(February 16, 2011 at 11:13 pm)padraic Wrote: Theists are the LAST people I'd ask about matters metaphysical. They only have one answer, expressed in many,many,many,many different ways; "god did it" .
Not only is that answer most unhelpful to an atheist, it's also really tiresome. It leaves me wanting to say something very unkind,or to set fire to their clothing.(we're not allowed to have guns or carry sharp objects in Oz,which is just as well)
You got that right..mm, well... sometimes I ask them something just to see if something humorous comes out. I suppose it depends on how you approach the relilgious. I approach religion with a sense of humor as opposed to someone trying to convert or deconvert. I may ask them something like "how many angels can fit on a head of a pin." (which of course, the answer is ALL of them) and see what kind of look they give me after I ask while I give them the most innocent look I can muster..like this:
But I would not be dismayed by "god did it" as an answer. OF COURSE YOU KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO SAY IT,so I say have fun with it..so you should expect it and have your next questions or statements lined up for the punch line. Example:
Fundy - "What will you do when you die and realize you are in a lake of fire?"
Me - "Then I guess I will finally learn how to do the backstroke."
You see..many of the things they say and ask are meant to make you feels small, or to emotionally stunt you. Instead of going all Mr. Spock logical on them, turn their emotional lashing into a humorous jest.
