Reply To: Failed Conversion

Some people play golf or go watch football at the weekends. I debate theists. I have various cults attempt to save my soul on regular occasions. I am having ongoing debates with Catholics, several Jehovah Witnesses over the last eight years and about three times a year, with Mormons. I have de-converted many of them.

The JW’s often bring a newbie along so that they can learn to debate with a “real live atheist”. I make them feel welcome and it often gets to the stage where after 2 hours or so they start looking at each other and try to think of an excuse to leave. “Are you sure you don’t want another coffee”??

I am relentless and insist on keeping the debate on matters of faith and refuse to give them free science lessons (until at least visit number 3).

I sometimes man an atheist table in various locations around the country. If a Christian starts trying to convert me I invite them to my house which initially confuses “the hell out of them” and then they see it as a challenge that they assume they can win.

Over the years I have helped to cull their numbers. I don’t have an exact figure but it is now in treble digits. After 35 years of doing this I am yet to hear a definition of god that makes any logical sense. I am seriously thinking of writing a book about it.

Once, about 30 years ago, when waiting for a bus, a scientologist asked me to take one of their tests in the office next to the stop. At the end of it she asked me “Who or what would you like to be if you could be reborn”? I answered that I would love to come back as “exactly the same person I am today”. This knocked her out of her “sales pitch”. I whispered to her…”you are too intelligent to fall for any of this”. She stared at me for a minute, stood up, said “Yeah, fuck this” got her coat and we left the office together. Sometimes it is that easy but I enjoy the long debates too, once I know that the “DOUBT” is niggling away at them. I even have an ex-Catholic priest on my list. The reward is all theirs.

Come on, have a go, if you really believe you can save me 🙂