Has EvC changed your beliefs?

Where in the world could one hope to be exposed to the sheer variety of ways in which worldviews can be framed? There is no such place I submit.Whether the posts are humorous digs, clever, one-line rebuttals, well-structured arguments or diversionary diversions, one thing is common to all those with whom I contend: rejection of the Gospel. Were I asked to advise a person as to where they might go in order to learn the skills required of a good evangelist then EvC would have to be my first suggestion. This comments not on my own ability - my failings are apparent to myself too - but the potential to extract from here remains in as concentrated form as one could wish for.Whilst knowing, from the outset, the core reason why a person rejects the Gospel, the myriad of ways in which this may be couched defies even the wildest expectations I might have had before joining. The intense experience has raised my willingness to at least engage those self-same worldviews when I come across them in the less frentic dimension we call RealWorld. The most intelligent reponses have forced me to think of ways of contending with them such that I am less likely to be surprised when faced with them in the future. Not to be glib or dismissive of those views - but when "you've seen it before" it makes seeing it again a somewhat less daunting task.Has it changed my beliefs? Not in the least. I knew God before I came here and he hasn't changed a bit. Do I know God better? Well yes. In 'defending' him, I have been forced to think about him more and to see if what I suspected of him is confirmed in his word. There has been enormous personal profit in coming to understand certain aspects about which I had questions (if not doubts) before. This has led to solidification and deepening of my faith. To name but a few:- Predestination vs Free will. The paradox is no longer one for me for me.- the mechanism of salvation as it is applied. The role of evangelism is clearer to me now- works not in any way, shape or form an aspect of our salvation. I believed that when I came here, I (at risk of irritating Schraf) know it now.I have learned too, that my way is peppered with flaws which demonstrate (were I in any doubt) that a sinner I shall remain until my dying day. The lack of love, respect, kindness and empathy in some of my posts have dropped even my own jaw on reflection. This from one who is in receipt of unmerited grace himself? Hmmm... That sin-uber-all-sins, Pride, has demonstrated itself to be very much alive and kicking, indicated by my unwillingness make amends in a timely fashion. Work in-painfully-slow-progress that remains.All in all though, EvC has been a fantastic experience. The sheer variety of personalities and the beauty contained within them makes me understand all the more why it is God goes to so much trouble. In his image and likeness he made them and that is reflected in glorious technicolour here - if at times, through a glass darkly.Hopefully one day at least some of us will have a good laugh about the tussle. I promise that on that day I won't say "I told you so!"

I'm flattered but a little confused. "Was so important"? But I haven't gone anywhere?

My hope and prayer is that He will do the convincing leading to that end

You've a funny way of showing it Robin. By my reckoning you can be quite tough on them at times. Although you have more charity in your heart for them than I have it must be saidEdited by iano, : No reason given.

Underdog is a relative term. If you mean pile on's then I suppose it is up to the Christian to decide how much they are willing to bite off. More doggedness than underdoggedness I suppose. I dunno. It seems like a reasonable enough thing to say if one considers morality to something which is self-defined. It might not be a boast but mere statement of self-assessed fact Fine tuning unto increased water-tightness or the initial signs of falling apart at the seams?

Welcome aboard the unfloatable ark that floats nonetheless. I admire anyone who is prepared to face the natural conclusions of their philosophy - even if they sound like a horses ass doing so. I have reason to empathise in one sense Do you get a sense that the circles are ever decreasing or increasing

So few do it as to make the exception noteworthy I mean that I suppose you to be looking for answers. I suppose that you will be satisfied if you arrive at an answer - irrespective of what the actual contents of that answer may be. "Purposeless? Fine so long as I can be sure of it" or something like that.Are you getting closer to that objective or further away to your mind - if what I suppose of you accurately reflects your position

I like this one in his favor:1. If God does not exist, trancendant, objective values of good and evil do not exist2. Evil does exist3. Therefore objective values exist and some things are really, basically, fundamentally bad.4 Therefore God exists

I have no problem with a Christian (according to the same definition I apply to myself) believing in Evolution. In fact I know some.

Heads or tails?It was a logical proof Ikabod. One can decide that evil doesn't objectively exist - in which case the proof dissolves.

It took one to know one Good (in a well-intentioned way)

God exists or he doesn't. There is no slight chance either way. The slightness you are referring to reflects, I suggest, the level of your own convictions at this point in time - which has no bearing on the actual chances. The "level of chance" might be increased slightly were you to consider that the tools which can be applied in order to lever the supernatural rock up a bit further are not those which you are used to handling so adroitly when it comes to peering under the rock of the natural world.One might accept that the 'small chance' is a function of ones own inability/unwillingness to examine in a way appropriate to that which is being examined. The bird watcher who crashes through the woods screaming "Is there any lesser spotted widgerydoos here!!" will not meet in success.What am I looking for?
How might I find it?
What tools might I employ?If you say "I don't know" then welcome to the world of the Pioneer

If he is absent he exists, if he puffed himself out of existance he doesn't exist. They are indeed. As the quote up top suggests

I heartily concur. Religion...a curse on its house

If there was a genuine EvC get together and it wasn't a zillion miles away from an international airport, then I would fly to the States to make it there.One of these days one of the organising types here might actually make it become a reality.