Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dustin on January 4, 2011 at 11:10am

The best way to learn a new trade - is to submerse yourself in it.  

 

Go to you tube and start watching debates by Hitchens, Dawkins and Harris.  Take notes on anything you don't understand - And research them.  

 

You could also just start looking up 'logical fallacies' in wikipedia , etc.  

 

If you can't seem to remember your points of argument when debating - There may not be hope for you :P

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Permalink Reply by Mallory on January 4, 2011 at 11:15am

Maybe I just need more time for everything to sink in. I actually spend a lot of time reading/watching debates, and just reading in general.

 

There might not me hope for me, but keep in mind: I've never really had the chance to debate anyone. The closest I've gotten to a debate are arguments with my boyfriend where his stance is, "I'm right, you're wrong. End of story." Not exactly conducive to getting better at it... :/

 

Otherwise atheist/theist topics just don't come up around me. Thanks for the tips though. I haven't actually utilized wikipedia much. Or taken notes. I'll try that and see if anything sticks better.

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Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on January 4, 2011 at 11:13am

Are you kidding? I'm a master debater.

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Permalink Reply by Dustin on January 4, 2011 at 11:19am

If you say that 5 times really fast - It sounds a bit awkward.  :P

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Permalink Reply by Mallory on January 4, 2011 at 11:20am

Ha ha! I think that's the point!

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Permalink Reply by 3equ3cp1fsw0n on January 4, 2011 at 6:31pm

If you say that 5 times really fast - It sounds a bit awkward.  :P

 

LMAO! Really, no offense at all Dallas, but that was funny!

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Permalink Reply by Mallory on January 4, 2011 at 11:39am

I'm on my way out the door, but thank you so very much for all of these links and advice!!! :D

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Permalink Reply by Sophie on January 4, 2011 at 11:48am

This happens to me occasionally. Thanks for the helpful links.

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Permalink Reply by Bill on January 4, 2011 at 12:05pm

Debating is just a skill, like wresting, or playing chess. It is verbal Jujitsu. If it is something you want to learn how to do well, you can. Personally, I think it is important, like self defense training. But just like martial arts, it needs to be used with great discretion. It is not something you practice on your little sister, or any other loved ones.

 

But when we find our freedom under attack, like we are now by the Tea Party Movement, we need every thinking person to contribute, each in there own ways. One example is writing editorials for your local paper. Some people are great at that, even though they may never do face-to-face debating with anyone. Others love the "in your face" confrontation.

 

Right now, we have a bunch of loonies on the right stating "I'm right and you are wrong". Their debating style is based on fear, intimidation and threat of violence. The weakest debaters among us can help by simply staying "no, that is not true". We don't have to worry about supporting evidence, because they are the ones making all the assertions. They need to provide evidence, which has not been forthcoming. You don't need any fancy arguments to fight ignorant assertions. "That sound's silly to me" is good enough!

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Permalink Reply by Jason D. Johnson on January 4, 2011 at 12:08pm

You have to kind of make it your hobby for awhile, then you'll get better at it.  Really learn to understand the opposition's key points and theories and become fully aware of how they think. 

 

The difference between me and someone close to me is that I understand their spirituality because I've been where they are.  They claim they understand my atheism but continuously show that they do not, because they have never been where I am.

 

Our best experience comes from the fact that we've walked on both sides of the fence (most of us), but they have only walked on one side.  You can fully understand them, but they can never truly understand you without becoming an atheist themselves.

 

(I believe that to understand atheism inevitably means becoming an atheist.  But that is just my opinion.)

Start with the things that made you question religious dogma in the first place, and build from there.  For me, the questions never stop forming in my head no matter how much I learn.

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Permalink Reply by Bill on January 4, 2011 at 12:17pm

Yes! You cannot understand atheism without becoming an atheist, but once you understand a religion, you can no longer believe in it.

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Permalink Reply by Morgan Matthew on January 4, 2011 at 12:36pm

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