For sure, their reiteration of their platitudes reinforce the idea that they are 100% correct.

When I was still in church, the pastor told me that Xtians should not read anything which disagreed with Xtian doctrine because it could weaken their faith. This applies to speaking with those who disagree, as well. I think the men who have shouted at me in public for not being Xtian might have been teetering on doubt.

@Gwen_Wanderer Prayer itself is an act of doubt. Think about it. It is a sunny day and you and an old friend are enjoying a few beverages on your porch. You do not ask if want their glass refilled, no need you know them and the glass is empty.
Now, imagine an omnipresent omniscient god, all-knowing, all-seeing. Why would anyone need to pray? If you need help he/she/it would already know this. Does your supplication sway an almighty God from their course?

@273kelvin Bingo! The same with asking others to pray/intercede with god to make the issue resolves happily. Is this a popularity contest? Does the person who has the most people pray for him/her get the prize?

Also, the cop-out that god answers prayers but sometimes just says "No." This is usually explained by Xtians as being for the benefit of the person. I have heard Xtians say that when a baby dies, it saves the child from a life of sin. Jesus H.! Also, when a baby is born with birth defects, that the death keeps the child from suffering. Then why the health issues? Why should all babies not be born healthy?

@Gwen_Wanderer
"I have a lucky pen that helps me win the lottery"
"Really, you must be rich then?"
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I've only won a couple of hundred bucks"
"But your lucky pen helps you win right?"
"Sure but it doesn't work all the time"
"Well, how often do you play?"
"About 5 one dollar tickets a week"
"And how long have you been playing?"
"Six years"
"So let me get this straight. You have been betting about $250 a year for 6 years and you have only won around $200?"

This is the logic of prayer.

@273kelvin Yes!

I have a fascination with why other people act as they do, so I will continue to armchair analyze them.

@Gwen_Wanderer I knew there was a reason I like you.

Pretend atheist!

I find it interesting when they ask me why I don't believe and I tell them--lack of evidence is the main reason. They tell me that evidence is "all around us."

It isn't. the existence of the earth and life is not evidence.

@Gwen_Wanderer The “watchmaker” philosophy bullshit…..

@Gwen_Wanderer Hit back with the Council of Nicea and others of the time, then Constantine declaring what books he wanted in the bible story in a book complete with beginnings and an end. This would pretty well do it for the holy bible.

@DenoPenno Martin Luther thought that Revelations should be booted!

In part they are put there to fail. To the elders it is a good way to prove to the faithful, that the outside world beyond the church is indifferent and even hostile. Which reinforces their attachment to the church and its congregation. And the elders know this because they went though the same experience themselves. It is a very clever way to deepen the gulf between the ingroup and the outside, giving more power to those who control the ingroup, and preventing the faithful from seeking attachments and help in the world beyond, which they now see as hostile. So they are sent to be annoying and to fail.

Maybe if you smoke a big fat one with them, it will kickstart their brains…..

I was approaching the issue of a "foothold" from the POV of Xtians and their need to arm themselves from the devil and his minions.

To Xtians, atheists are minions of Satan.

@Fernapple but they score, there is rejoicing in heaven! Bonus points.

@Gwen_Wanderer Although that hardly ever happens.

Thanks--you aren't so bad at thinking as well.

@Gwen_Wanderer Oh, he is very good at thinking. Intelligence is good at stimulating the brain.

@Gwen_Wanderer Thank you.

@anglophone You're welcome, kind sir.

In my experience, the selfish motivations are what motivates most of them.

I agree, but in my experience, for most Xtians, evangelizing the lost is more of a rote exercise. I understand that my experience falls into the logical fallacy realm, but consider megachurches--they are not out to save souls, but to make money.

There is a theory about altruism which states that people are most often altruistic because it makes them feel good--the same with Xtians. Even if they fail to convince the lost, they can console themselves that at least, they tried.

[psychologytoday.com]

I posted a week or so ago about a woman who works at Hobby Lobby. She is Xtian and is truly concerned about the state of my soul because she cares for me.

While all of this is true I find that when I talk to someone who recently had a loved one die they end up thinking I agree with them. Not really. What I am good at is explaining to the living why they think their loves one is there with them and that is haunting them to death. I am good at explaining to the living why nothing is wrong with their minds after a loved one dies.

Betty, you are right! When I was a teenager, I read Mark Twain's tale "Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven. It is hilarious and ridicules well beloved myths about reuniting with loved ones in heaven.

[gutenberg.org]

That's because you are a smart person.