How to Talk to, Debate Atheists: Ways Religious Theists can Avoid Common Errors

Familiarize Yourself with What Atheism Is and Is Not:

It doesn't make sense to try to discuss atheism, theism, or religion with atheists if you aren't already at least a little familiar with what atheism is. Many churches and apologetics books have misinformed people about how dictionaries and atheists themselves define atheism: it's just the absence of belief in gods, not the positive denial of your god's existence. Some atheists go on to deny some or all gods; others don't. You can't assume you know what any particular atheist does so you'll have to ask. If you at least show familiarity with the arguments, you'll start out on a positive note. What Is Atheism?

Ask Questions, Don't Make Assumptions:

You know what happens when you make assumptions, right? A significant problem which atheists have with theists is how so many make all sorts of assumptions about atheism, atheists, and anyone who isn't religious. Many of the most common myths about atheism and atheists are derived from people making easily dispelled assumptions rather than just asking simple questions.

If you ask genuine (not rhetorical) questions and evince an interest in learning, you'll put others in a positive frame of mind and make them much more inclined to discuss things with you. Common Mistakes & Assumptions...

Believe Us When We Say We Don't Believe in Gods and Aren't Religious:

As if making lots of assumptions weren’t bad enough, some theists presume to know our minds better than we do — even though they don't know anything about us except for a few exchanged words online! You can't have a serious conversation with a person if you're going to keep telling them what they "really" think and what they "really" are. That's rude and uncalled for. If an atheist says that they don't believe in any gods and have no religion, you shouldn't try to tell them that they are wrong without very, very good reasons. Atheism Doesn't Involve Worship...


Atheists Aren't Trying to Undermine Liberty or Eat Your Baby:

One sure way to eliminate any chances of a productive conversation with an atheist is to enter it under the assumption that atheists are evil, are conspiring to ban Christianity, or want to harm your family. If that's your attitude, then you should take a second look at why you are trying to have a conversation with someone you regard as so depraved and evil. What is your real goal and what do you expect to get out of this? Atheists get tired of being told that they are enemies of freedom and America, so please don't bother, OK? Atheists Aren't Imposing a Religion on America...


Discuss, Don't Proselytize or Preach — Discussion is a Two-Way Street:

There's a difference between a discussion and preaching. A discussion is a two-way street where both contribute and what each person says actually reflects something they have taken from what the other says. In a discussion, you have to listen to what the other is saying and respond directly to it. When a person is preaching, though, they aren't really paying attention to what the other says. None of their statements reflect their having noticed or taken anything from others. If you want to have a discussion with an atheist, great, but please don't use the pretense of a discussion as a platform to practice preaching.


Is it Possible That You Could Be Wrong? If Not, What Are You Doing?

Ask yourself if it's possible, at least in theory, that you could be mistaken about things you believe (regarding theism and religion). If so, then a discussion or debate with an atheist has the possibility of providing you with something to learn and think about. If not, then what is the point of having a discussion with an atheist? Is it just something you are doing to preach and hopefully convert them? If so, see above. Please take stock of your motives and goals before proceeding because you might find that you aren't going into this with the best of intentions.


Familiarize Yourself with Common Errors in Reasoning & Logical Fallacies:

It would be nice if schools in America merely did a poor job at educating students in logic and arguments, because most do no job at all. Few people even know what a logical fallacy is, much less how to identify one in an argument. Atheists make plenty of mistakes in this, too, but when theists offer arguments in defense of theism to atheists it's common to see the same mistakes over and over. If you're going to talk to or debate atheists, please become familiar with common mistakes and fallacies which people make: you'll be able to avoid them and you'll notice when others commit them. Logical Fallacies...


Familiarize Yourself with Common Arguments & Common Refutations:

Atheists often hear the exact same arguments over and over from one theist after another. This isn't surprising because there are a limited number of arguments defending the existence of gods, but the problem lies in presenting the simplest forms of the same arguments. There is rarely any evidence that the theist realizes either that there are more sophisticated versions or that there are easy refutations of what the theist is offering. Providing the same, obvious rebuttals to the same, superficial arguments gets annoying, especially when more interesting options exist. Common Arguments for God...


Just Because the Bible Says It, Doesn't Mean that Settles It For Us:

Many Christians treat the Bible as the first, last, and ultimate authority for everything in their lives. It records instructions from their god and, of course, their god isn't to be disobeyed. Atheists don't believe in the Christians' god, obviously, and therefore also don't believe that the Bible has any special political, moral, social, or religious authority. Christians don't always realize this and as a result sometimes quote the Bible in discussions with atheists as through these passages should settle any disagreements. That just won't work, though, so please try to keep this in mind.


