I watch and listen to a lot of atheist call in shows on YouTube, and there are things the hosts say and do that I think they should really stop doing.
Stop Appealing To The Authority Of “Science”
Science doesn’t disprove the Biblical flood. Geology disproves the Biblical flood. Biological diversity disproves the young earth creationism. Astronomy, physics, and math support the age of the universe.
Science is not monolithic. There is no magisterium of Scientists. Archaeologists are not by default experts in paleontology. Geneticists are not by default experts in physics. We need to stop saying, “according to science,” or “according to scientists.” We need to be specific in our language and vocabulary.
“Science” is not superior to faith for understanding. The Scientific Method, however, is the best mechanism for understanding the material world and for testing claims.
Stop Lumping All People Of Faith Together
This is a corollary to lumping all of science into one bucket. This is difficult to do in a call in show, but to be clear, not all theists are science denying, slavery defending, homophobic, sexists. Just as “science” isn’t monolithic, neither are theists.
Keep the conversation specifically targeted on the caller.
Don’t Talk About Scientific Issues With Laymen
So many callers on call in shows want to associate evolution with atheism. Unless the caller and the show hosts have expertise, or at the very least, post-secondary education, in the scientific fields they are discussing, don’t let it into the conversation.
It is pointless for Forest Valkai to discuss the finer points of taxonomy with someone who doesn’t know what species, genus, and phylum are.
If someone claims a violation of the “first law of thermodynamics,” ask them the second law of thermodynamics. If they don’t know it, don’t engage. If they do know it, and you aren’t a physicist, don’t engage on that topic.