Is it intellectually dishonest to have an unwavering disbelief in Santa? Or Fairies? Should I look at all sides first and just sway towards the stronger evidence? I'll wager you are 100 percent convinced neither of the above exist. And if you say you aren't then your just falsely saying to try and reinforce your point.
No, it's not intellectually dishonest.
See, What's happening here is what always happens in this type of discussions. We end up not debating the issue at hand anymore, we just start arguing about arguing.
We can't prove one side or disprove another so we end up taking swings at each other's words, semantics or descriptions instead.
Of course, the difference between Santa or fairy followers and followers of Christ, is that we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, with the Bible being our life manual and the Words of God to all who believe.
You want semantics or descriptions, but I think we need to come back to relationship. Being a follower of Jesus Christ, means having a relationship with him. He is my Lord, Saviour, and Friend. He leads and guides me. He changes me by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Your analogy of a mythical Clausian religion breaks down because there is no proof, no evidence. My proof is that I was saved out of the New Age movement (before that, a confirmed atheist!) from heavy drinking and many other evils. God changed me in a moment. I have never wanted another drink in 33 years.
God has never left me in all those years. Sometimes I did not obey him, but he constantly pulled me back close to him.
I know it is very hard when you are trying to quantify the omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient God. Because you cannot put God in a box, (one which you have made), you deny the evidence of a Creator God everywhere.
And yes, one of the things that propelled me towards Christ was being in Science in University. I was a physical geography major, with a minor in biology. I heard in my geography and geology classes that the rocks were basically dated by the plants and animals that were in the rocks. In Biology, I heard that the plants and animals were dated by the rocks.
This kind of circular reason found no answers from my professors in that very secular university. That is when someone gave me a book on creation. I became a young earth creationist. Except I did NOT know who the creator was. I started searching. God found me!! I did not find him.
I pray for the many atheists on this thread, that God will find them too. Then you won't have to worry about incorrect metaphors and analogies, or debating any issues. You will find Christ to be all satisfying, and he will change your heart, soul and mind in a way you didn't know you needed to be changed!
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.
There is no stronger verse I can give you. I pray that God will open your hearts, so this one verse will change your life, and you will be like me and others, once lost, now found!
PS. I do not think that
only young earth Creationists are saved. Just wrong about their dating!
I also read God Delusion and found it to be extremely lacking in evidence. I have read several excellent refutations of that book, if you want, message me and I will find the name of at least one I have hiding in my bookshelves.
