The title of this thread is easily answered: No!

(February 8, 2016 at 3:22 pm)TanithDaUnicorn Wrote: This argument is usually used in a debate when you've backed a religious person into a corner, and they can't answer. They always have this in their arsenal. Right next to "Mysterious ways" And "That's just what I believe"

How arrogant that you (Talking to someone who would use this argument) Think it is MY job to prove to YOU that your god doesn't exist. Prove to me Pink unicorns don't exist. Can't? Then you should believe it because you can't rule it out!

You may think that example is a little extreme but I see no difference between "Prove to me god doesn't really exist" To "Prove to me lord voldemort doesn't really exist"

What are your thoughts on this argument? Do you use it? Has someone used it on you? Do you get as frustrated as I do?

Which God would you like to disprove?

With the mountain of evidence extant there's no reason to try to find more. They've rejected everything so far, giving us no reason to believe they'd accept any new information. So basically the questioner is saying "Make me feel good about my beliefs by presenting evidence I can dismiss without consideration."

Short answer: Don't piss into the wind.

(February 8, 2016 at 3:22 pm)TanithDaUnicorn Wrote: This argument is usually used in a debate when you've backed a religious person into a corner, and they can't answer. They always have this in their arsenal. Right next to "Mysterious ways" And "That's just what I believe"

How arrogant that you (Talking to someone who would use this argument) Think it is MY job to prove to YOU that your god doesn't exist. Prove to me Pink unicorns don't exist. Can't? Then you should believe it because you can't rule it out!

You may think that example is a little extreme but I see no difference between "Prove to me god doesn't really exist" To "Prove to me lord voldemort doesn't really exist"

What are your thoughts on this argument? Do you use it? Has someone used it on you? Do you get as frustrated as I do?

If I had a nickle for every time someone tried to shift the burden of proof, over my 15 year history of online debate, from not just Christians, but Jews and Muslims and even Hindus, and once a Rasta, I'd make Donald Trump look like a minimum wage worker.

I'd usually take their words, and simply replace the god in several sentences.

"Prove God does not exist"
"Prove Allah does not exist"
"Prove Yahweh does not exist"
"Prove Bhrama does not exist"
"Prove Thor does not exist".

Whatever sentence structure they use, or word arrangement in that sentence, simply take their own words and replace the deity.

If I am feeling especially sarcastic I end it with.

"Prove Angelina Jolie isn't giving me a blowjob as you read this. Absurd you say? How is it you rightfully reject that naked assertion when you are not on my end of the computer?" As Christopher Hitchens rightfully has said  "That which can be asserted without evidence, can be easily dismissed without evidence."

Now, that does not convince them in the moment, but it gets stuck in their head, then they are left really fighting themselves tripping over themselves trying to convince themselves they are right. Which in reality, is what they are doing. Long term that desperation can lead them to come to the realization they have nothing. Not always, but sometimes. It really forces them to do their own homework.

But for you at least, it lets them know you aren't going to be easily fooled. I usually end with "Get in line, take a number".

Fact based reasoning and logic looks like this.

Collect data by observation=plug data into established formula witch proper methodology and sample rate with control groups through testing and falsification=record your findings, hand them over for independent peer review.

Theist logic works backwards.

Naked assertion swallowed first without data collecting "I like what I believe"<=Insert old book here to retrofit after the fact<=Desired outcome not subject to independent peer review.

(February 8, 2016 at 8:27 pm)Gawdzilla Wrote: With the mountain of evidence extant there's no reason to try to find more. They've rejected everything so far, giving us no reason to believe they'd accept any new information. So basically the questioner is saying "Make me feel good about my beliefs by presenting evidence I can dismiss without consideration."

Short answer: Don't piss into the wind.

Why is it "pissing in the wind"?

See that is the problem. You only think about them, but it isn't just about them. It does work otherwise we wouldn't have former believer now atheists on this website. Nobody would ever leave any religion if we never questioned it.

And don't assume we simply argue to convince theists they are wrong. We also do it to show other doubters, fence sitters, and closet atheists that it is ok to question.

If our species never questioned social norms our species never would have left the caves. Just the issue of atheists having a voice is important. I know where the online atheist community was and how small it was back in 01 and how big it has become since then. We really are increasingly growing a bigger voice.

(February 8, 2016 at 8:19 pm)KUSA Wrote:

(February 8, 2016 at 3:22 pm)TanithDaUnicorn Wrote: This argument is usually used in a debate when you've backed a religious person into a corner, and they can't answer. They always have this in their arsenal. Right next to "Mysterious ways" And "That's just what I believe"

How arrogant that you (Talking to someone who would use this argument) Think it is MY job to prove to YOU that your god doesn't exist. Prove to me Pink unicorns don't exist. Can't? Then you should believe it because you can't rule it out!

You may think that example is a little extreme but I see no difference between "Prove to me god doesn't really exist" To "Prove to me lord voldemort doesn't really exist"

What are your thoughts on this argument? Do you use it? Has someone used it on you? Do you get as frustrated as I do?

Which God would you like to disprove?

LOL, we could start with the other Gods the Abrahamic God acknowledges to exist.

How is Moloch these days?

I realize I am a little biased, but I'd say I've just 'won' another thread.

(February 8, 2016 at 8:54 pm)ApeNotKillApe Wrote: How <i>is</i> Moloch these days?

Mammon is my kinda God.

Gimme that filthy lucre !!