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JoeyT

(6,785 posts)
4. Meh.
Sat Jan 16, 2016, 06:55 PM
Jan 2016

#5: It isn't about convincing the person you're arguing with. It's about swaying undecided people that may be listening. "Can you prove any of the supernatural things you're claiming exist?" being answered with "NO! YOU JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE! STOP ASKING QUESTIONS!" over and over is one of the things that convinced me I wanted no part of religion.

#4 and #3 are going to be combined: I don't care what anyone's belief system is, or what barbarism or silliness it contains. BUT when they tell me I can't make out with another dude because their religion forbids it, you're goddamned right I'm going to point out all the silly stuff and ask them why they're not beating kids heads in with rocks. If you want your beliefs to not be questioned, stop making them into laws or demand other people follow them. You cannot have it both ways. Either it's a marvelous moral code we all have to follow, or it's totally a private belief that everyone should stop bothering you about. Religious people need to fucking pick one already.

#2: Wait, so 5, 4, and 3 are "Don't criticize religious people for what they believe." and now #2 is "Don't criticize religious people for what they DO in the name of their religion either." This whole list could've been shortened to "Don't criticize religious people at all, ever."

#1: This one is just silly. Almost no one actually does that, and when they do more often than not it's because a religious person is demanding their religion be catered to.

Recommendations

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I disagree with you about #5. It only makes believers more defensive Warpy Jan 2016 #1
That is a smart way to deal with it. Curmudgeoness Jan 2016 #2
One of the biggest reasons I'm an Atheist? Because I don't listen to instructions. Warren DeMontague Jan 2016 #3
Meh. JoeyT Jan 2016 #4
Agreed about it not being about convincing the one you're arguing with. cleanhippie Jan 2016 #20
#2 and #3 make my head hurt. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2016 #5
what a blithering load of excrement... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #6
Yeah, no thanks. Iggo Jan 2016 #7
It just annoys me Binkie The Clown Jan 2016 #8
People stopped binding their daughters feet when it wasn't considered attractive anymore. Freelancer Jan 2016 #9
I know these would certainly work on me. edhopper Jan 2016 #10
OMG, I think the shyster may have gotten their debate tips from this article!!!! cleanhippie Jan 2016 #21
I find lawyerly tricks edhopper Jan 2016 #24
Lawyers! trotsky Jan 2016 #25
1. Make sure you’re arguing about the same definition of God. cleanhippie Jan 2016 #22
I think I had a 500+ post thread on that edhopper Jan 2016 #23
"Ask about meaning and purpose." AlbertCat Jan 2016 #27
You might be interested in Brainstormy Jan 2016 #11
Frankly, I don't think many arguments work on any serious believers. progressoid Jan 2016 #12
Yep. I'm not trying to change their minds. Iggo Jan 2016 #13
And the secondary effect happens when a believer rants about us to a doubter: lindysalsagal Jan 2016 #15
Wrong on #2: We would not have invaded Iraq if it had been a christian country. Period. lindysalsagal Jan 2016 #14
IMHO, anyone who is arguing for their faith to the faithless has already found a crack in the veneer lindysalsagal Jan 2016 #16
Why am I seeing so many serious responses Promethean Jan 2016 #17
Cracked isn't satire. Cracked is comedy. DetlefK Jan 2016 #18
so, IOW, these are the best 5 arguments RussBLib Jan 2016 #19
For every one God you disprove, two new Gods will be made up AlbertCat Jan 2016 #26
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