Can atheists convert theists?

[Eilonnwy]

If I wanted to convert a theist I would first carefully explain what atheism is, so they understand that the uselessness of the deistic and "agnostic" position and what it is to be an agnostic atheist. Understanding these terms can go a long way, because some people have an aversion to atheism because they view it as a hard lined stance that there is no god.

Once that is squared away, I would probably ask what they believe and why, examine what they consider good evidence, offer arguments of my own to refute that evidence and maybe any additional ones I felt were convincing. Among those would be the lack of historical evidence for Jesus (if they were Christian), various problems with the Bible, especially the Gospels, the problem of evil. I'd also explain logical fallacies and the scientific method, why Pascal's wager fails utterly, etc..

The thing is, if this person had a personal experience that convinces them their is a God, it's nearly impossible to refute that experience, except maybe to offer other possible reasons and explain Occam's Razor.

I don't personally go around trying to convert people, though. I don't want theism imposed on me constantly, so why would I hypocritically do the same? I've heard various different conversion stories, and I know some result from theists trying to go to online communities and discuss with atheists, and after constant ridicule and tearing down of their arguments, they began to change their views. Though such conversion does not result from one person destroying an argument, but multiple people and multiple times.

Ultimately, I discuss atheism because I like to challenge what I believe and what I don't believe. I like to constantly put them to the test, it actually makes my various beliefs and non-beliefs stronger, and I have managed, over time, to discard some fallacious beliefs. I like to learn how to argue and in general learn from the process. But also, I like to think that maybe something I said will make a theist or someone on the fence stop and think, and maybe look at something a little different. That's the best I can hope for, and I'm happy with that. I've always said I would never force atheism on anyone, I would love for the world to be atheistic, but only because of free thought and intellectualism.