How to talk to a believer

Don't call their beliefs foolish, stupid, delusional, or idiotic. You may happen to believe they are all of these things but telling such things to their face will simply make them angry at you and bring a halt to any and all productive conversation.

Instead you have to talk about the issues you differ with them on. Give them some sense that you understand them and they will try to understand you. This is human nature.

State your position in ways that does not insult them. Its very easy to do. And it doesn't hurt your position in the least.

Let them know that you do not hate them. In truth you don't know them enough to hate them. The only thing you know about them is that they are a believer. And if you hate them for that, well that is called bigotry. Get to know them before you hate them.

Remember that changing beliefs is a very very large step. You are not going to get them to drop their beliefs overnight with even the most eloquent argument. If they cannot accept your most powerful and logical argument get over it. It still has an impact. It will stick with them and they will continue to consider it. As long as they hold any respect for you. The minute you turn hostile their minds internal defense systems tags everything you said as tainted and quarantines it.

An open minded believer is better for us than a raving fundamentalist believer. Your goal need not be removing their beleif system. Sometimes just opening their eyes to the notion that atheists are not demon spawn may be enough to bring about a change in people. It creates new ways of thinking for them. It causes them to reconsider other things they believe as well. Sometimes just being decent can cause a world of change. Do not be the characture they expect you to be.

This will not work all the time. But it works more often than smacking them in the face. And always remember when you are talking in public there are more people listening than just the ones you are talking directly too. Most people on the verge of changing their beliefs are quiet and contemplative. Their own internal struggle keeps them from voicing any strong convictions. If we are a bunch of thugs in front of them then we may drive them to the other side when they are closest to freeing themself.