Internet: worst thing that ever happened to Christianity?

[Jagella]

Christianity like any other kind of totalitarianism needs to control speech in order to survive. Free and open speech can be very damaging to Christian dogma which needs to be defended and sheltered from tough criticism. I've heard apologists complain about all those "internet atheists" saying all those bad things about Christianity.

Question for Debate: Is the internet the worst thing that ever happened to Christianity?

Nowadays people like never before can openly say what they want to say about religion. Atheists are now free to tell the world what they may previously only said in their hearts: there is no God!

[Tcg]

In my own experience, the internet didn't cause my deconversion from Christianity, but it certainly sped the process.

Like you I didn't lose my faith as a result of the internet (I lost my faith from reading the Bible years before the internet), but the internet has helped me to spot errors and even outright lies on the part of those who defend Christianity.

A reexamination of the Bible was what kicked-off my search for answers. Its many flaws became obvious and no one could resolve them.


One event in my search illustrates this fact quite clearly. I expressed my doubts about the Bible to my pastor and asked him how we could know that the Bible was God's word. His response was to hand me his Bible and challenge me to not put it down until I admitted it was the word of God. He of course added that there would be Hell to pay if I didn't.


It wasn't just the strong arm tactics that alarmed me, it was the fact that he had absolutely no rational way to answer my question. This is one of the events that led me to the internet to find the answer to that question. As you can imagine, I didn't find any better answers than my pastors threat of Hell. I of course would have discovered this truth without the internet, but access to it certainly sped my research and greatly broadened it.


Perhaps this is why we are seeing an acceleration of the exit from Christianity in developed countries. It doesn't take as long now for people to find out that there are no answers for the flaws the Bible contains other than the fact that it is flawed.




Tcg

[Jagella]

Atheism fails in honest debate, so I think internet is no problem for Christianity, if Christianity means disciples of Jesus and the teachings of Jesus. I think internet is really problem for Gods enemies at the moment and it is surprising that for example I am allowed still to speak in the internet.

Can you be more specific? How does atheism fail in an honest debate, who are "God's enemies," why is the internet a problem for them, and why are you surprised you are allowed to speak on the internet? I feel great about the success I've experienced debating Christians online, and I hope you can continue to have your say here.

[Wootah]

I am watching so much Christian content via YouTube that I tend to disagree. I think things happen in waves and you might be experiencing the atheist wave but are yet to experience the Christian wave as more Christians find more good content.

I've been banned from Christian forums for criticizing the Bible and Christianity. Although many Christians may trumpet free speech, in practice the situation is quite different.

There is literally no connection between my post and your reply ... apart from the Internet.

[Jagella]

Perhaps this is why we are seeing an acceleration of the exit from Christianity in developed countries.

It's great to know that Christian faith is decreasing in developed nations, but it's sad and scary to think in poor, backward countries it's increasing. I wish more atheists would address this problem and come up with a strategy to combat the spread of Christianity to Africa and Asia. The situation is far from hopeless for those countries, and maybe with better internet access in third-world countries, we can reverse this trend.

[Jagella]

I am watching so much Christian content via YouTube that I tend to disagree. I think things happen in waves and you might be experiencing the atheist wave but are yet to experience the Christian wave as more Christians find more good content.

I've been banned from Christian forums for criticizing the Bible and Christianity. Although many Christians may trumpet free speech, in practice the situation is quite different.

There is literally no connection between my post and your reply ... apart from the Internet.

I was referring to that "Christian wave" you posted about. Yes, that wave I've experienced involves deceit, hypocrisy, cruel trolling, censorship, and obnoxiously unjust forum "moderation."

But even if what I said wasn't relevant to what you posted, what I said is still very, very true and something the whole world should be aware of, is it not?

[Wootah]

Perhaps this is why we are seeing an acceleration of the exit from Christianity in developed countries.

It's great to know that Christian faith is decreasing in developed nations, but it's sad and scary to think in poor, backward countries it's increasing. I wish more atheists would address this problem and come up with a strategy to combat the spread of Christianity to Africa and Asia. The situation is far from hopeless for those countries, and maybe with better internet access in third-world countries, we can reverse this trend.

Here are more atheist comrades working with you right now.

