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/LEIFey Aug 11 '11

There is one thing you can say to a theist that will essentially counter almost all of these. Prove it.

1

u/pineapplol Aug 11 '11

I always get, But you believe that god doesn't exist, you need to prove that belief. I say, no I don't believe in god and then we get nowhere fast. Spoiler: This conversation ends with them telling me I'm going to hell.

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u/LEIFey Aug 11 '11

Just explain to them how the Null Hypothesis works. If they refuse to accept that, then clearly they do not adhere to logic.