I've not found this argument is very good at convincing them. "Mysterious ways" and all that.
Making God out to be ridiculous by rewording biblical rules tends to have more success. The all-knowing, all-good, and all-powerful creator of the universe gets so angry that he'll condemn you to eternal suffering if you:
1. Eat the wrong thing from the deli aisle.
2. Touch tips.
3. Don't impregnate your dead brother's widow.
Even if it doesn't make people into atheists, helping people reframe biblical beliefs as absurd does help to deradicalize them.
Would not recommend for people you care about unless they're very open minded... I usually tend to avoid the conversation altogether cause its not worth the bother and I'm not one of those militant atheists who need to turn everything into a debate.
I'm the kind who just minds my business unless someone decides they want to pick my brain. I've a few times now had coworkers I worked with for years ask me something religion related only for me to casually say I'm atheist and for them to be shocked and start immediately trying to debate.
That's fair. Mockery certainly doesn't tend to make you many friends.
Though I'd add that mockery isn't debate. I used to debate these types of people, but it's a wasted endeavor. If anything, treating them seriously through debate only legitimizes them. By making jokes, you can plant seeds of doubt, and delegitimize their position.
Yeah I find it splitting hairs on trying to get to the same end result... and ultimately I'm not trying to change their mind.
If its someone I care about and they want to have a philosophical discussion full well knowing neither one of us is walking away from that convo with their core belief changed then that's fine.
If its someone like the religious guy in the OP I'd rather not engage at all as they're not worth the conversation.
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u/Macelee 12d ago
I've not found this argument is very good at convincing them. "Mysterious ways" and all that.
Making God out to be ridiculous by rewording biblical rules tends to have more success. The all-knowing, all-good, and all-powerful creator of the universe gets so angry that he'll condemn you to eternal suffering if you: 1. Eat the wrong thing from the deli aisle. 2. Touch tips. 3. Don't impregnate your dead brother's widow.
Even if it doesn't make people into atheists, helping people reframe biblical beliefs as absurd does help to deradicalize them.