"Would you enjoy someone proselytizing to you in response to your position? If you are presenting your argument as, basically, an argument agsinst their beliefs, then the respect factor is already gone before you can try to weave it. If you want to see things from their perspective, why not try to enlarge their understanding from that starting point if it can be done?

Wouldn't it be a powerful argument to suggest that God, as they know Him, agrees with your viewpoint and that therefore the issue transcends their own limited, human view?

If your agenda is to remove their faith before gaining agreement, that is a self-defeating effort. On the other hand, letting them know that faith and humanism can agree is a much easier task. You might be surprised how far a non-oppositional conversation could lead.

~Susan

I'm in a bit of a hurry - theist or nontheist, supper must be got ready!

So, briefly: I don't generally argue against someone's theology, but try to explain how that theology, or the practice that stems from it, impacts people who don't hold those beliefs. (After all, the Devil, we are told, can quote scriptures, so arguing theology with theists can backfire.)

I think we are arguing around each other a bit; I'll try to get back to this later, if you are interested.

-Bee