"I've read your book!"
In the classic movie "Patton" George C. Scott plays General Patton, the colorful and very successful WWII general. In one classic scene, Patton has just defeated the forces of Rommel in battle in North Africa. Patton, sensing his victory, exults "Rommel you magnificent bastard, I read your book!"
Skeptics can learn a lot from Patton. In real life Patton was a Renaissance man, he comped in the Olympics and was also an amateur historian. His favorite history was of course military history and battles. You can be sure the real life General Patton did read Rommel's book. Knowing the tactics and way of thinking of your enemy is a great help in defeating that enemy.
It's important for skeptics to be familiar with the books, web sites and tv shows of the enemy. It's a tough job to slog through reading some of this stuff. Believe me, I have read and own "The Great Orm of Loch Ness" by Ted Holiday. I keep a pile of woo books by my bedside and reading some of them better than counting sheep on nights I can't sleep. I'm currently suffering through a book on psychic archeology (more popular with archaeologists than you might think, dowsing sites is rather commonplace). The point is knowing just what someone you might debate is thinking. What tactics and arguments are they using to convince others?
James Randi and the JREF have a large library. While filled with wonderful books by critical thinkers, there are also books by the astrologers, palmists, faith healers, and psychics. If it's woo, they probably have a copy of it. Why would a skeptic want that kind of book in his library? Because it's important to know what they believe and how they are selling their ideas or beliefs.
The joke among many skeptics I know is that they know the Bible better than most Christians. Indeed, a good read of the Bible is imperative for anyone debating a fundamentalist or deeply conservative Christian. You'll find that they often don't know their Bible very well, especially the context of many of their favorite verses. I do not know the theologian that said this, but I agree with his comment whole heartedly. "The Bible is like a person, if you torture it long enough you can get it to say anything."
One plus side for skeptics is that most fundamentalist religions and most seriously misguided thinkers have a great fear of information and exposure to any writing or people that does not agree with their mis belief. Strict fundamentalists home school their children or send them to a church school for fear of the children being exposed to ideas contrary to those taught by the parents. UFO abductees do not attend a TAM or skeptic conference. Even an astronomy meeting would be dangerous for their belief. They instead attend UFO conferences and meetings that cater to the believer and feed his beliefs. I find many non critical thinkers know that their beliefs are not strong enough to stand up to scrutiny and questioning. If the Christian child attends a Jewish Temple, or visits a Buddhist monastery, there is a chance they will find that people of other religions and beliefs (or lack of beliefs) are as nice and moral as any Christians they know. That then brings into question what benefit their religion gives to them. I always joke among my Christian friends that I am going to sponsor, "Take an atheist to lunch day" so they can all discover that atheists are generally like the rest of us.
What kind of faith is it indeed if it is not strong enough to stand against all arguments against it?
Skeptics don't have this problem. Being based on reason and science, there is a different standard to their belief (or disbelief!). The appeal to emotion of religions and much woo is a problem only if you don't have strength in your critical thinking abilities. A skeptic can tread where other non critical thinkers fear to walk.
click for part 2
