Why won’t you answer my Question?

As part of my digression from the mundane and boring (namely work, Mon-Fri), I like to frequent blogs that are written by devout religious believers.  For some reason, I simply can’t help but read the writings of people who truly believe that there is an omnipotent deity who loves them and looks out for them and so on and so forth.  To quote Christopher Hitchens when asked a question on whether he found a particular religious going-on interesting or crazy, he said “Both.  I find it both crazy and interesting.”  That pretty much sums up my position as well.

Anywho, now that I am done with the digressing, I’ll make my point.  I’ve noticed that there is a tendency, that when cornered and asked a direct question, religious people will do their utmost to duck and bob and weave and avoid actually answering the question at all costs.  I believe I know why they do it, but I still find it very strange nonetheless.  I also find it strange that they don’t notice and/or care that they do this.  On the one hand, they have the courage to assert that they know something they can’t possibly know and that they have answers to very profound and deeply meaningful questions:  Namely, how the universe came to be, why it came to be, and the purpose of your very existence.  Apparently those are very simple questions to answer.  But, on the other hand simple questions pose a very big problem.  For example, ask a religious person where they get their sense of right and wrong or where they get their morals from.  They have no problem telling you that it comes from God.  Instantly, they know the answer to that question.  However, when you ask them if God hadn’t done this, would they still know how to do good or act morally, they suddenly clam up or change the subject (or if you are on their site, erase the question and pretend it never existed).  Now what I have said here certainly applies to religious people, but it also applies to the “I am an atheist, but…” crowd as well.  It applies to anyone as a matter of fact.  If you make an assertion and someone asks you a direct question about that assertion, you should damn well answer it.  If you can’t or won’t and instead resort to any of the above tactics or start making more assertions “you’re speaking from a position of privilege!” or “you’re being offensive!” or any other whining like that, you are being dishonest and disingenuine.  You are conversing/arguing in bad faith.  If that’s the case, then you might want to consider excusing yourself because you have declared yourself incompetent to take part in a meaningful conversation.  In other words, apart from wasting yours and everyone else’s time, you’re embarrassing yourself.  You wouldn’t want to do that would you?