking about the practice of using bible quotes in response to question or challenge being taught to religionists " is a valid question. Many (not all) seem to have difficulty adjusting to debate in which the bible is not considered authoritative (in the C&A sub-forum) and fail to understand that a bible quote is equal to a non-response (unless the issue concerns the wording).

Cnorman does not use religious literature in this way, though he may refer to it " quite appropriately. There is no shortage of "his own words", so the OP does not apply to him at all.

[cnorman18]

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[Replying to post 11 by cnorman18]
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I very seldom find reason to disagree with what Cnorman presents, but in this case I must.

Connermt qualified his comments / questions with "many" and "most" to begin the discussion and is, therefore, not making a blanket accusation or statement.

His point is well taken. In many (not all) instances bible quotations are used in lieu of one's own words.

A secondary point phrased as a question asking about the practice of using bible quotes in response to question or challenge being taught to religionists " is a valid question. Many (not all) seem to have difficulty adjusting to debate in which the bible is not considered authoritative (in the C&A sub-forum) and fail to understand that a bible quote is equal to a non-response (unless the issue concerns the wording).

Cnorman does not use religious literature in this way, though he may refer to it " quite appropriately. There is no shortage of "his own words", so the OP does not apply to him at all.

Well said, Z. I was aware of the qualifications offered by Connermt, but I thought it appropriate to highlight the exceptions -- who aren't, in the real world outside this forum, all that rare. As I said to Divine Insight a few minutes ago on another thread -- you won't find your "mainstream," liberal Christians hanging around forums like this one, precisely BECAUSE they aren't into arguing and hollering and claiming persecution and all that.

I just hate to see stereotypes highlighted. It's always seemed to me to be letting them set the standards and the agenda for discussion and debate around here, and that's half a victory right there. When all we EVER talk about is FUNDAMENTALISM -- well, some of us wonder if we're EVER going to get around to talking about OTHER kinds of religion, and even other kinds of Christianity.

To judge from this place, there is no other kind of religion but Bible-thumping. I've never quite understood why people who are NOT religious would be so quick to buy into that idea, and, in fact, REINFORCE it as they do.

Thus you get experiences like mine -- I am regularly told I really am some sort of fundamentalist/literalist and am just lying about it, or that I'm not really religious at all if I'm NOT a literalist. In other words, NONbelievers are SUPPORTING the idea that fundamentalism REALLY IS the only kind of religion that exists.

As they say on Facebook -- WTF?

[otseng]

There are a lot of people around here that need to grow up.

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[99percentatheism]

connermt

When asked a question, many believer supply biblical quotes as an answer. Surley it's expected that a believer uses the bible as reference.
When a person asks a question of a believer, why is it that most of the believers seems to only supply the biblical quote?

Surely the person asking can look up said quote on their own, so why can't a believer use their own words along with the quote?

I know I do that for the most part. But, if "I" were to use my words to describe adherants and proponents of certain kinds of worldviews and ideologies that I find utterly repugnant, I would get banned here because "we" can't say what "we" mean most of the time.

Can a believer only spit out fed data?

Like what? No true Scotsman? The parroting I see around here is not from "believers" as much as it is from the canned responses from the believers in non-belief. They just seem to spit out the same responses ad infinitum.

Can't a believer not think for themselves and use their own words?

That is just dangerous at this website.

Is it taught to use quotes when their faith is challenged to avoid contradiction?

No. Quotes are used to prove what is and what isn't degenerate, sinful behavior from the believers that consistently hold to such behaviors as degenerate "in the Bible." using quotes is a better way to speak to certain kinds of worldviews and ideologies.

To the believers who apply this method: why can't you answer questions in your own words?

If you can gett the Moderators to change the rules of this website, I will be first in line to finally describe things and opinions, positions and agenda's the way they should be.

Think about the following scriptures as it applies to certain kinds of people . . . put into my own words:

As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do"living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

- 1 peter 4

Sometimes quoting scriptures is a better choice then to just come right out and say what you really think about certain kinds of people and beliefs.

