The Problem of Evil combined with the problem of Free Will

[Valyza1]

I understand the drive, but I meant given the limitations, why would anyone suppose the drive could be met?  The skeptic requires evidence, which can't be provided to skeptical satisfaction and a spreader of the faith requires acceptance of the premise, which can't be transferred to a skeptic.

Do you only do things because you expect them to succeed? If so, I'd say you are missing out on life my friend. Some of the best things in life are wasting time and effort on hopeless causes.

But still. Why you or I may never have changed anyone's point of view altogether on this big question, why would that stop us? For starters, do you believe no one has ever deconverted or converted? My change to atheist happened gradually, but couldn't have happened without people bringing up decent points to pull the wool from my eyes, sort of speak. And even if that weren't to happen, isn't it a basic sign of respect and human decency to engage in conversation and try to understand not only the other's position but come to challenge your own? Not saying this is your intent, but if I were to try and shut down the conversation all together, it'd probably be because I have a point of view so fragile and undefendeable it can't withstand honest reasoning and discourse yet I don't want to give it up.
I'm on atheist forums (.com & .org) on the one hand to converse with fellow atheists. But also because I like, from time to time, to engage views that opposite and challenge my own. I want to know what you think and why you think it. I want to know why I believe what I believe and don't believe what I don't believe.
And without this 'looking-glass self' tough chance of that happening.

Engaging in healthy, communal, educational debate is great, as long as in the final analysis, there's a mutual respectfulness exhibited by both debaters. That's great to see on the forums. But when people argue with the mentality that the other side is deficient for being on the other side, I find that anti-productive and futile.

Personally, I tend to think that converts on either side just never examined their initial position thoroughly enough to identify what they really believe. In such a case, examination is helpful as long as, again, it's honest examination. I don't see how that's possible when one's guard is up. Ridicule and condescension are not conducive to self-examination, IMO.