Don't Pray for Us, Or At Least Don't Announce that You're Praying for Us:

It happens far too often that a theist will tell an atheist "I'll pray for you." Atheists obviously don't believe in the power of prayer, but even the theist who does can't believe that prayer will be more effective for having announced it to the atheist. So what's the purpose? Some say that it's to express well-wishes, but in that context people say that they'll pray for someone when the person is sick or having trouble. One way or another, the theist appears to be expressing superiority over atheists in a passive-aggressive manner that atheists often interpret as rude, arrogant, and condescending.


http://atheism.about.com/od/atheismatheiststheism/p/HowDebate.htm

KashyBaby:
Oh this is interesting...


Let me ask u Sir.. whats ur view about LGBT in Ng?

As we can see that d majority of the local ppol are against homosexuality..

verboten:
What do you think about spirituality? Is it something that atheists can benefit from and should they try to embrace it?

UncleSnr:
Drop your issues, thoughts and questions, let Atheist in the house give their insight on them.

MrPresident1:

Sir, atheism, is it a disbelief in God or a disbelief in religion?

johnydon22:

Disbelief in all Gods.. an atheist can still be religious

UncleSnr:
Drop your issues, thoughts and questions, let Atheist in the house give their insight on them.

UncleSnr:
I am not against LGBT, but the Law of the land detest it. As a law abiding citizen, you should abide by the law of the Land. If you think it is part of you, you should practice it secretly with your gay partner. or better still seek asylum in countries that accepts people with same mindset.

analice107:

Sir, why do atheists finds it hard to maintain the fact that there is indeed no God?
What am trying to say is, why do they blame God whenever a natural disaster occurs? If there's no God shouldn't it be that it's just a natural occurrence which people happened to die in the process?

analice107:

Atheists can still be religious?
I thought religion is the adherence to a god or gods?

Oluwaseytiano:
When believers use the earth as being perfect to sustain life as proof of existence of a creator, its only natural that an atheist points to the disasters to counter the claim

johnydon22:


I continue to wonder how that simple sarcasm is difficult for people to understand... Atheists hold a view that nothing controls nature, so when a believer thinks his/her God does, they now point at natural disasters and then tell the believer his/her god is directly responsible for that

johnydon22:

It depends on your idea of spirituality ... what does the word 'spirituality' mean to you?

johnydon22:


Nope here is the definition of Religion Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices, mythologies, world views, sacred texts, holy places, ethics, and societal organisation that relate humanity to what an anthropologist has called "an order of existence".

An atheists can still be religious, atheism only means disbelief in Gods not irreligious.

One can be religious but do not believe any deity exists e.g Buddhism is a religion but averagely atheistic, one can be irreligious and still have a belief in a deity.

You can practise Christianity, islam, buddhism, etc but as long as you agree that you don't believe Gods exists, you are an atheist.

so do not confuse the two, religiosity and irreligiosity has nothing to do with atheism.

There are even Atheist who still practise Christianity but agree that they do not share belief in any God just adhere to Christian doctrines and religious practices ..

1 out of every 6 priest or pastor in neatherlands is either atheist or agnostic..

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_atheism ...

Oluwaseytiano:
When believers use the earth as being perfect to sustain life as proof of existence of a creator, its only natural that an atheist points to the disasters to counter the claim

analice107:

Na waoo. Judgement day go shele oo.

analice107:

What have you now said with regards to my question? No christian has ever said the world or earth was perfect. Perfect ke? This earth perfect with all the evil people commit?

analice107:
Na waoo. Judgement day go shele oo.

analice107:

What have you now said with regards to my question? No christian has ever said the world or earth was perfect. Perfect ke? This earth perfect with all the evil people commit?

johnydon22:

I continue to wonder how that simple sarcasm is difficult for people to understand... Atheists hold a view that nothing controls nature and they blame nothing for natural disasters…
so when a believer thinks his/her God does control nature or caused nature, they now point at natural disasters and then tell the believer his/her god is directly responsible for that.
99% of the universe will kill you instantly

sonOfLucifer:
Why do you think the world is evil?

marshalcarter:
Only a FOOL would look to the sky and say there aint a GOD
Cum nd dance with me...babababababababa miloke babaaaaaa.....wooow

HomoSapiien:

Shut up

analice107:

What killed this trillion people? Hahahahahahahaha. Wonderful, sonOfLucifer questions God's credentials. I have never heard you question your father's rebellion against God..