(July 25, 2015 at 11:18 am)robvalue Wrote: If you'd like to destroy us in debate, you might like to put forward an actual argument for your position, whatever it may be.
I doubt the POE can communicate a coherent position. He just likes to lampoon everyone else's.
Let me take one more crack at telling the POE what amounts to the most common 'atheist' position:
Theist: Have you found the lord our God?
Person: Uh, what does it look like?
Theist: It created us all and wants us to worship it so we can avoid damnation when we die and join Him in heaven.
Person: Pretty sure I've never met anyone like that. But how would I recognize Him if I did meet Him?
Theist: You don't meet Him that way. He only reveals Himself to those who believe through faith.
Person: Belief doesn't work that way for me. I just believe stuff I have a reason to think true.
Theist: Oh go on and try it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Person: That just seems like a warped use of "belief". I don't think I could lie to myself like that.
Theist: It isn't a lie. It is just admitting you don't know everything and turning yourself over to a higher power.
Person: Oh I admit I don't know everything, most especially I am unaware of any 'higher' powers apart from elected officials, etc.
Theist: Wow, you really think you're the most high and mighty being in creation?
Person: Oh no, plenty of people are smarter than me and I recognize many as more expert than myself in their fields.
Theist: Look, we're not talking about people. We're talking about God. Will you or won't you believe?!
Person: It doesn't seem that I do or can, so no.
Theist: Then you're an atheist.
Person: I guess that's right since I lack any belief in this God of yours.
Theist: No, no - you believe my God doesn't exist.
Person: I don't know about that. Perhaps I just need a better description. But clearly I'm not a theist. What would you call me?
Theist: You're an agnostic because you don't know if you believe.
Person: Oh, I'm quite certain I don't believe if that requires the payment of unearned faith up front.
Theist: And that is why you will roast in hell.
Person: *backs slowly away*
