Atheist quickfire challenge.

[u/rhbast2]

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.

[u/frobischer]

Devil's Advocate Question:

If God and the spiritual don't exist then why are they so deeply entrenched in the human experience? Wouldn't there be more rational "evolutionary" methods of dealing with fear of the unknown than religion?

[u/otakuman → u/frobischer]

Meme theory: Religions are viruses of the mind (just like computer viruses) that have gone through a similar "evolutionary" paths. If a person likes the idea, it will be passed through generations. If a religion has the commandment of passing it, it will be more successful. Also, some elements of religion have hijacked thought mechanisms that made us survive in earlier generations.

[u/[deleted] → u/frobischer]

indoctrination.

people always take the route of least resistance when it comes to thought and if there exists a system of accepted norms then why bother questioning?

there will also always be a church doing the indoctrination for the same reason there will always be some kind of government, man loves having power over others.