Wizardry

virgio,

Since when is being non-confrontational immoral?

No one on this thread suggested befriending somebody for the sole purpose of deconverting them. Atheists are not missionaries. We’re not that devious.

The only thing Wyrdsmyth said was that if you want to change somebody’s mind, you can’t do it by making them defensive, you have to present your ideas in such a way that they’ll be considered. If that is behavior that would qualify as an “immoral atheist”, then I would call those standards of morality seriously warped.

Peace out.

Draygomb

Technos

I'd leave them alone but when I do they give money to a chruch that uses that money to try to regulate my life.

Draygomb

Sandy That is a very good question and one that should be pushed.

But asking someone to define spirit unless you really have no idea what it means or they're using it in an unorthidox manner might just be nitpicking.

Basically its a fishing trip for contradictions. Keep asking "How they know this" and "Why is that True" until they contradict theirself. Then by pointing out the contradiction you will have planted the seed of doubt.

Dianna

Virgio:
I'm imagining that my child doesn't want to go to sleep at night because he believes there is a monster under his bed. I can tell him over and over again that monsters don't exist but will that help?
On the other hand, if I am empathetic and engage him in dialogue, get him to explain the monster to me, tell me how it can be under the bed when I'm gone and not when I'm in the room, etc., he will most likely learn a lesson in critical thinking skills that many adults never learn.
If I pretend with him to shoo the monster away, I reinforce his beliefs in unreal things.
If I am, on the other hand, curious but skeptical, he learns on his own he was mistaken. It might not work the first night or the first month, but eventually he will learn.

Would I be "pretending to care about someone's thoughts, opinions and beliefs for the sole purpose of changing those thoughts, opinions and beliefs"? Absolutely. Are you going to try to tell me that is a "betrayal of trust and lack of basic human empathy?" As a caring parent, I disagree.

I guess it depends on your viewpoint. Is it just that you have to be right? Or is it that you care that there are people in the world who believe in monsters and want to help the situation?

Dianna.