Can atheists convert theists?

[Eilonnwy]

Eilonnwy -

No question, it just seemed that there was a contradiction between you saying that you don't try to convert people, and the other things you said.

No, there was no contradiction. I stated I don't actively try to convert people, but if my arguments with theists, that I do largely for myself, help someone figure some things out, then that makes me happy. The point is that my mission in any religious discussion I enter is not focused on conversion.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind atheists attempting to convert me (and they should be honest about it), but it's just that if one is to take it seriously, one needs to have a proper strategy. Ridiculing someone doesn't help, because as soon as someone feels that the other person is merely out to ridicule, the doors close. So you can't do it that way. Also, you have to take into consideration how the other person thinks, and then use their own reasoning, if you can, to point out contradictions, but don't get angry when the person doesn't see any contradictions. You have to be patient, these things don't happen instantly. The moment you display impatience or ridicule, the other person no longer has a reason to engage in any dialogue, and let's not forget, it is a dialogue. One also needs to really listen to what the other person says, and not try to bulldoze over what they say merely in order to express your view. Generally speaking, not many people are good at converting anyone who is not ready to be converted. It's very tricky because we all have a lot of assumptions about life, which are hard to discard, regardless of what they are and why we have them.

Who said anything about ridiculing a person? I certainly didn't. I said ridiculing their arguments, which is very different. Sometimes people need to be told how absurd their argument is over and over again before they get the hint.

The rest of what you said is just blah blah blah. As I said, I'm not out to convert people, if I was, I'd go crazy. If people say stupid shit, they're gonna get called on it. Fact of life.