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Hyper-skeptic Motives
By Rev. Dr. Greg Neal
Why do the hyper-skeptic atheistic apologists -- people like Achrachne, Kornform, and Snakepiper -- engage in so many long, drawn out, often contentious debates with Christians? When asked, they will often claim that they are simply trying to come to a better understanding of what Christians believe. When their strident, caustic, hyper-skeptical approach betrays the falsehood of this objective, they will frequently switch to the claim that they are simply trying to test their own beliefs concerning the nonexistence of God or the historical Jesus against the arguments of Christians and other theists. This seems to be a possible explanation for their activity. Their continual challenge to the beliefs of Christians and other theists would certainly be consistent with this approach. However, a close examination of their approach, arguments, tactics, and rhetoric, and especially when one considers what they steadfastly refuse to do -- to wit, submit their own sources, arguments, perspectives to the same kind of critical assessments that they demand of us -- the falsehood of their claim that they're just testing their own beliefs against ours become quite apparent. To put it simply, when one spends several weeks or months in a prolonged debate with one or more of these
hyper-skeptics, it becomes very apparent that there is absolutely no real desire to engage in a balanced, open, reasonable discourse with Christians. They express no desire to actually learn about what we believe, for if they were so interested they would eventually cease articulating the same old
strawman arguments and would recognize that their stereotypical characterization of Christianity has been accepted because it makes it easy for them to justify their rejection -- and, in some cases, abject hatred -- of us. Were they truly open to a reasoned, open, balanced debate, their arguments would change and shift when brought into contact with our arguments ... not, necessarily, because they agreed with us, but simply because ANY and ALL real debates involve both an exchange of ideas and an evolution of comprehension and articulation in one's arguments. This evolution of thought is very apparent on the part of Christians, but it is rarely, if ever, seen on the part of the
hyper-skeptics. Their arguments are, today, exactly the same as they were two, three, and five years ago.
Their approach, their arguments, their rhetoric never changes. This is symptomatic of their severe unwillingness to actually engage us in an equal debate. Rather, as many of us have suspected for a long time, their desire is not to learn, grow, or come to a stronger understanding of our or their own beliefs. Rather, their entire purpose in these debates is to make more atheists.
I'm certain that there will be some hyper-skeptics who will protest this assertion, and claim that they have no such desire. Indeed, we've seen them protest such accusations, and claim innocent motives, in the past. However, even their own words can be shown to betray their true intentions in these debates. As evidence of this, I would like to introduce the words of both Achrachne and Kornform from 1996. While I suspect a degree of sarcastic disingenuousness in the following statements, I nevertheless believe that there is far more truth to the stated objectives
than they would like us to believe.
The following was posted, more than three years ago, in the Truth or Fiction Folder of the Christianity Online Message Board. It was posted at a time when, I suspect, they believed there to be few Christians active and reading on the board. However, we were watching ... and recording ...
as the following demonstrates. Please, note how both their own words and their self-righteous arrogance betrays their true intentions:
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Re: Subj: A Book, Yes, a Book!
Date: 96-09-07 02:53:42 edt
From: Achrachne
A: JoyUnltd asked, for reasons not clear to me, whether Dennis/Snakepiper is writing a book. Whatever its motivation, I think it's a fine idea!
Dennis, if you'll write it, I'll buy multiple copies and give them to every believer I know! I'm drooling in anticipation at their responses. This could be just the thing we need! Reason might yet prevail!
K: Me too. Dardedar also wrote a book of Bible contradictions which I haven't gotten around to buying yet, but will shortly (too many distractions at my now-part time job which I may shortly quit).
A: Perhaps we could get Ariex and Kornform ("Bible Science" ?) to write books as well. The full trilogy should be enough to destroy the "faith" of a huge number of Christians: at least all the ones willing to listen to reason. That's at least 50 or so, isn't it? Well heck, at least there are a lot of us semi-rational folk who'd enjoy seeing all these arguments pulled together in one place. The Bible is such an influential piece of literature, but is so poorly written and organized, that most of us (and that includes ALL
Christians) have not managed to achieve mastery of its content. It would be great if those of you who really have learned your way around in it could provide the rest of us with some guidance.
K: I can't claim any special competence in Biblical studies except I can smell a scam when I see one and am willing to do research and logical analysis into specific topics I wish to address. I have read Ball & Foote's book from American Atheists and read ALL of Dennis McKinsey Biblical Errancy stuff. If there is anyone who can write Bible contradictions it is he. Also Michael Matin's books.
A: Writing a book couldn't be much more work than all the posting you guys do and might reach a wider audience. Perhaps you could just collect all your old posts into a sort of anthology.
K: In fact there is such a book entitled "Holy Hell" consisting of a year's worth of posts on a "God" debate from ONE AOL forum. Paperback, lots of white space, about 250 pages. Really a bad production. Every 3rd or 4th page
consists of just a quip or pseudofunny remark.
I'm positive we could do MUCH better.
A: [Unfortunately, there probably aren't more than a few dozen people aware of the
scintillating discussion going on here in "Truth or Fiction". The authority of the Bible has been demonstrated to be nil, and yet 99%+ of Christians will proceed in their faith unaware of what has happened. These people need to be saved!]
K: Yes they are lost. Our book would have to be cheap, easy to read and to the point, plus comprehensive enough to answer all the major arguments. Perhaps I can write an outline and send it to an E-mail group here for round-robin editing and work on the thing in stages. Anybody game?
A: Yes, a book. That's what we need! Dennis? Ariex? Kornform?
K: Not only a book, but a web page? I hear that's the future.
The Internet Infidels has a good site and the area addressing Josh McDowell's screed is good as well but a little drawn out. We may also need illustrations. Perhaps to get to most Christians, we'll need cartoons the like's of Jack Chick's publications. Or write a short book and expand on it on the Internet.
I suggest J T Facts, Dardedar, Plane man, Ariex, Yourself, REDSOX3 and SnakePiper participate to one degree or another. I will E-mail this post to all of them.
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When dealing with hyper-skeptics such as these, it should always behoove us to pay attention to such objectives, and such attitudes, and take them into account when engaging them in protracted debates. Our purpose in such debates must always be to glorify Christ and lift up the apostolic Faith.
Hence, we must recognize that, by our own power and might, we will never convince such atheistic apologists. By our own ability, we will never "turn" any of these people, nor will we ever be likely to have them concede to us "victory" in any debate.
As can be seen in my debate with SnakePiper of the issue of the meaning of the Greek word Miseuo, they will almost always strive to achieve the last word for, in so doing, they believe they can claim the victory. When they do this, however, they remind me of the hilarious scene in "Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail," in which the knight who lost both arms and legs in a fight with King Arthur nevertheless steadfastly refused to give up and, indeed, claimed victory when Arthur attempted to leave. The
hyper-skeptics may crow "victory" with their dying breath as we retire the battlefield, but we -- and those who have followed our debates -- know the truth: they
proclaim a hollow victory while lying, face down in a bitter pool moaning with a
sword in their back, indeed.
Praise be to God ... the true Victory is always in our Lord Jesus Christ!
Grace and Peace,
Greg+ Books by Rev. Neal
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