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Dialog with Skeptics Exercises
(The plan is to have at least three per lesson eventually.
The active links below are those that are ready for use.)
Course 1 Discerning Motives
Introduction Specks & Logs, Dogs & Hogs, and Holy Pearls
(Series Introduction)
Matt 10:18-20 vs 1 Peter 3:14-16
Matt 7:1-2 vs Matt 7:15-20
Lesson 1 Motives (Course Introduction)
Falsifiability
Matt 22:39 vs 1 Cor 5:13
Lesson 2 Credibility Attack (John 8:12-19)
Proving God Exists
John 5:31 vs John 8:14
Lesson 3 Manipulation (John 10:22-30)
Feast of Dedication
John 10:27-29 vs 1 Tim 4:1
Lesson 4 Plea for Comfort (John 11:17-27)
God is Love
John 11:38-44 vs Col 1:18
Lesson 5 Information Request (John 14:1-7)
Son of Man
Lesson 6 Learned Helplessness (John 14:8-11)
Legalism vs Grace
Lesson 7 Reversing Accountability (Jn 14:21-26)
Miracle Hunter
Extra Ordinary Evidence
Lesson 8 Our Ignorance Exposed (John 9:1-41)
Bible is Complete
Course 2 Illogical Questions
Lesson 1 Loaded Question (Matt 22:15-22)
Jesus is the One
Lesson 2 False Presumption (Matt 22:23-33)
Bible Biology
God is not a myth
Lesson 3 Pointless Question (Matt 22:34-40)
Vast Universe
Lesson 4 Disguised Accusation (Matt 21:23-27)
Is God a bully?
Lesson 5 Pretense of Ignorance (Matt 11:2-6)
Existence of Zeus
Course 3 The Existence of God
Lesson 1 Primary Cause (Cosmological)
Cosmological Argument
Lesson 2 Argument from Design (Teleological)
Law Giver
Lesson 3 Argument from Desire (Ontological)
Meaning of Life
Christianity a Myth?
Lesson 4 Argument from Observation (Common Sense)
Basis for Belief
Spirituality in Retreat?
Course 4 The Nature of God
Lesson 1 Creator
Was God tired?
Lesson 2 Holy & Just
Exodus 20:5 vs Ezekiel 18:20
God Decieves?
Can we see God's face?
Lesson 3 All Knowing
How much does God know?
Lesson 4 Everywhere Present
Does God come and go?
Is God far away?
Is he Praying Nonsense?
Lesson 5 Power without Limit
Miracle Experiments?
Violating Natural Laws?
Lesson 6 Light
Angel of Light?
Are Allah and God the same?
Lesson 7 Spirit
Did they see Jesus?
Lesson 8 Love
Love or Hate?
Lesson 9 Eternal and Complete
Num 23:19 vs Jonah 3:10
Course 5 Jesus Christ
Lesson 1 Who is Jesus Christ?
Is Jesus Listening?
Is Jesus the King?
Was Jesus created?
Lesson 2 Jesus Christ the Miracle Worker
Loving your enemy?
Are Miracles Myths?
Lesson 3 Jesus Christ the Sacrifice
Cleansing Needed?
Take Up Your Cross?
Lesson 4 Jesus Christ Fulfilled Prophecy
Was Jesus afraid?
Elijah or John?
Lesson 5 Jesus Christ is Lord
Does Jesus judge?
Course 6 The Resurrection
Lesson 1 Death on the Cross
Why did Jesus Die?
Did Jesus Die?
When in Paradise?
Lesson 2 Burial in a New Tomb
Matt 27:57-61 vs John 19:38-42
Lesson 3 Resurrection Day
Mark 16:6-11 vs Matt 28:5-10
Lesson 4 After the Resurrection
Was Jesus' Body Stolen
Resurrection a Hallucination?
How many resurrections?
Lesson 5 Prophecy Fulfilled
How many days and nights?
Is Resurrection Possible?
