RE: How to debate a Christian
August 15, 2010 at 2:24 pm
(This post was last modified: August 15, 2010 at 2:32 pm by RAD.)
(August 13, 2010 at 9:46 am)Eilonnwy Wrote: If you want to be able to debate Christians I would first read and listen to as many debates as you can, to learn the debate tactics and understand the basic arguments. Learn the logically fallacies and if you don't want to read the Bible, .
Well yes, those committed by skeptics especially, so you can stop doing them yourself.
e.g. merely arguing "there isn't enough evidence" is just one massive argument from silence, and doesn't prove anything
Quote:you could read books on the Bible that aren't so dry and will point out the contradictions and problems in it for you. Jesus Interrupted is one such book that is an easy read and points out major issues with the gospels.
Or you could read the agnostic Durant, and figure out why he called the contradictions "minutae" and show why they aren't. Good luck taking him on, but he will make everybody actually think, skeptics and Chrsitians alike.
Quote:Reading the Bible is only necessary if you wish to argue Christianity within it's own mythology.
Well no, you still have to explain how fishermen wrote similies like Shakespeare, and prove they lied instead of just slandering them and calling them myth-mongers. The slanderer has the burden of proof, not the one slandered. To prove it you need to use internal evidence. I don't take seriously any atheist who hasn't read it themselves. What happens is they make statements and assumptions about Jesus which are simply false because they haven't read it.
"Well I just know it isn't true."
"What isn't true?"
"I dunno. I never read it, but I know it anyway."
(August 14, 2010 at 8:44 pm)LEDO Wrote: I am an atheist who has read the Bible and written several books on the topic. Now if you want a 20 second soundbite to win any debate, okay here goes. Start with the OT story of creation. Either the snake talked or it didn't. Either the earth is 6,000 years old or it isn't. Pretty simple. If they claim the snake talked and a young earth, you should be able to laugh them out of the room. If they claim it is just a parable, then use the fundie debate. If there was no real fall of man, if it was just a parable, then why does man need to be redeemed? There is no need for Jesus. It is a lose-lose situation for any Christian.
Major logical fallacy! "False in one part therefore false in all."
Come on. This is laughable logic Ledo I would stop writing books immediately until you stop using and selling such nonsense. Go read Durant's rationale and try to refute that if you want to appear knowlegeable.
