And how do you convert theists to atheists?
2006-06-28 06:02:38 · 27 answers · asked by avik_d2000 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I asked two questions because this is for everyone.
2006-06-28 06:07:55 · update #1
Hey, cut the "delete a" crap.
2006-06-28 06:12:17 · update #2
Convincing arguments.
For example, you may convince someone to abandon the idea there is a God by teaching them physics. Physics is the study of reality, and while it has shown many staggeringly wierd and unexpected things, it has never shown the slightest glimmer of possibility there is any kind of supernatural force here or anywhere else in the observable universe; and it also demonstrates that anything outside the observable Universe cannot affect us in any way, and by application of Occam's Razor can be considered nonexistent. Hence, there is no God.
Q.E.D.
You could convince an atheist there is, or there may be, a God. To do this you need some kind of scientifically valid argument, which excludes the entirety of religious teachings. I do not say they are unscientific out of some hateful bias, but by the simple fact that religious teachings "just ARE the way they ARE" and they are not subject to any sort of scrutiny or questioning. This makes my bullshxt alarms scream for mercy.
A brief quote from that marvelous, ingenious, and sadly departed atheist Douglas Adams. This is from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
"The Babel Fish was so vastly improbable that it was used to prove once and for all the non-existence of God.
'I refuse to prove that I exist,' said God, 'for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing.'
'Ah,' said Man, 'but the Babel Fish is impossible, and proves you exist, and therefore by your own argument you don't. Q.E.D.'
'Oh dear, I hadn't thought of that,' said God, and promptly vanished in a puff of logic.
'Oh, that was nothing,' said Man, and for an encore proved that black was white and got himself killed at the next road crossing."
<3 Douglas Adams!!!
2006-06-28 06:20:05 · answer #1 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheist to theist: Prove to atheists that God exists as described. Don't quote a book, don't quote anyone. Provide clear evidence that cannot be explained in any other fasion.
Theist to atheist: Make them read books other than the Bible and have them experience the world. Take away the fear of death and the unknown that is at the root of all theistic belief systems. Good luck with that last one...
2006-06-28 06:10:30 · answer #2 · answered by choko_canyon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To convert atheists to theists:
1. Answer their weak arguments and convince them to look at the facts honestly.
2. Wait until after they die; Carl Sagan and Madaline Murray O'Hare aren't atheists any more.
To convert theists to atheists:
1. Tell them that something bad happened to somebody associated with some religion, and that's enough reason to reject all religion. It's not a good method, but it works for so many...
2006-06-28 06:08:25 · answer #3 · answered by flyersbiblepreacher 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Remove the "a" from atheists and you get theists. Add an "a" to theists and you get atheists.
Theists will convert to atheists when a child dies, or is willfully harmed. An atheists will convert to theists when he dies.
Stew
2006-06-28 06:10:44 · answer #4 · answered by Gone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can convert a Theist by making him/her critically read the bible & having them take a science class.
You can convert an Atheist by giving him/her a full frontal lobotomy.
2006-06-28 06:10:34 · answer #5 · answered by xbutterflyz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would you want to?
Consider for one moment, how pi**ed off you would be is someone persisted in trying to convert you from your way of thinking (or lack thereof) to their way of thinking. I mean actually persisted, day in day out, for weeks/months on end, over years? Wouldn't you get tired if their crap at some point??
2006-06-28 06:09:25 · answer #6 · answered by Jimmy J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are LOTS that have been converted, and each of them needed something diffrent for it to work.
Do a search for ex-atheist, there are a TON of sites, and web pages that have personal accounts of athiests that converted.
2006-06-28 06:08:04 · answer #7 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not our role to do either. Belief or lack of it should be up to the individual. Attempts at conversion leads to intolerance, disrespect and eventually hatred. Speaking as an atheist, I've read just as many insulting comments towards Christians, as condemnations and pronouncements of eternal damnation towards atheists.
Allow people to believe what they wish to. And if you can't respect what they believe, at least respect their right to believe it.
2006-06-28 08:04:57 · answer #8 · answered by buzzzard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easy as ABC. Delete the letter 'a' from 'atheist'.
2006-06-28 06:13:00 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um. Put the atheist in the midst of an artillery barrage? :-)
2006-06-28 06:16:44 · answer #10 · answered by BrokenCans 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