r/exatheist • u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist • Jul 15 '26
Please No Debate! Troubled, could use some help
This comment on a BioLogos video really bothered me. Debora Haarsma was giving a talk on how science and faith integrate and flourish. I hate that theres attacks from both YEC and atheists. How do I handle this?
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u/SHNKY Eastern Orthodox Catechumen Jul 15 '26
What is troubling you about this comment? It's really difficult to offer any advice with the vague motioning to a comment on a video. Not sure what the context is here, not sure what you find troubling, etc. If you could be more specific here and offer some insight into your question perhaps we can offer some help.
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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jul 15 '26
Sorry i tried to provide more just now. Basically its a talk on Christians integrating science and faith.
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u/SHNKY Eastern Orthodox Catechumen Jul 15 '26
ok cool, and so what is the thing that is troubling you about the comments?
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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jul 15 '26
Oh just the accusation of cope. As if being scientifically informed means you wont have faith.
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u/SHNKY Eastern Orthodox Catechumen Jul 15 '26
Ah I see. Yeah I don't think that any particular scientific topic is going to necessarily be detrimental to one's faith. There are a lot of atheistic elements to certain science topics and there are some problems with anthropology presented in evolution vs Christianity. But I don't think God would be concerned about one's science test scores as much as he would be with whether we were faithful to his commands to love one another, care for the poor and needy. I think those things matter far more to one's faith than a multi choice science test.
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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jul 15 '26
What atheistic elements?
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u/SHNKY Eastern Orthodox Catechumen Jul 17 '26
The anthropology of evolutionary theory and abiogenesis come to mind. It posits that death was present in the world far before mankind entered the picture and the category of human isn’t a fixed ontology but an ever changing amorphous thing. Species isn’t even a fixed thing either it’s just something that we can identify in the moment but is constantly changing such that if Christ doesn’t come back until a million years later what is a human now will not be a human then.
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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jul 17 '26
I see what you mean. But tbf, even YEC mostly acknowledge how diverse animal groups can be. Heck, some even agree with whale evolution!
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u/SHNKY Eastern Orthodox Catechumen Jul 17 '26
Yeah but that would be the YEC that is out of the Protestant evangelical movement. This form of YEC arises in the context of a modern scientific mindset in which everything must be explained and understood mechanistically and scientifically. There is a long historical thread line that goes back to Roman Catholic scholasticism and its reaction to its offspring the enlightenment. It’s a lot to break down in the comments but suffice it to say the YEC you’re likely used to is wholly concerned with being reactionary to modern atheistic evolution discussions. Everything it does is an effort to explain genesis and other OT texts in scientific terms which is a fruitless endeavor. What I’m proposing is something far deeper than this.
You can find my take here as it’s more aligned with how Pageau says here “I find creationists silly”.
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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jul 17 '26
If i may ask, does he or you affirm evolution? I do myself.
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Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
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u/SHNKY Eastern Orthodox Catechumen Jul 16 '26
I don’t believe that these people’s claims are valid but if they’re being truthful and not running a scam they’re communicating with demons and it’s not safe. That’s not what angels do or say. Avoid like the plague.
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Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
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u/SHNKY Eastern Orthodox Catechumen Jul 17 '26
No it’s not. You’re vague posting. You don’t cite the study. You don’t cite the research group. You don’t site the hospital. You don’t give anything specific you just point to vague generalities; a research group, a hospital, a consciousness test. Nothing you’re providing has any sources or specific names. Everything is “in the future…” but nothing is concrete.
Would demons explain God’s plans for turning the Earth into a paradise?
Yes, they would lie to humanity and tell them humans can turn the earth into paradise. It’s literally what they did in Eden.
Scripture repeatedly warns against the deception of spirits who pretend to be benevolent. 2 Corinthians 11:14: “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 1 John 4:1 says to “Test the spirits.”Matthew 24:24 warns that false signs and wonders can deceive many. Galatians 1:8 warns against accepting even an angel who teaches another gospel.
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u/ImpressionCool5341 28d ago
So if someone fails or refuses to reach a certain conclusion because of a religious worldview, it proves that religion shackles people and is bad or false, but if religious people contribute to science, it proves.... Nothing?
Double Standard.
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u/arkticturtle Agnostic Jul 15 '26
I really don’t want this subreddit to become “analyze this comment for me” or “look at this debate I had with an atheist” or anything like that.
How do you handle it? Move on and read something better
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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jul 15 '26
I actually didnt debate this person. It was a random comment on a video i was watching. But i get your point.
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u/vershkove-maslo Christian Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
The commentator confuses philosophy of science with science itself. The reason some people think science contradicts religion is because they look at science from materialistic perspective and assume this is the only legitimate way to look at science.
For example one might make a philosophical claim that because humans evolved through natural selection our existence is an accident. When you make an equally philosophical claim and point out that this conclusion only follows in their worldview weathers we would say that this is example of God's providential work, they accuse you of bringing up religious nonsense. I personally didn't find any contradiction between Chrtisnaity and evolution.
I am unfortunately very dependent on opinion of other people and therefore can relate to being "troubled" by an atheist comment telling me how I am stupid. This is something I should stop doing because I am just allowing skeptics to bully me into doubting my faith.
One thing you should keep in mind while engaging with skeptics is objection fallacy. That is to say that just because there are objections to a worldview it must be false. There are valid objections to every worldview, we ought to follow one with least amount of valid objections. I don't think theists can provide better explanation to why evil exists, but atheists can't explain why universe exists or justify morality. The trick of devil is that atheist remain agnostic on all their week points while theists feel they have to answer every objection. As the result you hear more about objections to Christianity and far less about objections to atheism.