Massaging my ego ain't going to get my boney arse on a pew Joe.

I did like your reply. Replies don't have to be nice though. Sometimes they have to be uncomfortable.

The alternative can only be to say things you don't actually believe to be the case in order to not offend. I genuinely feel that this approach is wrong. If someone says they believe in magic, there is no point whatsoever discussing related matters with them. If it walks like a delusion and quacks like a delusion...

pete and his belief have no room for the likes of Joe. If they wish to argue over the last deck chair on The Titanic, go ahead. I'm stood on dry land.