[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Thus, one MUST study and understand both sides of an idea in depth in order to debate it intelligently.

Which is why atheists lose debates.

[Enterprise]

Here's a hypothetical then.

The debate is "religion." An atheist draws the affirmative side and must defend religion. He wins the debate by using the arguments supporting religion that he has encountered in other debates. But he's still an atheist. Shouldn't he have lost because he's an atheist?