An unusual approach to an ancient problem. [self]

author: dubious_alliance (5 months) | author karma: 1561/2295 | original story's comments | [flag](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%23atheismbot&subject=flag&message=Please describe why you're flagging this submission - http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/mwqnz/an_unusual_approach_to_an_ancient_problem/)

Since 2001 I've been instrumental in helping several former theists renounce their faith for reason and logic. Many years of trial and error have led me to a method that, more often than not, actually works. It takes months or even years sometimes, but so far it's the most reliable method I've tried.

Before you down-vote this submission into oblivion, please understand that my goal is not to get people to think how I do, rather to help them learn to think for themselves. Experience has shown me that it's most difficult if you start your arguments off with how [bad/dumb/etc.] religion is. There are too many defenses built up for that kind of frontal assault on religion, which is partially why the argument has become so frustrating for atheists. Here's a tip that may help, for what it's worth:

If you haven't already, familiarize yourself with logical fallacies. Once you have a decent grasp on them and can spot them in arguments, explain to your theist friend how one can tell the difference between truth and bullshit just by learning to spot logical fallacies (it's true, you really can). Turn the TV on to Fox News or any political speech and start pointing out how they are used to distract from the truth, explaining them individually as you encounter them (Fox News employs logical fallacies at a rate of about 1-2 per minute. Even your standard presidential speech contains at least a few). Once your theist friend starts applying what they've learned, and sees how well it works to spot dishonest tactics they will eventually turn their new-found bullshit detector towards their own religion and will see its flaws. People tend to be more critical of their own beliefs when they're the ones scrutinizing them.

Cognitive biases are also helpful tools in understanding why we humans think (often incorrectly) the way we do.

There have been many posts here about how we atheists are disrespectful of others' beliefs. This tends to make us ineffective communicators when it comes to religion. Instead of attacking religion, show your friends how truth that can so often be found in logic and reason, then sit back and watch as they shed their own religion like a snake sheds its skin. Obviously not everyone responds identically to this, but more often than not, especially in the younger crowd, people embrace logic once it has demonstrated its intrinsic value.

And to all of you who remain in the trenches with the fundies trying the brute force method, it can be helpful to keep in mind that it's really not the fundie you're trying to convince (they're probably impossible to convert), it's the people on the fence that come by later and who are capable of taking a more objective view on what you're saying. Lots of lurkers here have been liberated from their religions right here on r/atheism by reading both sides, and they've said that it is our reasoned arguments that made the difference.

Take it or leave it, just trying to help. If you've also tried this or something like it I'd love to hear your success stories.

All the best to you wonderful godless baby-eaters out there. In Good We Trust.

tl;dr Learn logic. Show theists how logic works without pointing it at religion. Let theist point logic at themselves and watch them destroy their own arguments in favor of religion. Rinse, repeat.

Met criteria: ups>4 and score>3