It's varied a great deal over my lifetime.
When I first came out atheist, I had numerous discussions with my parents and pastor. My pastor threw in the towel pretty early. Discussions with him hardened my lack of belief more than anything else and I think he knew it. He also made the mistake of recommending I read The Bible, which I did. That led to some very interesting discussions which I think troubled him.
My parents' primary weapon was being hurt and disappointed. As arguments go, that was irrational but rather affective--at least it caused me to try to believe. . .
In college I had the argument with numerous other students. The results were mixed. But there weren't too many hurt feelings.
As an adult, I don't find myself discussing god a whole bunch. In a devilish mood, I'll take on the evangelizors at the doorstep, but otherwise I don't find much need to engage about god. I let most god comments pass unchallenged unless pushed with a real question like where do you go to church, or god . . . don't you agree? Mostly just stating that I don't believe in god brings the conversation to a halt. When it doesn't, the argument is usually, no, but really. . . As long as I've known the person for over a year or so, it doesn't seem to change much.
I do have a good friend who believes in a personal god, but not any of the named ones. We have circular conversations in which she agrees in principle about correlation and causation not being the same, and the inefficacy of anecdotal evidence. Then she presents anecdotal evidence and not very astonishing coincidences. But it never becomes a fight.
When I first came out atheist, I had numerous discussions with my parents and pastor. My pastor threw in the towel pretty early. Discussions with him hardened my lack of belief more than anything else and I think he knew it. He also made the mistake of recommending I read The Bible, which I did. That led to some very interesting discussions which I think troubled him.
My parents' primary weapon was being hurt and disappointed. As arguments go, that was irrational but rather affective--at least it caused me to try to believe. . .
In college I had the argument with numerous other students. The results were mixed. But there weren't too many hurt feelings.
As an adult, I don't find myself discussing god a whole bunch. In a devilish mood, I'll take on the evangelizors at the doorstep, but otherwise I don't find much need to engage about god. I let most god comments pass unchallenged unless pushed with a real question like where do you go to church, or god . . . don't you agree? Mostly just stating that I don't believe in god brings the conversation to a halt. When it doesn't, the argument is usually, no, but really. . . As long as I've known the person for over a year or so, it doesn't seem to change much.
I do have a good friend who believes in a personal god, but not any of the named ones. We have circular conversations in which she agrees in principle about correlation and causation not being the same, and the inefficacy of anecdotal evidence. Then she presents anecdotal evidence and not very astonishing coincidences. But it never becomes a fight.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
