Overstating the case for Athiesm.

[*Deidre*]

I don't think it's so much 'over selling' as it is 'reacting' or responding to religion being so in everyone's face these days. It's in politics, it's trying to (continue to) shape our laws, ''Creationism'' is trying to compete in school classrooms against science, etc.

I think that it's more of a reaction, and it's a needed response otherwise, religion will steam roll into everyone's lives, and it has no place doing that.

If religion remained private, and kept to itself, I don't think anyone would have a problem. I don't. If someone wishes to practice a particular faith ...that's their right. But, don't push it into politics and government and the public educational system.

So, to me, it's a reaction to religious zealotry.

Well perhaps. I think it is a mistake to adopt the big lie, propaganda techniques, or irrational arguments just because religious people do (I am not saying anyone in this thread is doing that please dont slap me).

How are atheist/agnostics adopting a 'big lie?' They are merely telling the truth. I don't agree in becoming an anti-religion zealot, that I agree with you.

Likewise if we identify arguments made by atheists that lack credible backing, maybe we should move them to theories and investigate further.

All an Atheist needs to do is ask religion to provide evidence. Atheists don't need to provide proof or back up their assertions. Not sure I understand what you mean by that.

Maybe there is a historical text that will be a bombshell for many theologies. I find it encouraging to note that geneticists at BYU are active in disproving the genetic origin of the native americans as told by Joe Smith, and Israeli archeologists are disproving their own history in the torah. Perhaps their commitment to morality and truth is winning over their commitment to their theology. One can only hope.

That's pretty cool and yes...one can only hope!