If I were an Atheist

[Mister Agenda]

Dystopia

Humans are not special.

If atheism is true I agree, we are the accidental by product of mindless forces that never intended our existence. This explains why atheist nations typically have an abysmal human rights record.

So what explains the abysmal human rights records of 'theist nations'?

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No shame at all. I think by calling themselves atheists they water down the traditional position of atheists which is the belief or opinion that God(s) doesn't exist.

You don't get to make up a position and assert it's 'traditional'. If you really want to get traditional, the word was coined to describe Christians.

If you asked people on the street if they knew atheism can mean someone who doesn't deny God exists they would be shocked.

I wish I was shocked at your willingness to make up a confusing, unhelpful definition and complain about how confusing and unhelpful it is. If you asked people on the street if they knew an atheist can be someone who just doesn't believe God exists, they wouldn't be shocked at all.

After all I don't deny God exists either.

If you think that qualifies you to be an atheist, we can start referring to you as such.

The argument is intended to insult.

Offense is taken, not given.

It (obviously) implies that those who believe in the existence of God are as absurd as those who believe in Santa Claus, Fairies or Leprechauns.

You can substitute Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu if you think that makes such a difference.

Insulting people with a difference of opinion does little to persuade them. Do you think any atheists became atheists because of such a dubious argument?

The most an argument can do is plant a seed. You have to figure things out for yourself ultimately, and if it leads you to be an atheist or something else, so be it. We don't care nearly as much about persuading you as you seem to think we do. Many of us will argue just as vigorously against homeopathic 'medicine' or the 'reality' of Bigfoot.

I have been debating atheists for over 15 years and I don't take any of the aforementioned tactics personally. I know devout believers and religious zealots can be incredibly obnoxious but the tactics are still in poor form and still makes atheists 'look petty, smug and arrogant and that they can’t make a factual argument from the evidence' One of the atheists on this board disagreed with all I said except this point.

So? No more or less than when theists do the same thing. Atheism is hardly special in this regard. Everyone deserves to be judged on what they are saying, not on what someone else said.

Do you think atheists could do better at explaining their position and advancing their beliefs?

We don't believe any god or God is real. That's the whole of the atheist position. Is it really our fault if certain people find that too, too, obscure to fathom?

I think they would find sugar would go a lot further than vinegar.

Look who's talking.