RE: Reductio ad Absurdum: How to most efficently communicate with theists
October 3, 2016 at 2:33 pm
(This post was last modified: October 3, 2016 at 2:35 pm by Simon Moon.)
I believe that every method of discourse has its place, including ridicule.
I agree, it may not be the best method, but you never know what one will respond to.
I'll bet the 8 year old on the school bus that still believes in Santa Claus, is very likely to be ridiculed right out of that belief, by his or her peers.
As a former theist, there wasn't one specific argument or method that was responsible for my deconversion. It was a process of many arguments and methods (including ridicule), over a period of time.
Sure, a correct understanding of skepticism and critical thinking, when applied to the god claim, was the main reason, but everything made a difference.
I agree, it may not be the best method, but you never know what one will respond to.
I'll bet the 8 year old on the school bus that still believes in Santa Claus, is very likely to be ridiculed right out of that belief, by his or her peers.
As a former theist, there wasn't one specific argument or method that was responsible for my deconversion. It was a process of many arguments and methods (including ridicule), over a period of time.
Sure, a correct understanding of skepticism and critical thinking, when applied to the god claim, was the main reason, but everything made a difference.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