[Zzyzx]

If you can gett the Moderators to change the rules of this website, I will be first in line to finally describe things and opinions, positions and agenda's the way they should be.

What rules, exactly (quote then), would have to be changed to allow you to express your position adequately?

[Hatuey]

I know I do that for the most part. But, if "I" were to use my words to describe adherants and proponents of certain kinds of worldviews and ideologies that I find utterly repugnant, I would get banned here because "we" can't say what "we" mean most of the time.

.....

That is just dangerous at this website.

Look, this isn't a game...for me, anyway. If there's some sort of deity who has something "good" for me that I need to acknowledge him to benefit from, then I need to know it. Figure it out. You can private message me, and we can work something out, or perhaps we can get the mods to set up some private board, here, but this is too important to be put aside for an excuse like that.

I'm not going to let this go, just so you know. If you really have some special knowledge, then lets find a way to get it from you to me. I've been through a lot over my lifetime, and I wouldn't turn down divine peace and comfort at this point.

How do we work this out? Seriously! Seriously.

Oh, and when I give a similar response to a Christian argument, I'm merely explaining why I don't find your reasoning to be valid. IF your reasoning doesn't make it past that rebuttal, then I'm letting you know that a simple, standard rebuttal thwarts your efforts. If you've got a way around my "standard rebuttal" to your point, then provide it. As I said, this isn't a game for me. If there is something real, if you do know how to access "wonder working power," than do something more than just talk about it obliquely. Get me the code.

[acehighinfinity]

[Replying to post 1 by connermt]

When asked a question, many believer supply biblical quotes as an answer. Surley it's expected that a believer uses the bible as reference.
When a person asks a question of a believer, why is it that most of the believers seems to only supply the biblical quote?
Surely the person asking can look up said quote on their own, so why can't a believer use their own words along with the quote?
Can a believer only spit out fed data?
Can't a believer not think for themselves and use their own words?
Is it taught to use quotes when their faith is challenged to avoid contradiction?
To the believers who apply this method: why can't you answer questions in your own words?

Depending what the question is, if its biblical related then you should expect some biblical quotes. Whether we re-worded in our own words which we can but it is better to hear it from the Horses mouth (Holy Bible - Word of GOD or bible references). This makes it easier to search the scriptures yourself. If you can't handle that then why asked the question in the FIRST PLACE??
How do you want us to word it for you - EX. "Once upon a Time there was a beautiful Garden (EDEN), etc..."

BTW, our thoughts are not higher than GOD -
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" So most answers needs to be reference from the Word of GOD and interpret if need to be. Otherwise, we Christians might make an incorrect statement especially when you have hungry HYENAS (non-believers/Atheists) waiting for you to slip up to take a bite at you lol.

Like ttruscott said "Can't have it both ways" or your way MATE!

[connermt]

[Replying to post 15 by 99percentatheism]

I know I do that for the most part.

There's no doubt there that you do use your own words!!!!

...canned responses from the believers in non-belief.

Believers in non-belief? What does that mean? Is this like lovers who hate? Or happy people who are sad?

you can gett the Moderators to change the rules of this website, I will be first in line to finally describe things and opinions, positions and agenda's the way they should be.

If one can't describe things in a civil manner, are they really worth hearing?

Sometimes quoting scriptures is a better choice then to just come right out and say what you really think about certain kinds of people and beliefs.

See previous response.

[connermt]

[Replying to post 18 by acehighinfinity]

...if its biblical related then you should expect some biblical quotes.

As I said, it is expected. However, one can expound on what that means TO THEM, not some long dead guy who wrote it. After all, we all see that the same passages can mean different things to different people.

...it is better to hear it from the Horses mouth...

I disagree. If one is a thinking individual, said individual should be able to show how it relates to them. If they can't, I question their thinking ability and assume they'd live off 'canned' responses.

...our thoughts are not higher than GOD...

I saw no one claim that.

"Can't have it both ways"

Not sure what you mean here, but if you mean the way you understand it and the way some dead guy who wrote it understood it, then I would disagree. That is, of course, assuming everyone is an individual and not a robot - which is the whole concept behind the christian 'free will'.