Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on February 2, 2013 at 4:14pm

Holding a loaded gun to the atheist's child's head, is more efficient.

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Permalink Reply by Miles on February 3, 2013 at 3:59pm

Perhaps a lobotomy

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Permalink Reply by Aiken Drums Sister on April 20, 2013 at 3:28am

No, I think reading repeatedly the silly stories when they're kids works better than a lobotomy or gun at pushing the silly stories into their heads.  Then they tell their kids...etc.  It's viral stupidity.

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Permalink Reply by Gallup's Mirror on February 3, 2013 at 3:49am

That's a nutty article. It doesn't offer actual advice on how to convert an atheist, it simply informs the would-be persuader of what to expect. But this part is the real screamer:

"Invite the atheist to your place of worship. You shouldn't outright ask them to attend Sunday church, but a church-funded charity or meeting would normally not be considered in connection with the church at all. Do this every so often and introduce your friend to other people who attend your church. Make him or her comfortable with the individuals who make up the church and religion." 

I have no doubt that sleazeballs like William Lane Craig, Fred Phelps, Pat Robertson, and Cardinal Roger Mahony would feel comfortable in these places of worship. That's exactly the reason why such places make me profoundly un-comfortable.

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Permalink Reply by Colleen on February 3, 2013 at 12:35pm

They certainly make it sound like you should trick atheists into going to church functions, but then later they clarify:

Never trick someone. Never lie. When inviting an atheist to a Christian function, make sure they know exactly how overtly religious the event is.

In high school, as a catholic, I went to more mormon social functions than I can count.  Most of my friends at the time were mormon.  When they invited me to events, they were always upfront about the nature of the event.  I never felt tricked or disrespected, and I never once considered converting.

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on February 5, 2013 at 9:43pm

I end up in churches from time to time (weddings, funerals) and join in the "fellowship" that goes along with it (snacks after a service, wedding receptions), but none of that draws me into the belief system. I can't even imagine what could make me become Christian again. 

"Once you go black, you never go back." 

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Permalink Reply by James Cox on February 5, 2013 at 11:20pm

There was a charming cougar gal at a UU fellowship, that came onto me once. That might be enough for some...LOL

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on February 6, 2013 at 7:04pm

Okay, maybe I'm being dense, but what does "30 minutes" means in terms of what I or James said.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Hopwood on April 25, 2013 at 2:18am

I totally agree. It's impossible to go back. I would have to forget everything! All the insights I have had into the world, myself, and life in general since abandoning my 'faith': what would I do with all that? I would have to turn away from what I feel has been a remarkable, life-changing, life-affirming enlightenment, and embrace what I could only describe as an Endarkenment.

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on April 25, 2013 at 9:24am

You know what's funny. Some christians will cite Antony Flew, the well-respected British philosopher who supposedly "converted to Christianity." Well, it's not that simple. He was so persuaded by a variation on the ontological argument that he became a deist. Most of today's Christians wouldn't count deism as any kind of Christianity (it's not at all necessary to have Jesus in the deist conception of Creation.

And of all of the 10's of billions of people who ever lived, to place so many eggs in this one basket. How sad!

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Permalink Reply by James Cox on April 25, 2013 at 1:13pm

You have to just love them, don't you? They read good stuff, qoute the material, find a message they think important, then forget to make sure it validates a dearly held position. So how many bad references does it take to kill an ideology? Lenght of memory-short, depth of study-1/3 cubit, and willingness to gloss over details(infinite), will save them....

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Permalink Reply by Strega on April 25, 2013 at 1:53pm

what I could only describe as an Endarkenment.

What an excellent description!  I'm adopting that.

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