It would be worthwhile to take principles employed by atheists attempting to defeat cosmsological arguments for the existence of God (I'm thinking here of the five ways, but there may certainly be more) and to see what these principles also imply about human nature. It may be that the very principle that one uses to deny God's existence ALSO implies that human identity and agency (as well as scientific inquiry) are illusory.
The form of this point is that if the principles used to attack theism are granted, then they likewise attack humanism (humanism without free will and identity through time would be pretty pointless).
The most important thing to say to a humanist atheist is to ask them why they think being human is so great. If they offer a good reason, it will be one that supports theism or at least openness to theism. If they offer a weak reason (e.g., one tinged with relativism), then their argument against theism will be similarly weakened.
The form of this point is that if the principles used to attack theism are granted, then they likewise attack humanism (humanism without free will and identity through time would be pretty pointless).
The most important thing to say to a humanist atheist is to ask them why they think being human is so great. If they offer a good reason, it will be one that supports theism or at least openness to theism. If they offer a weak reason (e.g., one tinged with relativism), then their argument against theism will be similarly weakened.
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