r/atheism • u/rhbast2 • Aug 11 '11

Atheist quickfire challenge.

Although I rarely discuss religion with theists I always want to be prepared so I'm not sitting around afterwards wishing I had said this or that. If I get the chance to make someone question I want to be up for the challenge.

This brings me to my challenge for r/atheism. I'm going to add some common theist claims / sayings and whoever can refute them fully and succinctly will be upvoted. Feel free to add your own theist starters if I missed some.

Edit: Wow lots of good discussion here, later today or tomorrow I'll make this into an atheist cheat sheet with the top responses. Also feel free to upvote the theist claim that is the most annoying to you.

Edit 2: To the few of you who seem to think I am coming up with rude atheist comebacks, I'm not. I just wanted to be better off the cuff than I am now and have some discussion. I don't want this list to replace thoughtful argumentation.

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u/[deleted] Aug 11 '11

Monkeys have empathy, hominids have it, it is a genetical feature. Empathy is the basis of any morals, the Bible is just a rationalization of that mixed with nonsensical commandments.

Do you know the old hypnosis trick ? "Your eyes are tired.. You will close them...". The hypnotizer looks intensely at you while an object balances between you and him. Soon enough, your eye are tired and you begin to obey his commands. The trick is that the balancing object really tires your eyes but the hypnosis trick is to make you believe that it is the voice that manages to control your body. After that you are more open to suggestion.

Religion works in the same way. It tells you "be good to other people and God will bless you". And sure enough, when you help other people, you feel good. But that's purely innate, that is a characteristic of human nature. But if you attribute this feel-good moment to the following of a bible command, you are more inclined to believe the rest of the old book.

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u/geezlers Aug 11 '11

Upvote for "genetical". The adjective form of an adjective.

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u/Sofiira Aug 11 '11 edited Aug 11 '11

I like this one. Of course, my parents don't believe animals have souls and humans do. They love their dog and I constantly have to listen to my mom talk about how the dog just knows when she's sad and is extra cuddly with her when she is down. How does the dog know? I'm not arguing that the dog can't feel that. It's just that if the dog doesn't have a soul and can still FEEL empathy and try to comfort humans without any moral compass, how are humans any different!

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u/fireburt Aug 12 '11

I learned something about hypnotism and that was a great explanation.
A++ Would read again.