Theist-Atheist Argument: An Observation

Now, I know this argument isn't perfect or airtight--the battle rages on after all. What I wanted to accomplish with this piece are as follows:

1) I wanted this to be a teaching point. I wanted to look at the arguments as they stand and to put them, perhaps too simply, in a side-by-side format.

2) To emphasize the distinction between a claim and a proof (of sorts) to a claim. In one you present something as fact, the latter you reason as to why it is a fact.

3) To offer some argumentative tips and to offer ways at looking at arguments. Am I an expert? No, probably not, but I think these principles are sound and they've guided me well in my experience.


As any philosopher, theologian, or truth-seeker (for "free thinker"-- whatever title you want), we have to learn to see arguments clearly and take them seriously. We can all too quickly become dismissive, often because of the claim and not the process to the claim.


I'm also sorry to end on a cliffhanger of sorts, but that topic is HUGE and very advanced. I'm not quite sure even I'm qualified to break it down without massive screw ups (for massive damage).

I suppose I could have typed this out, but I felt like hand-writing it allows me to format it more closely to the way I write down arguments and about this---it's also very tiring...so I may just go back to typing to save my hands! I wrote this out twice.

Please let me know what you think.

if I can accomplish (1) and (2) above, I'll be a happy guy.

I'm not out to necessary bury atheism, but I do get disturbed when I see the arguments on both sides that make an error in regards to (2). Calling something Sky Fairy or what-not reasoning is dishonest and more a tag to dismiss a claim, not an argument--so none of that here please.


But, again, I recognize my own imperfections, even though I try to work hard at it all. Please let me know what you think.

-M

P.S. the tags are a lie. It wouldn't let me submit this as literature. Sorry.

P.P.S. This one's a little sloppier in quality, despite my efforts to fix it up. Another apology.