Texas Sailor, you have so perfectly summarized exactly what I find frightening and baffling about people who believe. I think it's a mistake to assume they just pretend to believe. In many cases, they really do believe -- in spite of the contradictions, the lack of logic, the shocking inconsistencies, the so demonstrably mythical aspects of their book.
I have often -- gently and with as little derision as I can manage -- pointed out the most basic of the absurdities you mention in my quest to understand the nature of belief in Christian believers (I don't have contact with many other kinds, else I'd question those, too). I am very familiar with what you also have experienced: The defensiveness; the throwing up of hands and saying they don't want to talk about it, it's just what they believe; the deflections, etc. My step mom is a favorite example. She is so worried about my atheism, which is a lifelong fact, so her concern has only recently arisen since she has returned to her Catholic upbringing and its practices. But when I question her pointedly about her beliefs, she really can't answer anything about it in a way that makes sense. Yet I have no doubt of her intense belief, which gives rise to many of the actions she takes in a day -- praying, attending her church, giving money to said church, etc. It took about 5 minutes in an actual discussion for me to demonstrate the whimsy of her beliefs, and she readily admitted it. But... she is comforted in her delusion, and so on this point we simply must agree to disagree. And there is no way I can understand it.
I have a friend whose father is a pastor in a Seventh Day Adventist church. He was raised in that faith and was made to become a pastor, too. He believes none of it, but because of his family ties, he doesn't dare share his true views within his church circle. It is a shunning religion. His wife is his only confidante besides me and the ragged little crew of atheists I hang with. He comes to us like a man dying of thirst. He recently shifted jobs and learned his new bosses are also very religious, so he is subjected to religiosity now in every part of his life except the few moments he manages to steal with our group. I feel so sad for him. Living in such a way... THAT must be a true version of hell.
I have often -- gently and with as little derision as I can manage -- pointed out the most basic of the absurdities you mention in my quest to understand the nature of belief in Christian believers (I don't have contact with many other kinds, else I'd question those, too). I am very familiar with what you also have experienced: The defensiveness; the throwing up of hands and saying they don't want to talk about it, it's just what they believe; the deflections, etc. My step mom is a favorite example. She is so worried about my atheism, which is a lifelong fact, so her concern has only recently arisen since she has returned to her Catholic upbringing and its practices. But when I question her pointedly about her beliefs, she really can't answer anything about it in a way that makes sense. Yet I have no doubt of her intense belief, which gives rise to many of the actions she takes in a day -- praying, attending her church, giving money to said church, etc. It took about 5 minutes in an actual discussion for me to demonstrate the whimsy of her beliefs, and she readily admitted it. But... she is comforted in her delusion, and so on this point we simply must agree to disagree. And there is no way I can understand it.
I have a friend whose father is a pastor in a Seventh Day Adventist church. He was raised in that faith and was made to become a pastor, too. He believes none of it, but because of his family ties, he doesn't dare share his true views within his church circle. It is a shunning religion. His wife is his only confidante besides me and the ragged little crew of atheists I hang with. He comes to us like a man dying of thirst. He recently shifted jobs and learned his new bosses are also very religious, so he is subjected to religiosity now in every part of his life except the few moments he manages to steal with our group. I feel so sad for him. Living in such a way... THAT must be a true version of hell.
