josep: "Atheist arguments don't prove a negative; they disprove the theist arguments....."

It also does three things, that are somewhat related. One, it pokes holes into certain 'religious' dogma, which were bogus, in the first place. For that, it may make a lightweight religious 'crusader', look a little deeper, maybe even sober them up, and get off their pet doctrines of error...The second, It makes all sides reconsider, their stances, which are often taken for 'comfort' rather than seeking after the 'Truth'!..and thirdly, often, the atheist has abandoned a 'religion', because its bogus doctrines were NOT meeting his needs, nor satisfying, his curiosity for more truth...and that is valid..a valid step, but not the final step.

That being said, the theist/atheist argument will NOT settle anything, that would last!....meaning, if someone can 'talk you into' a 'God', someone or thing can 'talk you out' of it, as well!

Those things are best settled, by an EXPERIENCE, that no one can talk you into, or out of! At least in the debate, hopefully either side, can walk away from it, and be open, to a wider view, of possibilities, that before, might have been closed down, because of the limitations of inconceivable possibilities, that before, might have been ignored....which in turn, opens a door, for maybe a NEW experience!

Methinks you understand.

Regards to you,

GfS