What should I say?

[TarShoduze]

Best get accustomed to some of this...

Hehe, I'm just 17 years old ^_^

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So you started the conversation?... try not to... it's not worth it. But if they ask, reply politely.

Well, yeah, I did. And really wasn't worth it I wasn't challenging her faith, I just wanted to know if she ever wondered about those things...

Don't lie... it can bite you in the ass, someday.

Yeah. I already decided to be honest IF one asks.

Do learn about Pascal's wager.... they like to use that one.

Thanks--I will.

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Welcome. But let me warn you ahead of time this is a long journey, not something we can simply wrap up in one thread. I went from Catholic, to deist, to atheist and that took a little over a decade.

That was tough. But the first time I asked my mom, "Why do plants grow?" and the first time she answered, "Because God made them," was the first time I learned about God AND questioned his existence, at a young age of 5. I then realized that I was an Atheist at 5th level Dawkins scale--up 'til now.[/quote]

But, we can start you off with some terms, books, and useful websites.

Terms you need to know.

1. Ocham's Razor
2. Fallacy of Pascal's wager
3. The problem with infinite regress
4. Circular Reasoning(self serving, quoting a book because it coincides with the believer's desires.

Books you need to read, this is a short list.

The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins
The New Atheism, Victor Stenger
God Is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens
The End Of Faith, Sam Harris
Infidel, Ayaan Hersi Ali

Websites I have found useful,

This one.
It's rival, just switch org with com.
Rational Responders
Skepticsannotatedbible.com
Positive Atheism, a website full of skeptical quotes(not all quoted were atheists however)
Freedom From Religion Foundation
American Atheists
Atheists United

Thanks. That should give me a start. I like to read, so that shouldn't be a problem.[/quote]

But, my best advice is to always remember that their starting point, no matter what religion, polytheistic or monotheistic, they are starting with the naked assertion that an invisible magical sky friend exists, so any holy book or pseudo science wont change that starting point.

I understand.

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Study this graphic and you will see the problem.
[...]
Enjoy your stay and remember that there are no stupid questions.... except ones that are answered with "goddidit."

Oh, I've been answered and welcomed by Min himself! What a pleasure I've seen "goddidit" several times here already while browsing the forums. So cliché it can be made into 1 word, huh?

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I was actually just 5 on the scale. I saw no reason to believe. But I became 6 after seeing all these proof...