Anyone who has attended college, I hope has had the pleasure of witnessing the Bible Blasters that often occupy the campus’ free speech area. You may ask, “Bible Blasters?” I refer to them as Bible Blasters for the sole reason that one or 2 (usually) men occupy the free speech area and yell bible verses at the passing students, and some students try to challenge the claims and ask for “proof” of God and Christianity. Both sides use poor logic and weak arguments to simplify a complex idea. The challengers are rarely seeking an answer, but simply the satisfaction of having the Bible Blasters either be speechless or admit that they are wrong. I assure you, neither will ever happen.
My own personal beliefs aside, I asked a Bible Blaster a question that almost accomplished this feat. I asked if he believed that everyone had free will, or if he believed in predestination. Luckily Bible Blaster No. 1 answered with free will; had it been the latter a whole new bag of issues could have been brought up relating to the capability of human cruelty. I then responded, “If you believe in free will, then you believe that men have the choice to make their own decisions. I think everyone here can agree that the idea of God is very complex. The existence of a god cannot be proven or disproved scientifically, philosophically or logically. Could it not be the case that the idea of a god was interpreted by free choice according to a groups’ culture and surroundings and construed in their own way. Most major religions have the same basic principle that if you are a good person you are rewarded in the end. Why can’t it be the case that all paths to God are correct?”
That Bible Blaster paused. PAUSED. A small step for man and a giant step for mankind, he paused, and then gave me logically irrelevant account of why I was wrong. But truly, the idea of God is the most complex idea the human brain can ever attempt to grasp. Even quantum physics deals with things inside of our own corporeal reality. The idea of god is infinite, omnipotent, omniscient. In a finite world, these are ideas that are impossible to truly grasp the extent of.
It is ignorant and arrogant to assume that one group of finite two-legged beings interpreted the immensely complex idea perfectly correct in a book. Those who get so heated in defending their religion and so intolerant of a difference in opinion, ask yourself what grounding you truly have outside of a book and faith that the book is absolute truth.
So Help Me Jesus,
worstginaever
10 Mar 2011Very thoughtful article. There are so many versions of the “truth” out there, so many different religions, and everyone is so sure their version is right. Do they ever realize that obviously everyone else who believes something different thinks they are JUST as correct?
Wardell Franklin
11 Mar 2011My question has always been, if God is the creator of all and he has found it in his infinite wisdom to create people of different color, culture and language; why can HE only present himself in one way?
bodies of knowledge
11 Mar 2011All logical arguments for and against god/s aside. I think Bible Blasters (as they are called here) are fascinating. An ethnographic study of these folks would make for a great Ph. D dissertaion. One day I saw an 5 foot tall 89 lb. girl in 6 inch red leather heels launch into one of the blasters. I don’t recall the nature of her argument, but the spectacle of her circling her head atop her pencile thin neck and acting just about as rediculous as the blaster was very amusing. Quick someone get out your spiral notebook and a video camera, this is a wonder that diserves serious study. Who are these peopl;e are they affiliated with particular organizations or is this freelance work; if any; do they seek to convert, frighten, gain attention…; what do they do when they are not blasting; is there a textual foundation for this behavior? The urban religious jungle is so fascinating.
Tovah Lynne Ubermensch
21 Mar 2011I completely agree. I almost feel like it could be a psychological study. Who knows maybe it will be mine one day!! But as I said, they are on our campus several times each semester, and every time the audience is just as bad as the Blaster. It’s not about getting answers or even a nice debate. Each side just wants the other to admit they are wrong. I usually get some really good people watching in. 🙂