Seth Andrews of the blog The Thinking Atheist responded - not with an acceptance of the challenge - but with a video of his own, entitled, “The Feuerstein Fallacy.” It’s a perfect and concise takedown of the tired and debunked thinking that Feuerstein is trying to resurrect…. “Josh, science called and said, ‘You’re doing it wrong!’” Andrews started out. “Scientists and non-scientists alike with any cursory understanding of the burden of proof, know that you don’t start with anything and everything that cannot be disproven….By that standard, fairies exist. The Boogey Man exists. Plush time-travelling Teddy Bears in outer space exist - prove they don’t exist,” he continued.
I know; this is just WAY too easy, but every now and again I like having a bit of fun with those who can’t fathom that there are those who don’t believe in God. As difficult as it is for some Christians to understand, some folks just lead an evidence-based intellectual life. Before they believe something, they expect it to be proven, to be tangible and/or visible- in other words, something their common sense and intellect can grasp as real and verifiable. Seems pretty simple and straightforward, no? If you want me to believe in something, show it to me. Prove that it’s real, that it exists. THEN perhaps I might be able to wrap my head around it and acceptance its reality and existence.
Then there are those indefatigable Christians like John Feuerstein, who’s so convinced of the inviolate and indisputable moral correctness of his faith that the idea of someone not believing in God is almost enough to ‘splode his pointy li’l haid. So sure of his faith is he that he’s issued a $100,000 challenge to any atheist that can prove that God DOESN’T exist. Yes, you read that correctly; $100,000 to anyone who can disprove a negative. If that logical fallacy doesn’t give you a headache, watching Feuerstein’s video will. It’s a comedy gold mine, of course, and anyone who understands even basic logic understands the absurdity that is expecting someone to prove God doesn’t exist. Frankly, the burden of proof isn’t on people like me who don’t believe in God. I could care less what John Feuerstein believes about anything. If he’s trying to persuade atheists that God really DOES exist, it would seem incumbent upon him to convince us that God does in fact exist. Even IF he intended to pay up if someone meets his challenge, the idea is absurd on its face.
‘Course, Feuerstein has an (not so very) impressive track record. Having disproved evolution (Stupid atheists!!), destroyed abortion arguments (in under 2 minutes!), he’s also vented his outrage at Comedy Central for “Black Jesus.” Oh…and he can prove God exists in 3 MINUTES!! Impressive, eh??
Too bad the guy’s a raving lunatic who couldn’t construct a logical, defendable argument if his life depended on it.
But his God’s an awesome God…and besides, atheists r dumm, knowhutimean??
I’d deconstruct Feuerstein’s logic, but this guy’s done a much better job of wading through the verbal diarrhea. Enjoy the rich, creamy goodness, eh? And if you want an alternate, less profane explanation for why someone chooses not to believe in God, Dave Foley does a bang-up job.
Oh…and good luck collecting that $100,000….
