religious friends

[Dotard]

I can count all my atheist freinds I have ever had on one finger.

I live for the debate, but I am never the one to bring up the subject. When asked, or even if I am just part of a group and not asked directly, about religious things I hold no bars about telling others exactly what I think. I love engaging theists on the subject.

I especially like it when they "gang-up" on me. I like to take measurements on how long it takes the average theist I encounter, especially in gangs, to turn violent. When the subject has been broached I glance at my watch. Whenever the first "You're going to hell!" or any name calling or profanity is directed toward me or when they begin to attack me the person and not the arguements that conflict with their paradigm, I glance at the watch again.

Sometimes I share that info on how long it took from them to go from 'rational discussion' to ad homen, sometimes I don't. Very rarely does it take more than 5 minutes. Once in a blue moon one will maintain composure. It's really grand when it is admitted if they were given undeniable proof they would continue to believe because it gives them comfort. It is a security blanket that, like Linus, they will never give up and they go into convulsions at the mere thought of not having it.

Getting called Satan or the Devil is the shizzle.

I say engage them. Let them know exactly where you stand, then stand there! Don't back down but don't lower yourself to their level by ad homen attacks. Counter their ad homen attacks with rationality and composure. If they continue to attack your personality or continue with any type of personal attacks and it seems the real intent they have is to "make you cry", then gloves off. Explain attacking the person isn't conductive to a rational discussion and you would rather not go there, but if that is the game they want to play, well hell, I can play that way to.

Usually the ad homens stop at this point but if they continue then have fun calling them brainless nematoda or whatever. Of course this is not what you are hoping the outcome will be but if they force it there have fun with it! I like to go the "Yo' mama" route.