Why You Should Be Atheist

[Mister Agenda]

For instance, intelligent atheists would recognize that evidence (defined narrowly) is not wholly relevant. Peter Higgs predicted the Higgs Boson mathematically before we had a shred of physical evidence. He used applied logic (theoretical physics, ie the application of mathematics to physics). If Higgs' work justified serious consideration of the hypothesized God particle in the absence of evidence, then theism can rightfully claim the same consideration.

The math based on the evidence available justified looking for the particle. It did not justify believing in the particle in advance of the hypothesis being tested.

Of course, speaking of evidence is itself a silly thing. Do you expect to find physical evidence of a non-physical entity?

Only if it does anything that would affect the physical world.

Does a lack of direct physical evidence necessarily justify a lack of belief, such as when your eyes are closed and you lack visual evidence that your girlfriend is lying next to you?

If there has never been any evidence that a thing actually exists, belief in its existence is unjustified.

Intellectually responsible atheism is much more than merely declaring a lack of belief and goose-stepping about talking shit about religion. It ought to involve a familiarity with one's own intellectual position.

Neither the phrase 'intellectually responsible atheism' nor 'intellectually responsible theism' makes any sense. The words don't carry enough meaning for intellectual responsibility to apply to them. If you believe in some sort of god, you're a theist (or possibly a deist), and that's all there is to it. Unless you know more about what the theist believes, you can't critique their belief. I imagine some sort of agnostic who thinks theism means 'certainty that there is at least one god' encountering a Christian forum of a denomination that values doubt and telling them they aren't theists. Naturally, they insist they are theists, and the agnostic never gets past that and never finds out what they actually do believe, because the agnostic can't move forward until they admit they aren't theists.

I mean, I'd love to discuss the alleged evidence if I can be confident in substantial responses (example) as opposed to imbecilic nerd-rage (example).

I don't believe you. You're just a troll with delusions of grandeur. There's nothing to you but shit-stirring.