Many times,
debates between Christians and self-described “atheists” become stagnant and
unflinching, even before they really get started. How is this possible? Typically,
the Christian will ask for some reasons for thinking that God does not exist.
The atheist will then respond that he isn’t taking the position that God does
not exist, but rather that he just lacks belief in God. While this is not the
same as saying God does not exist, the Christian will insist that the atheist
is using the term “atheism” incorrectly.
So what to do? I
think the whole thing is a red herring. It’s just irrelevant how they use the
term atheism as much as what they do with it. My suggestion: let them use “atheism”
however they want. If they insist it means belief in dinosaur-aliens that are
coming to kill us all, so be it. Just be sure you get that definition from them
at the beginning and hold them to it.
So, for example,
when an atheist infuses the term with the meaning of agnosticism, say something
like, “OK, so you don’t know whether or not God exists. For all you know, he
might or might not. Is that right?” If he says “No, that’s not right at all. I
think, probably, God does not exist. I just don’t know for sure,” then you’ve put him right back in the position of
having to support his belief that God does not exist (at least at some point;
you still have to support your belief that he does exist). If he agrees with
you, then you can proceed forward, knowing that he can’t appeal to evidences
that do not affect your argument unless he is willing to support them as
evidences against God’s existence (in which case he functions as an atheist).
The advantages
of this approach are obvious. First, you won’t get bogged down in an irrelevant
issue. Second, you will be able to discuss the parameters of the debate while
engaging the debate itself. You will have no less than the debate partner’s
agreement that he does not believe that God does not exist, and so cannot use
that supposition without supporting it. Let them call themselves whatever they
want. Don’t let them sidetrack you from the real issue.
Atheists and theists speak an entirely different language at times, so I agree that ascertaining clear definitions is a must. To me, atheism is a statement of belief as much as it is "a lack of belief" and one should be able to explain why they think it is more likely that God doesn't exist than does.
ReplyDeleteGrundy, thanks for commenting! :) Yeah, I think that it should be defended as well. However, I don't have a problem, in principle, with someone who withholds belief as to whether or not there is a God, but who nonetheless is skeptical of Christianity. My hope is to move beyond the definitional stage and to the actual arguments! :)
DeleteRandy, in your opinion, is theism merely the belief that at least one god exists, or is it the assertion that at least one god exists?
DeleteI would say it is the proposition that a god exists, and a theist believes this proposition to be true.
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