I would like to discuss one of the most irritating statements/dismissals of atheist books/movies/arguments (usually directed at so called new atheists) that I keep hearing over and over. It goes something like this:
"They are just preaching to the converted."
or
"Dawkins never converted anyone."
It's such an annoying straw man because they seem to think that these arguments have failed if:
A) No complete and total fundamentalist read them and had an instant conversion to atheism
B) Reading that one book or argument instantly converted someone to atheism
These arguments are bogus. There are plenty of people who are "on the fence" and books like The God Delusion are a valuable tool in making the journey. I doubt anyone would say one book or one person made them convert. I'd go as far to say that if you claim that, you should probably do some more homework. I think for most people, coming out of theism to atheism was a process, and people like Dawkins or Harris can be an important part of the process.
"They are just preaching to the converted."
or
"Dawkins never converted anyone."
It's such an annoying straw man because they seem to think that these arguments have failed if:
A) No complete and total fundamentalist read them and had an instant conversion to atheism
B) Reading that one book or argument instantly converted someone to atheism
These arguments are bogus. There are plenty of people who are "on the fence" and books like The God Delusion are a valuable tool in making the journey. I doubt anyone would say one book or one person made them convert. I'd go as far to say that if you claim that, you should probably do some more homework. I think for most people, coming out of theism to atheism was a process, and people like Dawkins or Harris can be an important part of the process.
