Free A Manual for Creating Atheists by Peter Boghossian

works all right. I know it works.
PB : Really? How do you know it works?
RC : Because I’ve cured people of illnesses. I’ve seen it work.
PB : Do you think selection bias has anything to do with that?
RC : No.
PB : What illnesses have you cured?
RC : Everything. You name it, I’ve cured it.
PB : Parkinson’s, Ebola, autism?
RC : I’ve never treated anyone with those.
PB : But if someone came in with one of those illnesses, could you cure them?
RC : I don’t know. I could try.
PB : Let’s take something more pedestrian, like my hearing loss. Could you cure it?
RC : If I did, would you believe me?
(I was at the cashier and RC stood off to the side.)
PB : Yes. And once you did, I’d personally fly you out to every children’s hospital in the world. Frankly, if you could cure these illnesses it’s monstrously immoral not to and should be a criminal offense. My feeling is that you’re a decent and kind person. I don’t think you’d withhold inexpensive treatment from people who needed it. If you really believe acupuncture works, why don’t you volunteer your services?
RC : There are acupuncturists at hospitals all over Portland—
PB : You’re right, there are. And acupuncture still doesn’t work.
RC : I don’t understand why you’re so confident it doesn’t work.
PB : Because there’s no evidence for it. In fact, there’s actually evidence against it. You should read Bausell’s Snake Oil Science (Bausell, 2007).
RC : There are a lot of studies that support acupuncture. I’ve seen them and I know from my experience it works.
PB : Name one.
(Pause)
RC : I can’t think of one right now.
PB : But yet you’re confident that there’s literature out there that supports the efficacy of acupuncture.
RC : Absolutely.
(End of the conversation)
    Intervention 2
    I had the following discussion with a professor (OM) who teaches at an evangelical university. He’s smart and Christian, and surprisingly he claims to base his religious beliefs on evidence. The conversation begins in medias res.
PB : So I just want to be clear. You’re 100 percent sure that Jesus Christ is the Son of God—
OM : Yes.
PB : You’re also certain that the claims in the Bible constitute sufficient evidence to warrant belief. I don’t want to mischaracterize your position. This is correct, yeah?
OM : Yes, that’s correct.
PB : Okay. Just so that I can understand this, and I’m sorry if I’m not getting it—
OM : You’re fine.
PB : Okay, thanks. So, you think that there was an actual man named Jesus—
OM : Definitely.
PB : Okay, and he more or less behaved as it’s written in the Bible. Is that correct?
OM : He did what the Bible said that he did. Yes.
(We discussed some of the alleged miracles Jesus performed and whether what’s written in the Bible constitutes reliable evidence.)
PB : Okay, and this is the part I have a hard time understanding. You believe that there’s sufficient evidence to warrant belief in these things, right?
OM : Yes, as I’ve said.
PB : Okay, so for all evidence-based beliefs, it’s possible that there could be additional evidence that comes along that could make one change one’s beliefs. What evidence would you need to make you change your mind?
(Responding instantly)
OM : The bones of Christ.
(Which would mean Jesus didn’t ascend to heaven and the myth would be exposed as such.)
PB : The bones of Christ would make you doubt?
OM : Absolutely.
PB : But how would you know they were the bones of Christ?
(Long pause)
PB : I mean let’s say a famous archeologist said, “We’ve found Christ’s bones in this ancient tomb in Israel.” Wouldn’t you ask how he’d know they were the bones of Christ?
OM : I certainly would.
PB : And what answer would satisfy you?
(Looking at me as if he didn’t understand)
PB : I mean, what would he have to say to you to convince you that they were indeed the bones of Christ?
OM : Well, I don’t really know. I’d have to see why he said that.
PB : I don’t understand