Can atheists convert theists?

[Eilonnwy]

Eilonnwy -

I don't see how ridiculing someone's arguments repeatedly (as opposed to just saying that you disagree and why, in the hope that they will eventually agree) can do any good, either for your chances of succesfully converting them, or for the discussion.

And just because you can't imagine that it works, doesn't mean squat. I was listening to a podcast yesterday where an atheist, who had been a fundamentalist Christian, benefited from having his stupid arguments ridiculed. Anecdata is of course, anecdata, people react to different things in different ways. Ridicule may work on some, and others not so much. I don't much care, I'm not inclined to hold people's hand gently on the internet of all places.

You also seem to be under the impression that every form of ridicule is aimed to convert. We've said repeatedly NO. Must we say it ten times more?

And when you ridicule someone's arguments, you are indirectly ridiculing them. Try it. Have someone ridicule your arguments and you will feel that they are ridiculing you for having your views, which, let's face it, that's what they would in fact be doing.

And you assume I haven't been ridiculed ON THE INTERNET? I recently got put through the ringer elsewhere on a view I had (not related to atheism) and the snark, while yes, a bit shocking, was revealing, and I did change my views. OH NO, MORE ANECDATA TO CONFLICT WITH YOUR ASSERTIONS.

Ridiculing someone (through their views) has no benefits whatsoever. Many christians manage to convert a lot of people, and they do it by going for those who are desperate for hope, something to believe in, people who are vulnerable, and they appeal to all of that. It's not the noblest of methods in my opinion, but, purely as a method, it works. Atheists seem to want to try the ridiculing approach, and, apart from the fact that if doesn't really work and actually damages the discussion, it shows an inability to properly engage with theists in a way which would both increase the atheist's understanding of what makes theists tick, and their chances of converting them. It's lose-lose. I wonder sometimes if atheists have what it takes to actually persuade anyone, and when I think about how many times I've come across atheists who practically would like to force others to stay away from theism in any of its forms, it makes sense that they don't. It's like a game of ping ping, you go from wishing to force others to view things as you do, to ridicule, and it basically gets you nowhere. Don't take that personally as I'm not necessarily talking about you, I'm just addressing this post to you. It may or may not apply to you.

Personally I find ridicule to be far less harmful or abhorrent than preying upon people who are weak and vulnerable. But hey, YMMV.