An Atheist from “The Skeptic Arena” who goes by the pseudonym “Neo” featured my repository website TrueFreethinker’s “About” page within a June 28, 2014 AD podast. Basically, he read the page whilst peppering statements long the way. In that which follows, you will find the contents from my About page in italics, his comments underlined and my replies in regular font.
Note that he wrote the following to me:
Actually, I almost dropped your show for different one. That’s because I usually go after [here was a term referring to a certain bodily orifice]. But the more I delved into your site, the more you didn’t seem to fit the mold.
So I rewrote it, taking out most of the offensive stuff that I usually write, and just focused on the nonsense (I realize that to you – it isn’t nonsense).
I let him know that I appreciated these sentiments. He also noted “All my podcasts, videos, etc. are designed with the intention of battling irrationality. Religion falls within that realm. However, after many years, I am changing focus” and he will now be focusing on politics which, by the way, I told him is just another form of religion.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:31-32
Ken, I prefer these 2 verses that Jesus spoke to those Jews who believed in Him:
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:27-28
For some reason, whenever I quoted the Bible in the about page, he disregarded it and quoted another in reply. This may be a diversionary tactic whereby he draws attention away from the statement I raised and has his listeners divert towards that which he wants to say; it is sidestepping and avoiding the issue. He actually appears to play tit-for-tat so that for whatever point he assumes I am attempting to make, he will make another which he views as somehow challenging or defeating mine.
It is unfortunate that he did so because I raised the issue of truth up front and from the get go and he simply disregarded it. The issue is that in an Atheist universe (whatever denomination of Atheism he may adhere to) truth is not part of the furniture of the universe, as it were, that is to say; there is no imperative to ascertain empirical truth. One may choose to do so, like one may chose vanilla over chocolate ice cream or no ice cream at all, but it is a mere personal preference. An Atheist view of whence came theism is that it is a Darwinian survival mechanism. This means that theism is not true but a delusion. That the overwhelming majority of humanity have been theists proves that one can live quite well even whilst holding to delusion as the very core of one’s worldview.
Thus, one may prefer to ascertain empirical truth or chose delusion and it matters not. Nature cares not for truth (if we may anthropomorphically claim that it “cares” about anything) but only survival. Since humanity has, on this Atheist view, survive quite well despite laboring under a delusion; there is not imperative to ascertain empirical truth. This goes beyond asking if truth is absolute or asking for a definition of truth. It is asking “Why truth?” Why even bother seeking to determine it?
The issue is that Neo did not provide me any reason for thinking that even if I am wrong and he can prove it; I should change my mind or even bother considering that which he states. He provided no premise upon, no basis upon, no foundation upon to make claims and challenge my claim and thus, I have nothing more to say to him as that which he stated is merely the interpretation of bio-chemical, neural reactions, occurring within the gray matter of a temporarily existing bio-organism, that lives atop a spinning rock, orbiting an average star, in the universe’s backwaters.
However, on my worldview; not only is there truth but ascertaining truth is am imperative, that truth is absolute, actually personified in the person of Jesus and will set us free.
Thus, I will proceed with my reply but only for my fellow believers who want to learn about how to deal with the objections which follow.
In the next segment, we will consider whether Jesus failed to fulfill His own prophecy.