I read an article urging atheists to declare victory on certain issues and move on. The author said that any time spent debating evolution or biblical errors is wasted because these are established facts.
(1) Do you agree with this suggestion?
(2) Is there a practical way to "move on"?
2007-12-11 05:03:41 · 19 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many theists do enjoy the argument for the sake of argument. They want their beliefs challenged so that they can feel closer to the people in their stories.
I have seen many theists post that they enjoy someone questioning their beliefs because it makes them feel closer to their god.
Either someone is going to understand evidence and accept the validity of it or not. You can't force someone to think critically. So yes it's pointless to debate those who reject logic because evidence simply feeds their persecution fantasy.
2007-12-11 05:11:37 · answer #1 · answered by tuyet n 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think the author of that article is ignoring the fact that the majority of Christians in America are having a really hard time accepting established facts. Matter of fact, these people are voting for OTHER people who have a really hard time accepting established facts. I don't know if you and I and Y!A can change that, but I think it's way too important to just "move on."
I happen to know that people are told lies about these established facts...maybe that would be a good place to hit. If we can prove to some folks that the ones they trust are lying to them, they may be the new leaders of our cause. Those who have lived the lie and broken free have a certain implicit credibility to both sides.
2007-12-11 05:25:07 · answer #2 · answered by chem sickle 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not going to happen. People who understand logic and reason either understand that our position is correct, or don't bother taking part in the shenanigans. The only christians who show their faces here are the truly marginal - the ones who genuinely demonstrated that the biblical use of the term "sheep" was sometimes accurate. They don't undertand our position and I don't think they're capable of doing so. No matter how many times you explain something simple like the burden of proof they come back with a demand we prove god doesn't exist. Take solace in the fact that you're doing the right thing and trying to help these people, even if doing so again and again kind of exposes their cognitive problems. You are doing god's work, son! Oh, wait.
2016-05-23 01:55:36 · answer #3 · answered by cornelia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends strongly on the context. If you live in the Bible Belt, then it is not a settled issue, since Texas and others are considering inserting intelligent design into their schools' science curriculum. It remains an argument that will actually move again into the courts.
However, in much of the country, the issues of ID & biblical inerrancy are not a part of any discourse outside of small congregations, and bringing them into the public square is granting them more of an audience than they deserve.
As for moving on, it is always the important matter to ensure the separation of Church & State. Contributing to that cause is helpful, and distracting from it is potentially harmful.
- {♂♂} - {♂♀} - {♀♀} -
2007-12-11 05:12:18 · answer #4 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Kind of, yeah. Sometimes debating a thing like evolution just doesn't work. You can present science and logical arguments. But the response is either ignorance or illogical things. Yet in their minds, the argument makes sense.
For example: "We have genetic evidence linking us to...." "But Jesus died on the cross for my sins!"
So it might be easier to just say "you know what, the evolution debate is over, it happened, I'm sorry you don't know that."
But you first have to accept that this will effectively end any fight to get the culture more educated on the subject.
2007-12-11 05:10:32 · answer #5 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Victory? Are you engaged in some sort of a battle?
What does evolution have to do with religion anyway? No major religion I know of disapproves of evolution. Maybe some unaffiliated Christians do not believe in evolution but they are independent of a church.
My suggestion is to forget the whole thing. Live and let live.
2007-12-11 05:12:18 · answer #6 · answered by Judge and Jury 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. This goes against the very tenants of science and Popper's philosophy of falsification. Science progresses BECAUSE of constant debate, constant need to stand up to criticism, new theories and ideas and new evidence. The person writing the article sure doesnt know much about science.
2007-12-11 05:16:13 · answer #7 · answered by Menon R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They may have won the debate, but it may not be advisable to move on.
Most people are not even aware of how atheists have won the debate. So they continue to follow religions and vote science out of the schools and government funding.
But, in many ways, you may be right. How productive is it to beat a dead horse (and why do I keep doing it?).
2007-12-11 05:16:50 · answer #8 · answered by skeptic 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Especially on R&S we are not debating, we are answering questions in hopes of educating people. There are many established facts that people are unaware of and there will always be a need to educate.
2007-12-11 05:11:06 · answer #9 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
See the problem is, in organized debate, when one side is proven wrong, the other side concedes. They can always retreat to Magic as an explanation, and there is no debate when that happens. No one can therefore win a debate with a True Believer.
2007-12-11 05:08:59 · answer #10 · answered by Skalite 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