"How to Have a Friendly Religious Debate" (meaning, believe, scientific)

[lovemaine]

I found this article very helpful and interesting.

How to Have a Friendly (and Effective) Religious Debate

[Asheville Native]

Treat your religion like your genitalia. Keep it private, force it on no one and especially not on children.

[TRANSPONDER]

There's one point he overlooked - get an assurance beforehand that the corpus of scientifically validated evidence is accepted and also logical fallacies, for the avoidance of, because without those two preliminary acceptances, no meaningful conversation can take place.

It would be nice if it was also accepted that quoting from Scripture proves nothing and personal anecdotes of inexplicable experiences no more, but that risks your opponent complaining:

"Aren't you going to allow me anything?"

[Grandstander]

For all his lecturing about avoiding giving offense, I can see how believers might find the article condescending. From the OP linked article:

facts can seem like ridicule when they work against firmly held beliefs.

When some people feel like they are losing a particular debate, it is not uncommon to attempt to shift the conversation in progress in search of a more comfortable topic

While it may not always be the case, friendly and effective debates are easier if you assume your counterpart is legitimately searching for the truth — and not simply seeking convenient lies.

When knowing that the author is an atheist, the above points all seem to be warnings about expected theist tricks or stupidity, and how the civility burden is on the more reasonable atheist to not sink to childish levels.


And of course all of the points offered are already well understood by most of the posters on the atheist forum or most of the atheists visiting the Religion/Spirituality forum. We start out with all this stuff in mind, but it just doesn't always work out according to plan. Probably because...

By ignoring the insults completely, repeating unanswered questions or calls for evidence if necessary, and sticking to the actual issue, the interlocutor will be forced to give up the immature behavior or surrender.

....that never seems to happen.

[Lilac110]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Treat your religion like your genitalia. Keep it private, force it on no one and especially not on children.

That's awesome. I repped you but couldn't sign it as I am on my Kindle and for some reason it spazzes out when I try to type in the rep box.

[Teddy52]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Treat your religion like your genitalia. Keep it private, force it on no one and especially not on children.

Seems liberals believe parents should not "force "any of their beliefs on their children.

Perhaps that is why many children grow up with no manners also.
Parents believing their beliefs should not be "forced" on their children.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Teddy52

Seems liberals believe parents should not "force "any of their beliefs on their children.

Perhaps that is why many children grow up with no manners also.
Parents believing their beliefs should not be "forced" on their children.

If you don't know the difference between manners and respect for others and fairy tales, far be it for me to try and explain it to you.

[hiker45]

What is the point of debating with a Theist? Do you really care if they believe what you do?

I am very comfortable with my Atheistic views and I don't care if other people agree with me or not.

I find it fascinating that some people have different beliefs than I do and I come to these forums because I am curious what other people believe.

[MysticPhD]

Basically . . . courteously refuse to participate. Bada Bum Bum!

[TRANSPONDER]

'....ching, ching.' Yes. In certain circumstances (social, or a furious debate between different denominations or dogmas) polite silence is best, but refuse to participate...no, never. Not now we have the fire in our bellies.

But, certainly, while the OP points out (with apposite ref to the Nye/Ham debate) things to be looked out for, like changing the subject (shifting the goalposts is something else - it is altering the parameters on the same subject), polite debate requires a technique, like being willing to understand what the other person means, not just what he said. Responding to heated responses or insults with a smile is good, because allowing the debate to collapse in a blitz of silly poos benefits only the theist, who can escape with a draw, if not a win.