A useful 100 point resource for fence sitters

[siddharth]

Hey all,

I think IndianAtheists.com (a website which is a part of Nirmukta) ought to have a list of online resources (videos, articles, illustrations, etc) for 1. fence sitting skeptics and 2. religious people who are curious to know the atheistic position.

We could possibly have a 100 point list of resources which anyone can go through, and these would persuade in simple and clear terms why the atheistic position is superior/better.

Here is what I think ought to be the conditions for such a list:
1. it ought to be simple enough for anyone with minimal knowledge of science and philosophy to understand. (Since we are aiming for a larger readership).
2. none of it should take more than 30 mins to read/watch. I would prefer a 15 minute article/video. (Most people don't often have the time to involve themselves in such intellectual persuits. If they do, they will google relevant articles anyway).
3. the resource should sound convincing to a religious person or a fence-sitter, and not just atheists or the non-religious. (I don't want this resource to be a case of preaching to the choir).

They could be blog posts, YouTube videos, FAQs from other sites, etc.

Keeping in mind these points, here are my first few suggestions:

1. Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan
2. Critical Thinking by Qualia Soup
3. Lack of Belief in Gods by QualiaSoup
4. This quote on morality and religion.

And so on...

[Lije]

5. The Dragon In My Garage - Sagan

[arvindiyer]

(04-May-2011, 09:25 PM)Lije Wrote: 5. The Dragon In My Garage - Sagan

6. This excerpt from Gora's "An Atheist with Gandhi", illustrating how a famous atheist can be friends with the most famous theist of the time

[Ajita Kamal]

7. Bhagat Singh's "Why I Am An Atheist"

8. Michael Shermer's Bullshit Detection Kit

9. Niel deGrasse Tyson's talk at the first Beyond Belief conference in '06 I know this is over 30 mins, but I feel this is one of the most powerful talks for anyone on the fence in regards to the religion vs science debate. We can remove it from the list if its not suitable.

10. Our own, Indian Atheists primer on religion (Feel free to help with refining this page).

[arvindiyer]

11. 100 different eminent physical and social scientists speak about their skepticism (Part 1, Part 2)

[LMC]

12) Here is a brilliant youtube deconversion series
All videos are about 10 minutes long.
12.0 Overview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSy1-Q_BEtQ
12.1 How i was as a christian 1982-2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOmSYHzeoNA
12.2.0 Deconversion: The God Concept http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rP8ybp13s
12.2.1 Deconversion: Prayer 1988-2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf5q6VFn17o
12.2.2 Deconversion: Morality 1988-2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNWqvEIcJpo
12.2.3 Deconversion: Other Christians (Part 1) 2003-2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnTbkgcFi7k
12.2.3 Deconversion: Other Christians (Part 2) March 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgLBLJE3P-c
12.2.4 Deconversion: The Bible (Part 1) 2003 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70SYwkoH_yc
12.2.4 Deconversion: The Bible (Part 2) March 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q37NhrCPNo
12.2.5 Deconversion: Personal Relationship (Part 1) 1988-2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-q8WZ1Ibso
12.2.5 Deconversion: Personal Relationship (Part 2) March 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbXJC6KsYWs
12.2.6 Deconversion: The End March 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQJrud71gL8
12.2.7 Deconversion: Losing God March 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYaZTEuaFWE
12.3.0 Atheism: A New Way of Seeing God March 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoiW4KO_Om4
12.3.1 Atheism: Definitions end of 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-BQVmvulmQ
12.3.2 Atheism: Nontheistic Gods 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpy65mysu5s
12.3.3.1 Atheism: Ingersoll & Mack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6MWo_drOhI
12.3.3.2 Atheism: Spong 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l80Alsiw40
12.3.3.3 Atheism: A History of God (Part 1) 2004 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlnnWbkMlbg
12.3.3.3 Atheism: A History of God (Part 2) 2004-2005 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPfFx9JTQl8
12.3.4.1 Atheism: Evidence (Part 1) 2005-2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9x_oa--KAc
and running..
12.3.4.2 Atheism: Objections to Evidentialism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14JavH4Rk7k

[LMC]

13)Critical Thinking Series
All videos are only about 2-3 minutes long.

[Naushirvan]

hey, great resources! One of my 'fence-sitter' friends was forced to reconsider his position after watching a number of videos and reading some articles from your list. Let us hope he 'sees the light',haha.

[LMC]

(04-May-2011, 09:25 PM)Lije Wrote: 5. The Dragon In My Garage - Sagan

Also add to that this video by C0nc0rdance


14)Carl Sagan's Cosmos - Star Stuff

[LMC]

15) DEFEND YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEGE
A little long but a great read.
THE THINK ATHEIST FOUNDATION

[LMC]

16)Indian Atheists FAQ

17)Why Agnosticism Is Not An Option In Our Time by arvindiyer

18)Richard Dawkins - The Poverty Of Agnosticism
Pt 1:

Pt 2:

[LMC]

19)Richard Dawkins - "What if you're wrong?"


20)Richard Dawkins - Absolute Morality



21)Richard Dawkins: One Fact to Refute Creationism


22)Richard Dawkins: Why are there still Chimpanzees?


23)Man has replaced god (Does god exist?): Debate-Jaipur Literature festival(edited)
Richard Dawkins, Javed Aktar, Suhel Seth, Aruna Roy, Swami Agnivesh, Prof.Salim Engineer, Ashok Vajpayee, Qaisra Shahraz.

Closing Statements