How to Make a Christian Not Try to Convert You

Answer the door with a gun in your hand.

Yes, I’ve seen this done.

Personally, I’m more likely to just say “Hey, according to your belief system, your god made me this way – who are you to argue his plans?”

Any devout and determined evangelizer is not going to be put off by sweet reason. Don’t forget, as unbelievers you’ve been spiritually blinded by the god of this world (a.k.a. the horned guy). As a dupe of Satan, you’re likely to say anything. The more reasonable-sounding you are the more the believer will conclude that The Great Deceiver is at work in you. Etc., etc.

I’m currious… Has anyone here either been personnally converted from one belief system to another by a presentation of arguments or personally converted another person?

That would make a good poll question.

Since I’ve never “switched teams” the idea of religious conversion is a bit alien to me.

That IS a good question, Jeff.

I changed from theism to atheism, but there was nobody who convinced me.

I convinced myself out of Christianity. I apologize to all those folks that I convinced into it back in the day. What I did I did in ignorance: were there a God he would forgive me I’m sure.

@Jeff – you’re more than likely correct – people change not due to one person’s individual efforts, but due to a combination of external and internal influences.

My favorite thing to do is suggest people explore some information outside their comfort zone. I think The God Delusion may be too forceful for most, but I think Karen Armstrong’s A History of God presents the facts in a very non-confrontational, academic manner that can lead only to the conclusion that Christianity, and all other faiths, are a product of cultural influences, norms and memes. I usually refuse to discuss the topic further until this has been read, and I will happily read any text suggested as well (though I’ve already covered most of them).

I’m always shocked at how poorly read the believers are, and how well read the non-believers are. By poorly read, I mean how little diversity is present – there is usually such a strong bias toward whatever they already believe, they rarely have much understanding of any other ideas. This is the self-reinforcement that allows the religious ideas to survive.

This reminds me of the time that someone gave my mother the Jack Chick pamphlet “Big Daddy?”

She looked at it and stated that she believes that our ancestors came to Earth aboard flying saucers.

The pamphlet distributor then declared that she would be going to Hell.