If an A*T*H*E*I*S*T were asked to give a "talk" at a CHURCH, what would they speak about?

Question

There are so many topics, as a guest speaker, what would you like to share with the congregation?

Answer 1

How dumb they were for not believing in god

Answer 2

I would be very interested to hear an atheist talk frankly and honestly about where his hope, comfort and help comes from. I would be genuinely interested to hear where they find comfort and peace when someone they love dies. Particularly if it were a person who lost a child.
I would not want an extensive reading list as to where they get their philosophy from, I would like life application.

IOW, how does *what you believe* help you to live in this world?

Do you ever think of what lies beyond? What does that look like to you?

I would be very willing to listen to an uninterrupted sermon by a thoughtful atheist.

I can honestly say, I have learned so much on Y!A about atheists and atheism. I definitely have a respect for how firmly entrenched atheism is in some people's being. I have been instructed in how negatively impacted they are even by well-intentioned Christians proselytizing, and will not forget this. I appreciate it very much.

Answer 3

Though I view the possibility as rather remote, I would guess that an atheistic speaker at a church might give insights into a life of secularism and the perceived blessings such a life would have to offer them. I would likewise think such a person to be capable of exceptional tact and poise -- such as that exhibited by the atheists with whom I interact in my social circles.
.

Answer 4

Whatever I was asked to.

Bible study and exposition, quite possibly. I used to teach it.

Or perhaps "What I thought I knew"
Would be a nice open topic...
Some of the things I was sure I knew of a certainty that turned out to be mistaken.
Possibly using the "imagine what you'll know tomorrow " speech from "Men in Black"
(which itself contains an interesting "known" which isn't true.)

On a roll...
How about "Pigeon-holes and caricatures: how to avoid looking, understanding and communicating"?
(with examples from *every* possible perspective to be absolutely fair.)

Answer 5

The reliability of the Biblical texts. I'd straighten them out, starting with Deuteronomy, a book that can easily be shown as a fake using only the Bible and a few margin notes from a study Bible.

Answer 6

I would talk about the basis of morality and compare how an atheist forms his morals with what is taught by religion.

I think too many religious people assume that without religion there can be no morality when actually, morality predated religion. Religion makes a false claim of authorship of morality.

Answer 7

I know of an atheist who gave great speechs about the letter that Paul wrote in the Bible.
He had more insight than a lot preachers.
btw: He did teach logic at a university.

He just couldn't make that leap of faith.

Answer 8

Personally? I'd rather be that token pagan they have come in and talk every now and then about the most bland subject possible.

Then of course I'd change it around once I got up there and just tell them all I completely disagree with a single god, etc,etc.

Answer 9

Lets not talk about our differences but what we have in common. We all desire happiness and have a need to be validated whatever our differences. A church is a community building, no problem.

Answer 10

Atheists are in their church already. The church has to do with the minds of men. They need to leave that church and find the Lord God Jesus Christ - the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Answer 11

I don't understand why an atheist would want to go to church to talk about their beliefs. Wouldn't 'witnessing' like that almost be treating atheism as if it were a religion?