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Overly Simplistic arguments for atheism

We've all at one stage or another heard a overly simplistic Christian argument which tries to win us over with simple language but no actual evidence. A typical one goes something like this. "Do you believe something can be absolutely false? Yes, Then there must be the reverse which is an absolute truth. That is God therefore God exists"

What examples can we come up with for Atheism?

Here's mine. "Religion has evolved, changed and adapted with the times has it not? Yes "Then such change must come about because the people have changed" "Therefore evolution does occur.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Pearson Smith on May 12, 2009 at 3:36am

[quote]I've never heard any of those arguments, the ones I have come across have either been somewhat well reasoned, or the typical circular logic. [/quote]

Really? but there are so many. I'll run through a couple more examples

Atheists believe that nothing can create something.
Without religion people would have no morals.

In both cases not only are the statements inaccurate but they also use simplistic language to mislead people. What I propose is using simplistic language to better explain atheism. Whilst dropping the use of arguments which can be refuted. a Good example of a simple argument which is easy to refute is "What created God" The statement whilst valid negates the whole point of God (At least in the Christian and Muslim sense) being eternal. So using an argument which overlooks a key piece of information is a bad idea. A better strategy would be to argue that without even a shred of evidence to suggest the existence of such a God we might as well be praying to a flying three headed monkey which farted the universe into existence after travelling backwards through time from the end of the Universe when he was born. We can't disprove the existence of the three headed money but does that mean it can't exist.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Pearson Smith on May 12, 2009 at 5:43am

But there is evidence that the Universe is not eternal, existence in one form or another may be a whole other story.

Also the other arguments I posted were additional examples of theistic arguments in response to KB's statement that he'd never heard such arguments used. If that was unclear in my above post then I apologise.

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Permalink Reply by mthoreau on May 12, 2009 at 5:33am

One of my favorites is Do you believe in Math? Yes? Well you can see Math happen, but not Math its self JUST LIKE GOD!

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Permalink Reply by mthoreau on May 12, 2009 at 5:34am

As for simplistic Atheist arguments I would have to go with I'll believe it when I see it. Although that one sounds pretty valid to me.

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Permalink Reply by Scott M on May 12, 2009 at 6:52am

Theist (usually a christian): Atheist, what if there really is a god? What then?

Atheist: What if that god is Bacchus and he's sleeping off a really good bender from just before 0 A.D. and when he wakes up, hung over, he's really ticked off that everyone is worshipping the false god of a bunch of middle-eastern goat herders?

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Permalink Reply by Angie Jackson on May 17, 2009 at 2:55pm

Whoa Alex! I'll just quickly add that I usually get, "You just grew up in the wrong church" or some variation (the "not a True ChristianTM argument). Since I grew up in a fringe sect of Christianity (aka cult) they think my logical, valid reasons for disbelief are only because I had an unhappy childhood. Kind of pisses me off that they think my arguments have LESS weight because their religion is F-ed up. I tend to think it gives my complaints more validity, as I've seen the extremes of their own faiths put into practice.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew F. on May 15, 2009 at 10:54pm

I don't think arguing with a theist is worth the trouble or the time. You can plant seeds of doubt and if they are a thinking person then maybe.. just maybe.. you lean them in the right direction.

You can't turn a believer. They don't believe in reality.. and reject verifiable truths. I don't have to prove there is not a dwarf pink elephant in the trunk in my car so why would I waste my time.

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Permalink Reply by Justin Pearson Smith on May 16, 2009 at 2:17am

For me arguments and discussions with theists always inevitably come up. I just can't deal with people telling others about biblical beliefs as if they were proven scientific facts when the contrary is true. Like you said if the person has enough intelligence, then planting a seed of doubt in their mind may be enough.

I skimmed through Alex's post but since I pretty much agree with it all I'm not sure there's much I can add to it. I'm just amazed that I got such a lengthy response to this thread.

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Permalink Reply by William Young on May 25, 2009 at 10:05pm

One would have better luck debating with a brick wall, the mentality is about the same.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Mccall on May 16, 2009 at 7:02pm

How about:
Existence exists.
Existence has always existed.
Nothing that exists can cause or explain existence.
Claiming that existence is made up of a disembodied consciousness with magic powers infinity years old and everything else isn't very compelling to me.

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Permalink Reply by vjack on May 17, 2009 at 2:15pm

It sounds like you are equating atheism with evolution. I think that is a bad idea. The two are not even related, despite frequent attempts by Christians to equate them.