Ask an atheist

[ciphergoth]

In a discussion about religion in wildeabandon's journal, meihua writes: "this seems to have turned into me interrogating you. [...] Is there anything you'd like to challenge me on, instead?"

I think it's only fair enough to open up my own beliefs to the challenges of others, since I'm always keen to respond when theists invite me to give my perspective on some aspect of their beliefs as wildeabandon has in a series of recent posts. So, is there anything you'd like me to respond to?

Rules:

• You don't have to read this thread. This post is an invitation, not a challenge; if you don't like to read me talking about this then feel free to skip this.
• Be honest. Please don't advance arguments you don't personally buy, unless you're also an atheist and you want to discuss how best to counter it.
• If you come to change your mind about the validity of an argument, think about how you can generalise the lesson learned so as not to misassess similar arguments in future.
• Don't just match the politeness of what you reply to, but try to exceed it - see Postel's Law. Otherwise it is very easy to end up with a thread where each contributor thinks they are merely matching the snark level of the other, and yet the thread starts with the very slightest suggestion of rudeness and finishes with "please choke on a bucket of cocks".

Comments

[mskala.livejournal.com]

And I should add, because this is actually really important - the atheists I know who do not spend a lot of resources on attempting to promote atheism are, by thus acting, presenting a much stronger argument in favour of atheism than, for instance, anything I've ever seen from you. If I ever did give up believing in deities it would be because of them, not because of what you seem to have in mind when you use the word "criticism."

Similarly, the only times I've ever even remotely considered conversion to Christianity, it's been in reaction to some of my friends who are people of the kind I'd like to be, are also Christian, and don't tell me about it unless I ask. The Christians who knock on my door to warn me the Bible says I'm going to Hell are presenting strong arguments against their system, even if they don't know it.

My suggestion, which you of course are free to ignore, is that instead of worrying so much about your right to criticise you'd do well to think about what you want to accomplish by criticism, and whether your actions are likely to have the result you want.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your concern...