Atheism vs. God's Existence

[TheRocketSurgeon]

Ugh...what is their end game then, if it's intentional?  In AAA's case, is it just to stir the pot for the fun of it?  Or do you think he actually believes he can sucker someone into believing?

Part of it is simply fooling themselves. They work in small social circles of like-minded persons, and they repeat something "around the circle" until everyone THEY know agrees with it, so Therefore It Must Be True™. This is commonly found in religion-based universities, but is not unique to them. After a while, they think they represent a valid counter-view because they've managed to block out the counter-narrative. [Edit to Add: The "counter-narrative" here being the actual, primary narrative that they're trying to block. Sorry for the poor phrasing!]

The other part of it is why I constantly refer people to the Wedge Document, in which the ID/IC Creationists deliberately set about to create enough "static" (by which I mean plausible sounding "alternatives" that fool most laypersons) in order to keep the public convinced that there's serious debate on this topic going on, among scientists/academics. Giving the appearance of an ongoing controversy gives them the courtroom argument (or so they think; it continues to be rejected soundly by even the most conservative judges) that they should be able to have their ID Creationism taught alongside evolution. In other words, it gives their magic-based ideas access to the children in a school setting.

Since they're obviously aware, at some level, that their religion dies the moment it can't brainwash young minds, this is an important struggle for them. They need youngsters like AAA most of all, people willing to skew everything they read through the preset filter of their religion, and to churn out the highest degree (pun intended) of "legitimacy" to their arguments that they can produce, after going through college for the purpose of "fighting the good fight".

The sad part is, they lie so much and skew their views so much and for so long that they cease to realize they are Lying For Jesus™, and cannot accept that fact when others point it out to them. So you wind up with a "rinse and repeat" like this guy.