Course 7 Holy Spirit
Lesson 1 The Holy Spirit in Romans
Rom 8:28 vs 2 Tim 3:12
Lesson 2 The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Gen 6:3 vs Gen 9:29
Lesson 3 The Holy Spirit in the Gospels
Mark 3:29 vs 1 John 1:9
Lesson 4 The Holy Spirit in Acts
Acts 1:16-19 vs Matt 27:3-7
Lesson 5 The Holy Spirit in the Epistles
Jdg 14:19 vs Gal 5:22-23
Course 8 Trinity
Lesson 1 Omnipotence, Omniscience & Omnipresence
Gen 32:30 vs Ex 33:20
Is the word "Trinity" in the Bible?
Is the Trinity Real?
Lesson 2 Immutable, Eternal & Holy
Was Jesus Insane?
Lesson 3 Omnibenevolent, Luminance & Creator
Is He God of War or Love?
Lesson 4 Three Distinct Persons
Is the Trinity in the Old Testament?
Lesson 5 Three in One
Is Jesus Lord?
Is Christianity Rational?
Course 9 Bible Reliability
Lesson 1 The Bible is the Testimony of Witnesses
Is Paul a Liar?
Lesson 2 Confirmation from Early Christians
2 Chron 36:9 vs Kings 24:8
Lesson 3 Confirmation from Secular History
Is Herod Innocent?
Are Bible authors biased?
Is Jesus a myth?
Lesson 4 Archeological Confirmation
2 Sam 6:23 vs 2 Sam 21:8
Lesson 5 The Bible is Self-Consistent
2 Sam 8:4 vs 1 Chron 18:4
Who wrote Deuteronomy?
John 3:13 vs 2 Kings 2:11
1 Sam 17 vs 2 Sam 21:19
Num 25:9 vs. 1 Cor 10:8
Course 10 God's Holy Bible
Lesson 1 The Bible is Important
How was the canon formed?
Lesson 2 The Bible Claims to be God's Word
1 Cor 1:17 vs Matt 28:19
Is it circular reasoning?
Lesson 3 The Bible has many Fulfilled Prophecies
Were prophesies added?
Are miracles possible?
Lesson 4 The Bible is Consistent with the Truth
Do snakes fly?
Is the Bible out of date?
Does the earth have pillars?
Lesson 5 The Bible Speaks with God's Voice
Are we delusional?
Why is the Bible ambiguous?
Is the Biblical god, God?
Lesson 6 Bonus Lesson: Responding to Skeptics
Why are words missing?
Why are meanings changed?
Why don't versions agree?
Course 11 The Fall of Man
Lesson 1 Created in the Image of God
Do we look like God?
Is God competent?
Rom 3:23 vs Gen 6:9
Lesson 2 The Fall into Sin - Lost
Is God cruel?
Is God powerful?
Lesson 3 Cleansing Sin with the Blood
Is God just?
Is blood atonement immoral?
How does blood cleanse?
Lesson 4 Sovereign God; Helpless Man
Was Jesus a racist?
Can only God save us?
Lesson 5 Taking Responsibility
Is there more than one way?
Does God love everyone?
Course 12 The Problem of Evil
Lesson 1 A good God would destroy evil
Does God deceive?
How could a loving God?
Lesson 2 An all-powerful God would destroy evil
Why only one way?
Who is Satan?
Lesson 3 Evil is not destroyed
How could God allow this?
Why is there so much evil?
Lesson 4 Therefore, there is not a good and powerful God
Is Jesus the One?
Is God crude?
Lesson 5 Evil was a necessary risk so we could have Free Will
Is the Bible crude?
What is moral and immoral?
Lesson 6 Evil is temporary, Good is permanent
Was Jesus insulting?
Does God create evil?
Lesson 7 God often uses Evil against itself
Why does Adam's sin matter?
Lesson 8 Bonus Lesson: Atheist Attacks
Exodus 20:5 vs Ezekiel 18:20
Was Jesus rude?
Is God competent?
Why does God need sacrifice?
Why send people to Hell?
Why is God wrathful?
Why evil?
Course 13 Discipleship
Lesson 1 Those Who Truly Love God Obey Him
Have you given enough?
Lesson 2 Obeying God? Commands Leads to Blessings
Shall we drink poison?
Lesson 3 The Cost of Discipleship
Matt 15:4 vs Luke 14:26
Lesson 4 What Does God Expect Us to Do?
Take Up Your Cross?
