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A strawman argument is a weakened version of a debating opponent's argument, which lacks the potency of the opponent's actual argument. In debates attended by the unwary, a clever but unscrupulous debater can fool the audience into thinking that the opponent's position has been disproved. Knocking down the powerless straw man takes the place of an authentic contest with the real man.

A strawman argument is a weakened version of a debating opponent's argument, which lacks the potency of the opponent's actual argument. In debates attended by the unwary, a clever but unscrupulous debater can fool the audience into thinking that the opponent's position has been disproved. Knocking down the powerless straw man takes the place of an authentic contest with the real man.

=== Atheists and the appeal to ridicule fallacy ===

== Atheists and the appeal to ridicule fallacy ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and mockery]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and mockery]]

[[File:Prise de la Bastille.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|On July 14, 1789, the [[Bastille]] was stormed by a mob and its prisoners freed, which is regarded as the start of the [[French Revolution]]. ]]

[[File:Prise de la Bastille.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|On July 14, 1789, the [[Bastille]] was stormed by a mob and its prisoners freed, which is regarded as the start of the [[French Revolution]]. ]]

==== Appeal to ridicule fallacy and the history of French atheism ====

=== Appeal to ridicule fallacy and the history of French atheism ===

The [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>

The [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>

[[Image:Mbarber_b.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|[[Matt Barber]] ]]

[[Image:Mbarber_b.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|[[Matt Barber]] ]]

==== Modern American/British militant atheists and the use of ridicule ====

=== Modern American/British militant atheists and the use of ridicule ===

The [[New Atheism|new atheist]] Richard Dawkins declared to this fellow atheists:

The [[New Atheism|new atheist]] Richard Dawkins declared to this fellow atheists: