Reply To: Reeling from Christian friend's bigotry

erock68la wrote:

I think the purpose of these arguments is not to definitively disprove god, but rather to attempt to meet theists where they are in their thinking and to get them to recognize just one inconsistency in what they think. Many theists wear their delusional belief systems like a suit of armor, and arguments like the problem of evil or inconsistencies in the bible, etc. try to find the chink in that armor.

That’s the proper purpose of such arguments, but one must be sure that’s what’s coming across rather than “I don’t believe in god because he’s a meanie.” Because if they think you’re saying that, they’ll laugh at you. and they’d be right to do so given that premise.

It’s one of those cases where I have to say to them “Yeah if Joe WERE saying X, I’d agree with you, he’d be an idiot, but he’s not actually trying to say X.”