Posted by:
Felix
(
)
Date: August 12, 2018 07:46PM
1. Where do you get your morals? - Answer: From my very secular appreciation of the Golden Rule, do unto others as…, and be the change you want, and what goes around comes around, and a sense of compassion for the feelings and sufferings of others. Doesn't require faith based world view to understand. Religion has no monopoly on morals.
2. You'll grow out of your rebellious phase. - Response: I didn’t know I was in a rebellious phase. Perhaps I’m in a “lets get real” phase.
3. So you want to outlaw all religion? - Response: No I don’t, so long as religious people afford me the freedom to think, believe and express my skepticism of religion without consequence I will allow them the same freedom.
4. You are what‘s wrong with society today. – Response: I think not.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/201410/secular-societies-fare-better-religious-societies5. 95% of the world believes in God, does that not say something? -Response:consensus has been shown to not be a reliable indicator of truth. Belief in god has been deeply planted into human culture and psychology through many thousands of years of evolutionary indoctrination. Doesn't mean it is correct.
6. It takes just as much faith to be an atheist as it does to be a believer! – Response: I’m not sure what is meant by this and therefore don’t know how to respond.
7. How arrogant. – Again, doesn’t really make sense and don’t know how to respond.
8. You can't prove there is no God! - Response: Neither can you prove there is.
9. Atheism is a religion too! - Response: Atheism is a lack of belief in god or at least represents a neutral position. I don’t see atheism as a religion but perhaps by some definitions it may be considered such. What's your point?
10. The evidence of God is all around you! - Response: Where? What do you consider evidence?
11. God loves you anyway. – Response: Great! If God exists I hope he loves agnostics and atheists also.
12. What's stopping you from going on a crime spree right now? - Response: You mean like Joseph Smith and Brigham did? They, especially Brigham, had numerous people put to death. Joseph slept with other men’s wives and then lied about it. I don't go on a crime spree because it is morally wrong and I am not a criminal. Also, refer to #1
13. What is Pascal’s wager?
Pascal’s wager is the argument that it is in one's own best interest to behave as if God exists, since the possibility of eternal punishment in hell outweighs any advantage of believing otherwise. –Response: I try to live as though God exists with the exception of paying tithing and church attendance. I don’t live my life based on fear of the unknown or out of fear of punishment. If I do the right thing I do it because it is the right thing to do regardless of God punishment.
14. Are you not afraid of Hell? -Response: Not at all. Refer to # 13.
15. I feel sorry for you, not having a reason to live. – Response: I do have reason to live; I have family and friends that I love and enjoy. I also enjoy a dogma free existence which allows me to see more clearly those truths that shape our world as it really exist.
16. There are no atheists in foxholes. - Response: Maybe, I suppose everyone needs comfort when faced with their own mortality.
17. But you HAVE to believe in something! – Response: Yes, I do! I believe that life is a gift and we can make it either good or bad. We have the power to help decide which it will be.
18. Hitler, Stalin and Pole Pot were atheists too, you know. – Response: So were those who carried out the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the Inquisition and Islamic Jahadists.
19. What are you going to tell your children? - Response: Decide for yourself and always keep your mind open to new and better evidence. Truth isn’t determined by belief.
20. I'll pray for you. – Response: You are welcome to. Thank you for your kind consideration.
21. You are doing the devil's work! - Response: You are entitled to your opinion.
22. If you read [religious text], you'd change your mind. – Response: Perhaps if you read something other than religious text you would change your mind.
23. You are so close-minded. – Response: I have studied most of the creationist’s arguments. Have you studied the arguments that refute the religious world view?
24. Stop being intolerant of my beliefs! – Response: I am not intolerant of your beliefs. I am just expressing my own beliefs that differ from yours.
25. God doesn't believe in atheists either. – Response: Rhetorical and non-substantive comment. How would you know?