Lesson 5 The New and Old Covenant
Leviticus 17:12 vs John 6:54
Course 14 Angels & Demons
Lesson 1 Angels are Powerful and God's Servants
Does God create evil?
Lesson 2 God Uses His Angels to Minister to Mankind
Is Jesus with us now?
Lesson 3 Satan is real, powerful and Our Enemy
1 Cor 8:4 vs 2 Cor 4:4
Lesson 4 Demons are Fallen Angels
What causes demonic activity?
Course 15 Heaven & Hell
Lesson 1 Is There More Than One Heaven?
Was Jesus touchable?
Lesson 2 The Kingdom of Heaven
Is Heaven perfect?
Does everyone go to Heaven?
Lesson 3 Father and Son in Heaven
Does Heaven have inequality?
Lesson 4 The Nature of Hell
If God is Love, why Hell?
Are the rich doomed?
Lesson 5 The Residents of Hell
Is Hell the right punishment?
Course 16 End Times Prophecy
Lesson 1 Introduction & Prelude
Was Jesus a pyromaniac?
Lesson 2 Rapture & Second Coming
Did Jesus promote murder?
Lesson 3 Resurrection & Judgement
Was Jesus lying?
Course 17 Creationism vs. Evolution
Lesson 1 Five Points of View
Six Day Creation?
Old Earth Creationist Response
Young Earth Creationist Response
Theistic Evolutionist Response
Lesson 2 Poetry or Prose?
Gen 1:11 vs Gen 2:5
Lesson 3 The Gap Theory?
How old is the Universe?
Lesson 4 Thousands or Millions of Years?
How old is the Earth?
Lesson 5 Life or Death?
Why was Cain afraid?
Was The Curse justified?
Lesson 6 The Flood
Is the flood story a myth?
Why different races of people?
Lesson 7 The Tower of Babel
Don't languages evolve?
Gen 10:5 vs Gen 11:1-9
Lesson 8 Bonus Lesson: Skeptic's Attacks
How old are the stars?
Was The Flood justified?
Was there a flood?
Was there only one flood?
What is Intlelligent Design?
Why is Creationism in disfavor?
Who was Cain's wife?
Course 18 Worldviews in Collision
Lesson 1 God Gives Meaning to Life
Why is God so violent?
Lesson 2 The Spiritual World
Why are Christians arrogant?
Lesson 3 Existence of Ethics
Is God a bully?
Lesson 4 Existence of the Universe
Are talking animals real?
Lesson 5 Law Implies Lawgiver
Are laws universal?
Is it possible to know Truth?
Lesson 6 Bonus Lesson: Skeptic's Attacks
Why are there textual problems?
Do you preach to animals?
Matt 10:34 vs Matt 26:52
Why do Christians subjugate women?
Why do Christians hate homosexuals?
Why are you a Christian?
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This is a series of exercise worksheets designed to be used with role playing exercises we do when we teach the class to a group. If you print it front and back each one has a skeptic's attack and a place to make notes about it on the front, and some clues and hints on the back showing how the dialog actually went with a real atheist, and/or how it might go.
These sheets could be used in any number of ways, but the way we do it for each person to fill in the work sheet prayerfully and thoughfully. Then a team is formed, a spokesmen are selected, and the team discusses the best way to answer the question of objection from the skeptic. Than someone plays the role of the skeptic and the issue is discussed. Like this:
AGENDA
(This is just the way we do it. See alternatives below.)
STEP #1
Teams of three to five are formed. The worksheets are printed without the answers and hints on the back. One each is distributed to everyone in the class. Each team has a different question or objection, but each team member has the same one as the others on their team. Each person prayerfully and thoughtfully completes the worksheet on their own.
STEP #2
Each team must select people to fulfill several roles as part of planning your response to the skeptic's attack. You may want to use the "Questions Consider" below to plan your response. These are the roles:
Team Member (Everyone) - Participates fully in the pre-role play planning.
Spokesperson 1 - Engages in the main conversation with the unbeliever in the next step.
Spokesperson 2 - Prays for & stands with #1, ready to help if he runs out of responses.
Unbeliever - Argues the wrong side of the dispute. (This is played by someone not on this team in the next step, but you might want to have someone give this a try just in your group as part of your preparation.)