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/chris ... 79bae9cd7f

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... r-the-west

Rejoice!

Edit: And dont forget the good work done on the falun gong and also Tibet. Please comment in detail how pleased you are.

[Jagella]

[Replying to post 26 by Wootah]

I'm very familiar with the logic employed in apologetics:

Some atheists have been brutal dictators.
Conclusion: ALL atheists are brutal dictators.
Conclusion: If people don't believe in (our version of the Christian) God, then they will become brutal dictators.
Conclusion: Any society that isn't immersed in (our brand of) Christianity will end up as a brutal dictatorship.
Conclusion: Please disregard secular countries like Denmark that are doing very well as societies and have not ended up as brutal dictatorships.
Conclusion: The theocracy we hope will emerge from the sky some day is no such brutal dictatorship.
Conclusion: We are really good, and you are really bad if you don't accept our religion.
Conclusion: Since you now know that a brutal dictatorship results from atheism, please run to your local church to accept (our version of) Christ, and do not forget to pay your tithe!

[bjs]

Both currently and historically free and open speech has been overall beneficial to Christianity.

I'm so glad to hear that! I will need to visit local churches and freely and openly tell them that Christian beliefs are bunk. I'm sure they'll enjoy the benefits their beliefs take on with my free and open speech there.

So Slick would agree with me that the internet can be anathema to Christian faith.

I am not personally familiar with Mr. Slick. He is free to run his website however he sees fit. Not every site has to be devoted to debate with non-theists.

No doubt Matt Slick is a very unusual Christian stifling free speech on his discussion boards. I wonder why other Christians aren't explaining to him how great free speech can be to Christian beliefs. His censorship of atheism must be doing a lot of damage to Christianity.

Is this genuinely what you think free speech is?

Do you believe that free speech means that you can go onto private property and say anything you want at any time you want?

Do you really think that free speech means you can post anything you want on websites owned and operated by other people?

Do you think that this sites requirement of basic civility for those who post here infringes your free speech?

If you prevent someone from spraying painting a message on the side of your house, does that mean you oppose free speech?

[jgh7]

[Replying to post 26 by Wootah]

I'm very familiar with the logic employed in apologetics:

Some atheists have been brutal dictators.
Conclusion: ALL atheists are brutal dictators.
Conclusion: If people don't believe in (our version of the Christian) God, then they will become brutal dictators.
Conclusion: Any society that isn't immersed in (our brand of) Christianity will end up as a brutal dictatorship.
Conclusion: Please disregard secular countries like Denmark that are doing very well as societies and have not ended up as brutal dictatorships.
Conclusion: The theocracy we hope will emerge from the sky some day is no such brutal dictatorship.
Conclusion: We are really good, and you are really bad if you don't accept our religion.
Conclusion: Since you now know that a brutal dictatorship results from atheism, please run to your local church to accept (our version of) Christ, and do not forget to pay your tithe!

How are you so good at finding flawed logic against atheism yet you use that very same flawed logic against Christianity. In your OP you literally labeled Christianity a totalitarian organization. It boggles the mind the double standard you use.

As to the actual topic, the internet has been extremely helpful to me as a learning resource for Christianity. However it is also very harmful in that is causes people to fall into sin, such as pornography. So it's good and bad.

[Tcg]

Perhaps this is why we are seeing an acceleration of the exit from Christianity in developed countries.

It's great to know that Christian faith is decreasing in developed nations, but it's sad and scary to think in poor, backward countries it's increasing. I wish more atheists would address this problem and come up with a strategy to combat the spread of Christianity to Africa and Asia. The situation is far from hopeless for those countries, and maybe with better internet access in third-world countries, we can reverse this trend.

Sadly, atheism is a tough sell, not because it isn't rational, but because it is. It seems that many people aren't interested in facing life as it really is. Instead, they want promises that help them deny reality. Whether or not the promises are true is irrelevant as long as they bring comfort.


Comfort is the priority, not truth. As long as this is the case, Christianity and other religions will find a welcome audience.


I'm not sure that the internet can change this reality. It will certainly be an aid for those who value truth over comfort, but I'm not sure it can convince people to value truth over comforting though empty promises.




Tcg