Definitely a great point offered up here and a well-thought out technique that I’d like to try in subsequent debates. Though I think it would be nice to see an example of how leaving a line of retreat would play out. For the example given:
“Let’s say you approach a theist (let’s call him Theo) and say “How can you, a grown man, still believe in something stupid like talking snakes and magic sky kings? Don’t you know you people are responsible for the Crusades and the Thirty Years’ War and the Spanish Inquisition? You should be ashamed of yourself!”
This suggests the following dichotomy in Theo’s mind: EITHER God exists, OR I am an idiot who believes in stupid childish things and am in some way partly responsible for millions of deaths and I should have lower status and this arrogant person who’s just accosted me and whom I already hate should have higher status at my expense.”
What’s the best strategy to employ so that Theo is able to retreat? In other debates, what’s the best way to come up with such strategies?
Definitely a great point offered up here and a well-thought out technique that I’d like to try in subsequent debates. Though I think it would be nice to see an example of how leaving a line of retreat would play out. For the example given:
What’s the best strategy to employ so that Theo is able to retreat? In other debates, what’s the best way to come up with such strategies?