(May 28, 2011 at 7:48 pm)bozo Wrote:(May 28, 2011 at 7:45 pm)DoktorZ Wrote:(May 28, 2011 at 7:43 pm)bozo Wrote: Hello Doktor, and welcome........just curious why an atheist academic would not want to respond to a challenge from a student about atheism?
Hi Bozo,
Mainly because it's boring and it's not what I teach. When I'm on the job, I want to just do my job, not get involved in a theological debate. Besides, my impression has been that religious people are not convinced in these matters by rational argument; they've already forgone reason for faith. It is a testament to the brain's ability to compartmentalize that they're able to be rational about, say, their house mortgage, but not religion. I just think it's an immense waste of time.
Well of course that's up to you. Personally, I would have to rise to the challenge......she seems to want the debate.
I do speak with her on occasion about it, but only to articulate my basic positions. My office hour is not really the time to be discussing supernatural things, it's to get work done. As I mentioned before, I have no confidence that she'll actually listen to what I'm saying. Communication on matters of faith with religious people is basically wasted effort, for the most part.
