Background perspective: I am a Christian that professes a very biblical world view and have debated in many online forums. Here is a small list of things I get a little peeved at in forums

1. Use rehashed arguments as if they have authority over aspects of science, esp evolution.
- This means that you don't immediately go on a thread and use some argument that your pastor says in Sunday service, or on some random site you found. 99% likely these simple arguments have already been argued to death or are very fallible arguments.

2. Don't assume that their view on the world is the same as yours.
- Understand that you can't argue ethics or w/e on someone if their premise is that God doesn't exist. For example: abortion. We, as Christians, hold the view that God knows us before we are conceived (book of psalms) and often use this as a basis to say that a fetus is living. However, an atheist or w/e that assumes the bible is not true will not agree with this. You will never convince an atheist under these premises

3. Be humble and understand if you are A Christian, why are you debating in the first place?
- Remember firstly, that we are called to love, first and foremost. Do not let arguments and debates deter you. Do not let knowledge puff your ego up to the point. The people you debate with have feelings and are people too. They are not objects that you try to evangelize to.



anyone else would like to add? maybe from an atheist perspective on how not to debate against a christian

I think the best way to go about this is try to show that Christians aren't merely picking a belief from a smorgasbord of religions and then hitting you on the head with it. Show the power of the Word itself. It's power to divide light from darkness and good from evil. Show the power of the Word working through people vs. religious ritualism.

It is also important to show the atheist that you condemn the dark ages and unbiblical romanism.

Jesus was a pretty big fan of it. He didn't start it with other people often in the New Testament, but if someone came to him, man, he went to town.

Mostly for awesomeness rights.

4. Don't quote bible verses in debates about the existence of God.

that actually really bugs me.

5. Deny the validity of the OT unless it suits your particular argument.

6. No matter how tough things get, remember that you will always have the "FAITH" card.

It just blows my mind how little so many atheists pay attention. No one has ever said the OT was not valid.

sorry i meant OT laws. And yes Jib, point 5 was created by me, in jest, to goad you into a boorish response. And yes Jib, you did just tar many atheists with the same brush again.

I wouldn't want to disappoint you.

I know

If you're debating with religious people solely because you think they're stupid, find a better hobby.

Debating religion on line is a stupid proposition to begin with

The only one that comes close to getting it right is NR and that's because he narrows his parameters to certain posters and certain threads very strictly.

First you really can't pinpoint anyone's identity. I've even seen people impersonate Christians on here.

Second there are two many sect and religious variations which makes defining terms impossible. The Catholics will never agree doctrinally with the Protestants, etc.

Third certain people are incapable of retaining points and some people are new to the debate. Many times you have to go backwards to tell them things the rest of the group already knows. They are hopelessly lost and behind and interject things that derail the debate because of their uninformed latecomer status.

Fourth certain posters on here aren't really here to debate at all. They are here to demonize the opposite side. Take any thread Hopey participates in. He's incapable of sustaining a genuine debate and he's not really interested in one. Forums are simply not able to keep out the opinionated fanatic posters.

This is a one massive generalization per sentence average.

I didn't read this, but doing the opposite of whatever it says has GOT to be the key for Christians.

Don't be a dumb****. Don't be an *******. Don't be a little bitch.

Really though. Know the difference between "illogical," "irrelevant," and "absurd." They don't all mean the same thing.

Be aware that there are many varieties of religious belief, and behave accordingly.

If you don't understand when the teapot argument, the FSM argument, the Zeus argument, and so on apply, then don't use them. Not everything is an invisible pink unicorn.

Don't be petty (yeah, I know, who am I kidding).

Don't take it too seriously, many of the posters don't have a clue and are best ignored if you can't have a laugh about them.

Argument is not an effective form of persuasion. Don't try to persuade people, I mean what are you, a Christian? But if you must persuade, you must use flattery and good listening, you must present challenges a little bit at a time in a friendly way, and you must be a good example and show plenty of respect. Good logic has nothing to do with persuasion, not even a little bit.

Know who is on your side. Nothing makes me facepalm like friendly fire.

If you don't know any theology, don't try to argue theology. Just acknowledge that it's based on a premise you don't accept and reject it on that basis. Really, you may think theists are all idiots, but if you're trying to play theological games without an understanding of the field you are in over your head.

Don't be smug and self-righteous. We don't want to act like Christians, do we now?

Have a sense of humor about yourself. You get to, you're just an ape after all.

Evolution is hard to understand. If you think it's easy to understand, chances are you're doing it wrong.

Question assumptions. Yours, theirs, whatever. That's the atheist superpower, and you want to use your superpower, right?

I said many, not all.

+1

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1142. Provide your adverseries with arguments that weakens your standpoint if you have them and they don't.
1143. Don't use arguments you could debunk yourself.
1144. Your goal is to clarify, and make progress not to 'win'

Don't act like you "found" the one correct sect of the one correct religion if you were born into it. Statistics heavy suggest otherwise.

1. understand that each person has a differnt pov and thinks they are just as correct in their pov as you think you are in yours, and act accordingly imo

It tilts the **** out of me every time I see something about pink unicorns, leprechauns, Santa Claus.

even cute little dancing leprechauns? if so, how sad imo

I am Irish. RACIST BAN IMO.