I don't know if this thread is a repeat of similar themed thread.
Specifically I would like to get feed back from Atheists and their reaction to the main players in the contemporary movement, namely: Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennet, Stephen Gould.
Do you think their methods and arguements are sound, perhaps in comaprison to earlier Atheists?
Do you think their methods and arguements are effective in swaying the general population over toward the atheist or at least agnostic camp?
What do you find missing in their arguements?
(Answer any or all).
I will just say I find some of these men more or less illiterate about theology and they stumble when confronted with theological arguements, but quite sound in scientific matters and some historical issues. I think a real effective atheist would be one that knew alot about science, philosophy, and could quote the Bible Chapter and Verse and knew theology like the back of his hand. That kind of Atheist would win hearts and minds from magical thinking to reason and reality.
For the record, I am an agnostic, a former fundementalist christian for 18 years (from age 15 to 33). I have read the bible, especially the new testament, many, many times and not just verses, whole books or letters in a sitting. I basically stopped reading the bible and haven't touched a religious text in a number of years. I am thinking about studying scripture again (just to be on the same footing as my opponents) as I learn more about science and philosophy.
Specifically I would like to get feed back from Atheists and their reaction to the main players in the contemporary movement, namely: Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennet, Stephen Gould.
Do you think their methods and arguements are sound, perhaps in comaprison to earlier Atheists?
Do you think their methods and arguements are effective in swaying the general population over toward the atheist or at least agnostic camp?
What do you find missing in their arguements?
(Answer any or all).
I will just say I find some of these men more or less illiterate about theology and they stumble when confronted with theological arguements, but quite sound in scientific matters and some historical issues. I think a real effective atheist would be one that knew alot about science, philosophy, and could quote the Bible Chapter and Verse and knew theology like the back of his hand. That kind of Atheist would win hearts and minds from magical thinking to reason and reality.
For the record, I am an agnostic, a former fundementalist christian for 18 years (from age 15 to 33). I have read the bible, especially the new testament, many, many times and not just verses, whole books or letters in a sitting. I basically stopped reading the bible and haven't touched a religious text in a number of years. I am thinking about studying scripture again (just to be on the same footing as my opponents) as I learn more about science and philosophy.
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