Have you ever tried to deconvert anyone to atheism? If so, were you successful?
My wife was a mild Christian when I first met her. Now she's
an atheist, perhaps due in part to our discussions of
religion, perhaps due in part to my example of not having
any religious aspects to my life, but certainly due to her
high level of intelligence. I may have started her on the
path away from Christ, but she's very smart and probably
would have ended up an atheist anyway. (Chris Nelson)
If I ever get involved in a debate with a dim witted bible bleater via a
newsgroup or chat room I may try and lead them to a more common sense
perspective on life. However, I really don't care if this does or does not
involve ditching their belief in deities in particular or religion in
general.
In situations such as above, success usually can't be measured. Perhaps no
one is "converted". But just maybe a seed of logic has been planted which
may one day blossom into a flower of rational thought.
I usually avoid the discussion of sex, religion and politics with immediate
family and friends. (Carl M.)
No, I haven't.
Nor have I really felt the need to.
I very seldom argue with people about their religious beliefs.
In fact, about the only time the topic comes up (in my 'real' life) is
when a theist has initiated the discussion.
Going from a 'born again' Christian to an agnostic (and then later: an
atheist) was a painful process for me; so, I'm a little apprehensive
about causing someone to go through the same process.
I'm much more aggressive with theists here, because this is an atheist
NG; and I figure any theist who enters into a discussion here wants
to hear (or at least: deserves to hear) our opinions. (pan aa#1432)
Not consciously. I've debated many theists in my time and may have raised a
few doubts. But whether not anyone became an atheist because of it, I have no
idea.
Actually, I believe that each person should be free to believe or not to
believe whatever he/she wants to. Because I know how much it irritates me when
theists try to convert me, I refuse to do the same to them. I present my facts
and observations as I see them, and what they so with them is their concern.
(John Hachmann aa #1782)
I have never actively tried to deconvert anyone, but neither do I avoid
discussing religion should the subject come up. That said, I have twice
had acquaintances tell me that they started down the road to atheism
because of talks we had, and the fact that I, the godless, treated
people better than just about any other person they knew. I guess the
"only religious people can be moral" argument is falsified by a single
counter-example. (Lee Dimas aa#1913)
No. I would not bother trying to convert theists partly because I know
the success rate would be close to absolute zero and partly because I
don't like proselytizers bothering me and so I do to others as I would
like others to do to me. Simple respect. If however I am targeted by
proselytizers I will defend my lack of belief and question theirs.
(Meteorite Debris aa#1417)
When I deconverted I stayed very good friends with a couple of Christians,
and made a point of not trying to pervert them, or undermine their faith.
One of them has since abandoned Christianity anyway. (Patrick Brown)
I don't actively try to go around deconverting people, but I have done it a
few times with people I happen to get into religious discussion with. To
me, the people that this has happened to have turned out a lot better than
they were before.
It's not too terribly hard down here, since I'm in Arkansas. A lot of the
people just "believe" because everyone else does and they were raised that
way, so it's easy to debunk everything they say and think.
Then, you have the rabid fundamentalists which are very abdundant down
here. These are the people who stick their fingers in their ears and won't
listen, and I just don't really give a shit about them.
I do try to somehow get into a religious talk with a lot of people to at
least open their minds up a little bit, and since I'm just shy of being 19,
I'm hitting everybody when they're young and can hopefully give them some
positive influence to live with. (Dethstryk aa#1884)
Tried yes, succeeded no. After all, addicts only search
for a cure and admit to having a problem when they have
bottommed out and are willing to look for a cure. Going
without any drug, be in heroin, cocaine or religion, is
difficult when you're so dependant upon it. (Bob Dog aa#153)
Tried, Yes.
Successful, No.
But I am finding that Christians don't know very much about their own
Bible.
An aside though: I have been talking to a friend of mine from
highschool who has a Masters in Theology from Centenary College and
was a minister and now works for Hospice. I posed a question to him,
I asked him , " After reading the Bible and the history behind it, I
have come to realize that the Bible is not inerrant, not the word of
God and not historically accurate. If I know this, then the
trained/educated theologan must know this too."
To my suprise, he agreed. Ministers do know this, if they are honest
about it. (Michael Derousselle)
No. As an atheist, I'm not in the business of deconverting anyone. On
the other hand, I'm not above teaching people to think. (chib)
I haven't actually tried, but wound up deconverting a friend and a SO
anyway just by sharing my views with them. (raven1)
Tried? No. Had an influence over a deconversion, or two? Yes.
(Andrew Lias)
No, I've never tried to deliberately deconvert anyone. I do enjoy playing
the iconoclast if questioned about religious belief. (Liz Huth aa#658)
I've never really put any energy into deconverting people, as I hold
the belief - (AN ATHEIST WITH BELIEFS!! RUN YOU XTIANS!!
RRRUUUUNNN!!!) - that people should be allowed to believe whatever
they want as long as it doesn't interfere with my life. Heck, I've
told more missionaries to "fuck off" than I have tried to argue with.
It's a waste of time, if you ask me. They'll file away your arguments
into their "nightmare" pile and occasionally suffer horrible dreams
that haunt them until they finally break down and check into an
asylum.
At least, that's MY theory. =)
On the other hand, having told friends and family outright that I'm
atheist has been enough for my two closest and oldest friends to
re-think their worldview. One is now a proclaimed non-believer and
the other is agnostic. I have to give my agnostic friend's wife some
credit, too, because she's pagan.
My sister, on the other other hand, married into a Catholic family and
was recently baptised. Of ALL the religions to choose... *sigh* (fnord)
No - I'mc willing to discuss with anyone who's willing to discuss with
me, but that's about it. IMO a fruitful discussion can only take place
if none of the parts are trying to convert or deconvert the other
one(s). (Nikitta aa#1759)