Hostage to fear

[Spacetime]

Are you open to being convinced? Or do you just want me to throw out some more clay pigeons for you???

How's this then; we'll address one issue at a time, that way our argument can be linear and pertinent to the issues that I can be convinced on. This will work if we both agree not to fork the conversation without granting the other's opinion/proofs the merit it would warrant at least in further discussion, while staying on topic. Not addressing a single issue out of many does not suggest relent on the other person's part. Surely we can both agree to that.

Let me start with how I would talk to someone in my own Church if we were having fellowship over beers following liturgy (as men often do at my Church);

The bible mentions belief as though it were a choice. I've found that my Christian identity is wholly wrapped up in trying (desperately) to believe, when I simply have not been convinced. A positive affirmation of belief "on" Christ Jesus would be a lie in my case... something that very doctrine prohibits. What I do believe is that I've made tremendous effort in trying to believe, by investigating the faith. Without deconstructing this paragraph, please address this over all point; If belief is a choice and there is evidence that this belief is convincing and rational, why hasn't this evidence rationally convinced me to believe? Especially when I'm not ignorant to it... down to its most specific points.

Here... have the "talking stick". lol

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Spacetime, just in case this is not perfectly clear to you, you are not obligated to respond to every post directed at you.  Of course, you may respond to anything that you wish.  And you are doing a great job.  But you don't have to post in response to everything, if you do not wish to do so.

As you can see, you are presently in a discussion with someone who uses plenty of irrelevant verbiage, which can serve as a distraction from the main topic.  It is an argument style designed to both wear out one's opponent, as it is tedious to read long-winded irrelevant bullshit, and to misdirect someone away from a losing point.

This is a habit of trying to dignify people from my practice of what I believed to be "Christian".  A more mature agnostic/deist(at best) would dignify people's ideas in these types of discussions.

The conversation has been entirely diverted as a result, you're only too right.  But I proposed something to him that should make our discussion less intrusive to the topic.

Thanks for your reply!