Evaluator(s) – Gives constructive and encouraging feedback during the open discussion at the end of the evening.
Using the worksheets they have completed, each team discusses how best to respond to the skeptic's objection or question.
STEP #3
Someone (class leader usually) takes on the role of the skeptic and a argument is role played.
STEP #4
A general discussion is carried out about what was learned from the role play.
ROLES
These are some of the roles we use:.
Dr. Angry Atheist has a PhD in Biology. Some 20 years ago his two children were killed and his wife consigned to life in a wheel chair by a drunk driver. The drunk driver was the “minister” of a small cult that had the word “Christian” in its name. He all but got away with it because of a mistake made by the police crime lab. Dr. Atheist is sure it was a deliberate cover up by “those Christians” and so hates God and Christians. He tells himself that he is doing the world a service by delivering people from the clutches of the hateful Christian God. His tactic is to make his Christian students feel small and stupid in hopes that they too will learn to hate. He will never acknowledge that it is illogical to hate something you believe does not exist.
Professor Peter Polite has a PhD in Theology. He calls himself an agnostic and has written several popular “bashing the Bible for bucks books.” He does not believe absolute truth exists, unaware of the irony of his believing this absolutely. He thinks anyone who believes they know the truth is arrogant and prideful and thinks he is doing them a favor if he humbles them and creates doubt in their minds. Unlike the sarcastic condescension of Dr. Atheist above, Prof. Polite is always kind and self-effacing. He will never acknowledge that the god he believes in is himself.
Instructor Henry Hedonist has an MA in Psychology. He claims to believe in “Science” apparently unaware that science is a process for increasing our knowledge of the truth rather than the truth itself. He views Christians, indeed all “religious” people, as judgmental and inhibited. He thinks he is doing them a favor if he can get them to give up religion so they can loosen up and start enjoying themselves. In his heart, he is afraid God might exist, but he does not want to acknowledge Him because he thinks he would have to give up his sinful pleasures, of which there are many.
Sometimes we step outside these roles and play a Hindu, or Sikh or Moslem or something else. The character may or may not talk about his background.
ALTERNATIVES
[Alpha] The entire class forms a single team.
[Beta] Each individual analyzes and thinks on their own.
[Gamma] Usually we put the atheist/skeptic in a role of authority to make it tougher, but they could also be a subordinate or peer.
[Delta] Usually, the person playing the role of the atheist/skeptic is the only one who gets to see the possible answers on the back of the sheet. You might vary that by allowing everyone to see them, or let the atheist role player be the only one who does NOT see them.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
You may want to consider these questions as you fill out the worksheet:
[A1] Does a particular Bible verse or passage come to mind as you consider the skeptic's attack? What?
[A2] If he quotes the Bible, did he do so accurately and what is the context?
[B] FINDING THE FLAWS (Suggested by Tactics by Greg Koukl)
Chapter 1 - What is your role or purpose in this conversation?
Chapter 2 - Is the person you are talking with likely to be reasonable?
Chapter 3 - What exactly is he saying?
Chapter 4 - Who has the burden of proof?
Chapter 5 - What do you already know about the issue he raised?
Chapter 6 - What do you think his goal or purpose is in raising this issue?
Chapter 7 - Does his assertion contradict itself?
Chapter 8 - Is his argument inconsistent with his own worldview?
Chapter 9a - Does his claim contradict other claims made by him earlier?
Chapter 9b - Does what he is saying depend on unproven/unspoken ideas?
Chapter 10 - Does his idea lead to something absurd or crazy?
Chapter 11 - Is he being logical or emotional?
Chapter 12 - If he is quoting an expert, is the expert really an expert?
Chapter 13 - Are his facts, factual? If so, are they really about this issue?
Chapter 14 - If his argument is logical and factual, why is it still unconvincing?
[C1] If you identified an important error in his thinking, what question(s) can you ask that exposes this flaw to scrutiny?
OR
[C2] If you don't see anything wrong right away, what question(s) can you ask to buy time and/or gain more information?
[D] What are some of the ways you think the unbeliever might answer your question(s) or response(s)?
[E] How will you respond to the answers the unbeliever is most likely to use?
[F] Repeat steps D & E for as much time as you have.
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