#83: Common Atheist Claims Against Christianity

Atheist influencers recently challenged certain claims commonly made by fellow skeptics—claims they now recognize as inaccurate, unproductive, or philosophically unsound. After watching several of these discussions, including a recent Reasonable Faith podcast in which William Lane Craig responds to four such claims [1], I was struck by how naturally these topics invite a clear, evidence‑based apologetic response.

As one atheist blogger ("Ricky") explained, these statements often “oversimplify issues,” exclude others with different perspectives, and ultimately function as “catchy yet divisive slogans.”

Below are the four claims, followed by an apologetic analysis using core questions we emphasize in AoM.

1. “You’re not rational unless you are an atheist.”

Ricky notes that rationality involves consistent use of logic and evidence—not merely rejecting religious belief. This observation aligns with the first question we should ask: “What do you mean by that?”

When pressed, many skeptics state or imply that Christianity is irrational, lacking evidence, or rooted in “blind faith.” This leads naturally to our second question: “How did you arrive at that conclusion?”

A thoughtful dialogue exposes the unsupported assumption that Christianity has no evidential foundation. Here the apologist can provide:

• Logical reasons for trusting Scripture

• Historical evidence for the resurrection

• Scientific evidence for the existence of God

• Philosophical arguments for theism

The goal is not to “win,” but to reveal that rationality is not the exclusive domain of atheists.

2. “We are all born atheists.”

Ricky acknowledges the dismissive tone this carries toward believers, but the deeper issue is philosophical: this claim is unprovable.

As Craig notes, the statement relies on a flawed definition of atheism—treating it as a psychological default state rather than a philosophical position (“There is no God”).

By asking our two core questions—“What do you mean by that?” and “How did you arrive at that conclusion?”—we gently place the burden of proof where it belongs. The skeptic must show evidence that atheism is the natural state of the human mind, something neither psychology nor philosophy supports.

This invites a deeper conversation about innate belief, moral intuition, and the universal human inclination toward the transcendent.

3. “You can’t reason out of something you weren’t reasoned into.”

This claim mirrors the error in Claim 1. Implied is the idea that religious belief arises from irrational sources and therefore cannot be addressed through arguments.

Again, AoM’s first two questions reveal the weakness:

• What do you mean by that? Are all religious experiences assumed to be non‑rational?

• How did you arrive at that conclusion? Can the skeptic demonstrate that believers are never persuaded by evidence?

In reality, countless Christians around the globe—including many Christian scholars—cite evidence, historical credibility, philosophical reasoning, and personal investigation as the basis for their convictions.

This claim, thus, collapses when exposed to scrutiny.

4. “Reading the Bible will make you an atheist.”

While some skeptics highlight difficult passages and alleged contradictions, this sweeping statement is empirically false. Millions of Christians around the world read Scripture daily and find their faith strengthened.

By asking clarifying questions, we uncover the overgeneralization:

• What do you mean? Which passages specifically lead to atheism?

• How did you conclude that reading the Bible produces unbelief? What evidence supports this causal claim?

Such questions shift the conversation from vague slogans to specific texts, interpretation, and context—areas where Christianity has long offered robust answers.

Additional Claims from Other Atheist Influencers

Another atheist commentator advises skeptics to avoid four additional claims: [2]

• “Religion is a mental illness.”

• “Religion was invented to control people.”

• “The definition of faith is . . .” [followed by an incorrect – strawman – definition].

• “You only believe in God because . . .” [assuming one’s motives without first asking].

Each can likewise be addressed through AoM’s method: invite definition, ask for evidence, and illuminate assumptions.

A Wise Caution for Christians

Christians sometimes fall into the same trap of making sweeping, unhelpful claims about atheists. In a future note, I may share some of these. For example, my son has heard Christians college students tell non‑believing classmates, “You’re going to hell because you refuse to believe.” While theologically grounded, no one knows the heart of another person and such statements rarely help draw someone toward truth.

Peter instructs us to give a defense with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). A strong apologetic relies not only on sound arguments but on Christlike character.

In Christ,
Doug
1 Peter 3:15

[1] “Atheists Should Stop Saying This!”, Reasonable Faith Podcast, October 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMgfbIk2OsI. I was unable to confirm the identity of the atheist blogger, “Ricky.” The name is likely a pseudonym.

[2] “4 Things Atheists Should Never Say”, Genetically Modified Skeptic, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rR7jTgfpSk. According to Fandom/Wikitubia, the influencer’s name is Andrew “Drew” McCoy.