7 Really Bad Pro-God Arguments

I like to debate, especially online because the interface for discussion is mainly typographical in nature. One of my favorite topics for debate is religion. This is for a couple of reasons. One: you rarely come across a topic with the potential for such spirited disagreement. Two: There are plenty of arguments to be used for both sides, though I find the side of religion to be pitifully short on logic. That brings me to the third reason why I like debating religion: because, since I’m an atheist, many of religion’s most powerful arguments are meaningless to me.

With that said, here are some of my favorite pro religion arguments, and why they’re blatantly unsound:

1) Invoking the Bible: The Bible is a book. It’s not even a good book. I challenge any objective reader to try to get through Genesis without laughing in disbelief every five minutes. Arguing that God exists because some parts of the Bible match up with historic events is like waiting 2000 years and using Atlas Shrugged to say that there’s a society of ubermen living in a hidden part of the Rockies.

2) Invoking Pascal’s Wager: this argument should be outlawed, it’s so bad. It’s bad even when used properly, which it rarely is. Pascal’s wager in its simplest form is this: If I believe in God, die, and there is a God, then I go to heaven. If I don’t, die, and there is a God, then I go to hell. If I believe in God, die, and there isn’t, then what have I lost? If I don’t believe in God, I die, and there isn’t, then what have I gained?

First off, if we’re going by the definition of God used by Christians, why would believing in him simply to hedge your bets impress him? Furthermore, what if it’s not the God you choose to believe in? There are hundreds of deities to choose from. Finally, if you live a truly religious life, you end up spending a lot of time that you could otherwise spend enjoying yourself. And don’t even start on me about mixing hobbies and religion. Have any of you HEARD Christian music lately?

3) Saying “You don’t have proof against the existence of God.” This is a real beaut, one that unfortunately silences the quick witted and makes the religious crow in satisfaction. It’s basically the religious dude’s ace in the hole. However, it ignores one thing: *whisper* You religious folk are the ones who started the argument. *speak* This is the origin of the argument over religion:

Religious guy: God exists!
Atheist: prove it.
Religious guy: The Bible says so!
Atheist: The Bible’s a book. So what?
Religious guy: Stop attacking my religion!
Atheist: You still haven’t answered my question.
Religious guy: Well-well-YOU prove that God DOESN’T exist!
Atheist: Wait-what?
Religious guy: Hah! I win! You can’t disprove me, nyah nyah!

4) Saying “Without God, life is pointless!” Okay, there is a very simple, and very good point to life: TO LIVE. Religious people accuse atheists of being such because they’re scared of death and can’t possibly find enjoyment in life. The opposite is true. If anything, fear of death is one thing that drives religion, because as an atheist, I have no idea whether there’s anything after death. Doesn’t it sound much nicer to have an afterlife to look forward to? However, wishing does not make it so, and the thought that this life is all I have makes me want to get as much out of it as possible, and not waste it on folly and evil.

5) Saying “Well, you haven’t come up with a better explanation for life!” Again, this is an example of wishful thinking covering a gap in known fact. Since we don’t have a concrete explanation for life and the universe using evidence and reason, the religious automatically assume that God is the default that we must adhere to. However, that is not the case. You still need evidence in order to make the claim that God exists a valid hypothesis.

6) Saying “Well, by believing in science you’re every bit as religious as I am!” Let me point out the fundamental difference between science and religion. The track record of science has been to find the best answers to life’s questions. The track record of religion has been to lay out a set of answers and try to silence anyone who has their own answers. SCIENCE TRIES TO FIT ITS CLAIMS TO EVIDENCE. RELIGION TRIES TO FIT EVIDENCE TO ITS CLAIMS.

7) Saying “God spoke to me. I wouldn’t lie to you, would I?” First, this is unverifiable. Second, there are many people who claim that seemingly nonexistent beings speak to them and tell them to do things. These people are generally known as schizophrenics.

I’m forgetting some, I’m sure, but then again I could go on forever about this. This is good enough for now. Have a good night and drive safely, even if it’s only in a video game.