The Name Calling Begins
One of the things I notice a lot when discussing religion with theists is that they tend to be quick to start with the name calling. When this happens, I like to call attention to it and then move on with the discussion. I don’t think it is productive to name call back but they should be aware that they started down that road.
This generally happens after I have criticized and maybe even mocked a particular religious doctrine or belief. The key difference is that I focus on the beliefs while theists like to call the atheist names. They often don’t understand this difference and so it is important to point it out to them.
The way I think about it is that name calling is the last refuge for those who have lost the argument on its merits and if you disagree, you must be a poopy-head!
Related articles
- Philosophy Can Debunk Myths About Atheism (camelswithhammers.com)
- “Atheist v. Theist” – A Humanist’s Response (thehumanistchallenge.wordpress.com)
- Intellectual Honesty (dangeroustalk.net)
- Religious Kid Gloves (dangeroustalk.net)
Filed under: anti-intellectualism, conversation, language, Religious Manipulation
