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Persuasion Speech
Posted on: September 28, 2006 - 4:21pm
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Persuasion Speech
I'm thinking a doing a persuasion speech on Atheism for a class I'm in. Any specific topic I should try and speak. Jus looking for some general direction.
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Well you first need to think of what kind of message you want to send and how strong of one you think you can send.
Are you going to say religion is bunk? Or are you going to say just respect me?
Funny you should bring this up. I'm working on a big essay submission project in which we'll award people for their efforts in writing in about 5 different categories. Essays imploring people to abandon religion is one of the categories.
You should see this article by Sam Harris for a little guidance.
(the contest will be up within a day or two)
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I want to get any theists in the class to think about their beliefs and get them to possibly wonder about their worldview. That perhaps they could be wrong. Don't want to come across as preachy or harsh.
Be sure to define words like faith as it is linked to religion, but could just be described as belief without a reason.
I'd say the easy way of getting people to think is to ask questions. Though people will probably try to answer them
If it is a persuasion thing I would think it would almost have to be preachy, but maybe you can get away with it I don't know. As for harshness I would just add reasons behind the harsh comments. Maybe before you give it ask a few people who won't beat you over a harsh comment what they think about it.
If you want to make people reconsider their beliefs, I think you should concentrate on driving home three points:
1) Religion is harmful.
2) Religion is false.
3) Morality, meaning and spirituality do not fly out the window when we give up religion. On the contrary, they actually get better.
Of course, the topic of such a speech would not really be atheism but religion... But then again, the word "atheism" is probably not a meme we want to propagate anyway.
Also you should be careful not to single anyone religion out and always back your claims up. If you do single one out or if you don't back your claims then people will just think you're bashing. Though the topic is religion you may want to get past the idea of just religion and attack blind belief in anything. That could transfer over to Government, Religion, or just ideas about something.
I like the third one, might do it on that. Thanks.
Have you always been an atheist? Perhaps a "how i became an atheist" talk would be better. No one can take offense if it's about you. If you like the morality angle, explain how you discovered you could be moral without the immortal threats or rewards.
LV
"The time appears to me to have come when it is the duty of all to make their dissent from religion known."
- John Stuart Mill
http://theistsanonymous.blogspot.com/
It helps to try to be inspiring. Instead of just tearing down theism, which is rather like shooting fish and loaves in a barrel, remember to throw in there how hopeful the world is when it's examined rationally.
People get very defensive, within themselves or vocally, when their beliefs are assaulted. Think of how the really great politicians vs. the really lame politicians work.
FDR: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
W: Be afraid.
The first tactic is an invitation to be stronger. To overcome what intimidates with a vision of strength. The second is an imperative to cower.