| Why Do Atheists Debate Theists Oct 27th 2011, 10:04 Why Do Atheists Debate Theists?: There is a common perception that there must be 'something more' to atheism than simply disbelief in gods because atheists often engage in debates with theists. After all, what's the point of debating if not to convert someone to some other philosophy or religion? It is, then, legitimate to ask why atheists get involved in such debates and what they hope to achieve. Does this indicate that atheism is some sort of philosophy or even a religion? No, the reasons why atheists debate religion, study religion, or get involved with religion in any way varies from atheist to atheist. Why Atheists Debate Theists...Why Do Atheists Ask for Proof of God?: When atheists and theists debate the existence of gods, atheists ask for proof of the god that the theist claims exist. Why? That is a difficult question to answer because while atheists often ask theists for proof that their god exists, sometimes they shouldn't. Asking for proof sometimes ends up confusing the important issues, causing distraction, and leading the conversation away from where it should be. When theists make very general claims, they should be expected to support those claims; when they indicate they may have proof, they should be expected to provide that proof. Why Atheists Ask for Proof of God...Why Do Atheists Promote Atheism?: Some religious theists find it odd that atheists have web sites that explain, discuss, and defend atheism. If atheism is not a philosophy or religion, what's the point? If atheists don't believe in God, why spend so much time discussing God? Such theists misunderstand the purpose and nature of atheist sites. The origin of this misunderstanding may lie in the fact that atheism and religion are completely separate categories, and as such cannot be directly contrasted. If I can be said to be trying to spread anything, it is skepticism and critical thinking from an atheistic perspective. Why Atheists Promote Atheism....Atheists, Anti-Theism, and God: If atheism is just disbelief in gods, then there's no reason for atheists to be critical of theism and religion. If atheists are critical, it means they are anti-theists and anti-religious, right? It's understandable why some come to this conclusion, but it represents a failure to appreciate cultural trends in the West which have led to the high correlation between atheism, religious dissent, resistance to Christian hegemony, and freethought. Atheism is not the same as anti-theism, but there are reasons why atheists care about religion enough to be critically and skeptically engaged. Atheists, Anti-Theism, and God...Which is Better, Atheism or Theism? Why Should Anyone Consider Atheism?: Given the fact that atheism and theism are mutually exclusive, and how atheists and theists debate so much, it might seem natural to wonder which of the two is "better." This is a difficult question to answer, though, because "better" is ambiguous. Does this ask which is more useful, which is more comforting, which is more likely true, etc.? There need not be a single answer to all these questions because what's true and useful may not be comforting. Since the question likely comes from theists, though, perhaps it's meant to ask whether atheism has anything to offer them. Which is Better, Atheism or Theism...How to Talk to, Debate Atheists: Ways Religious Theists can Avoid Common Errors: When religious theists debate religion and theism with atheists, it's common to make a lot of mistakes about atheism and atheists themselves. There are many myths and misconceptions which can be easily avoided with a minimal amount of effort. Religious theists need to familiarize themselves with what atheism is, common arguments and their rebuttals, the basics of logical arguments, etc. If you don't even try to learn such things, what's the point of having a conversation in the first place? How to Talk to, Debate Atheists...How to Talk to, Debate Theists: Ways Atheists Can Avoid Common Errors: It's common for atheists to debate theists, or at least just discuss religion and theism with religious believers, but even so there are many mistakes atheists can and do make in the process. Some are easier to avoid than others, but if you really want a productive and substantive conversation it's important to watch out for all of them. You should familiarize yourself with basic logical fallacies, learn to be patient, be prepared to support your claims, and know when it's time to quit. How to Talk to, Debate Theists...Conversation Killers for Atheists: How Religious Theists Can Hurt Their Cause: Atheists and theists frequently get into debates over the existence of gods, the nature of religion, whether religions do more harm than good, etc. Every atheist and theist are different, but a lot of these conversations hit the same topics and run into the same problems. Both sides can be at fault, but there are errors which theists make that kill any chance at having a productive, interesting, and substantive discussion. These errors can be avoided if theists know about them in advance. Conversation Killers for Atheists...Are Atheist Critiques of Religion too Simplistic?: Whenever atheists criticize or attack religion, religious beliefs, or theism, religious theists of course seek some way to respond. Sometimes they may able to show that the atheists' arguments are unsound in some manner, but very often they have to acknowledge the validity of criticisms of particular religious beliefs and doctrines. At this point, it becomes common to argue that atheists are attacking only simplistic versions of religion, not the "real" and sophisticated versions. Atheists Don't Need to Focus on Sophisticated Theology  | |
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