(March 18, 2012 at 7:01 am)NoMoreFaith Wrote:(March 18, 2012 at 6:49 am)Phil Wrote: Why would an atheist that has any respect for himself resort to arguing an absurdity? I never understood that. It's like playing the Christians game and giving them some tacit approval.
If you are going to give the platform to debate, its worth understanding what they are likely to pull out of their ass.
If you construct an argument in a debate, you should be looking ahead at what their response is likely to be. Often, you may be constructing your argument to lead your debate opponent into a line of reasoning which you know can be obliterated easily.
As a good example, debating creationists on the fossil record is a pointless exercise since the idea of transitionary forms can have near infinite regress, so by understanding what argument is likely to be posited versus your position can lead them to having to defend their position instead of attacking yours.
For instance, leading them through your responses to having to defend the flood theory.
In this, Debating is a tactical game, it rarely has any useful merit. With creationists, we all know its a pointless exercise because of the fundamental retardation, and merely being willing to discuss it gives them more credibility than they deserve. That doesn't mean we don't get a kick from pointing out the retardation.
Debating science is one thing but it is almost never that they actually know any. Debating their bible or their theology is no different then pissing in the wind, playing their game and giving them tacit approval while elevating their fantasy to the status of peer with genuine reason and logic.
