How does a free-thinker have a rational debate with a radical right-winged religious fanatic?

Question

I am a science-minded person who works with a bunch of Bible-thumping Christian fundamentalist type people who are constanting expressing their narrow-minded judgements about anything and everything, and I'm sick of it.

Answer 1

You can't. Arguing with a Christian is like playing chess with a pigeon, they knock over all the pieces, crap on the board, then fly home to their flock to declare victory

Answer 2

Regardless of the actual beliefs (after all, leftist people can be irrational as well), you can't have a rational or effective debate in which one school of thought does not hold itself to the same standards of logic that the other does. The fact that such arguments tend to get emotional and cut too close to the "personal issues" bone certainly doesn't help either. The best thing you can do is to simply remark that discriminatory comments don't belong in a public workplace (there's not much you can say about non-racial or non-sexual comments, unfortunately), remember that some Christians are very open-minded and compassionate individuals, and spend some time with a more sciency group after work to vent and unwind.

Answer 3

There are only two types of Christians -- the kind that will listen to what you have to say and participate in a rational debate, and the kind that are completely close-minded. I'm a Christian, but I'm willing to be openminded to all sorts of ideas.

It's impossible to speak on rational terms with someone who refuses to listen to you, and there's no way to make them do so. The radicals are the ones that you'll never get to, and most certainly should *not* waste your time on.

Continue seeking out those who will hear you out, and if you run into a brick wall along the way, don't bother trying to break your way through it -- pick a different route.

Answer 4

One aspect of religious fundamentalism is that it colors every relationship. It therefore can drive a huge wedge into the work place, if you let it. One way to avoid this problem is to intelligently rise above it to look at the "meta" communication. You do this by looking for the overarching message they are trying to communicate. In communication studies, this is referred to as attending to the process while ignoring the content.

For example, when someone says, "I'll pray for your soul," take a look at what they are saying about your relationship: (1) I'm concerned for you, (2) I'm powerless to do anything about you, (3) I have a belief that some other force can help you and (4) I'll ask that force to help you. Everyone has the experience of 1 & 2, and you can appreciate their concern and powerlessness. You could respond that you're glad about their concern, then move on.

Another example might be putting down homosexuality. You can translate that into having certain moral standards. Moral standards that are followed by those who hold them, can be beneficial. So you could let them know you appreciate the fact that they try to live a good life. If you want to really engage them, you can ask them about the struggles they have in doing so.

Religious language is designed to separate people into believers and non-believers, but if you don't take the bait, if you can avoid an emotional response, you can show that peace of mind doesn't need a deity to take root in your life.

Answer 5

You will never get anywhere if you are angry. Debate is probably not the answer. Insightful, gentle humour works better than anything. As in, ask funny questions that could not be found offensive. I'm not good at this either but have seen it done brilliantly. You might be most successful if you end up with them scratching their heads. Don't have a coronary over it. Make them do the thinking work. Just do it in a nice way so that they don't even know.

The more hateful, bigoted, intolerant and insensitive a person is, the more that person will think that everyone agrees with him/her.

Answer 6

It seems that you are just as narrow-minded as your Bible-thumbing associates. So why do you bother working with them? The environment must cause you a great deal of stress, and as all scientist know stress kills. Anyway, science and religion can never agree because they are fundamentally worlds apart. So, any debate is pointless. Also, nobody ever wins an argument, and that is all a debate is. Jesus loves you. Open the Bible and read it---study it---and maybe you will find something in common with those Bible-thumpers.

Answer 7

First of all you can't use logic when you talk to them. You can't use math or numbers.
You have to confront them on their own genocidal bible.
For exmaple ask those dummies who create evil and general responce will be Devil create evil or adam when they fall.... Than tell them They are the criminals and and spreading the lies. Since GOD him self created evil but they never read it.
Isaiah 45
45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

its clear in thier loively genocidal book and refusing that GOD create evil him self ( from his uncoditional love) is like saying GOD lie and only they know teh truth. Plus they taken some power from GOD for not making everything.
Anyway the point is that so many passages in the bible that they have no idea will point that either they or GOD is a lier.
This should teach them.
If you want to make them looks stupid ask them who find empty tomb of Mary. 4 gospels gives 4 different acount.
Day, night, before passower, after, 1 angel 2-3-4-5 they all different but primitive Christains would not read so they would not know.
Here is a great link to start to fight all those idiots back:
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/index.htm
Therefore GOD create idiots so he can fulfill the heaven with primitivity.

Answer 8

Your question prompts me to ask a few of my own:

1) Is it "rational" to categorize beliefs that differ from your own as "narrow-minded"?

2) Is it "rational" to categorize people whose beliefs differ from yours as "radical right-wing fanatics"?

3) Is it "rational" to imply that the aforementioned people are not free to express their beliefs, whatever they are?

4) You complain about your co-workers' "judgments" -- but in the comments that you posted under your question, are you not making judgments against them?

5) If the answer to question #4 is "yes, I am, aren't I?", then doesn't that strike you as somewhat hypocritical?

6) Is anyone who believes in Christ lacking in rationality, or is it just the "Bible-thumping, fundamentalist types" that you work with?

7) If you're so "rational" and "scientific," wouldn't these two fine attributes empower you with the ability and intellectual strength to just ignore your "Christian fanatic" co-workers?

Or are you really so intellectually fragile that you allow them to get to you so much, to the point that you come on here complaining about them?

Answer 9

What doesn't kill ya makes you stronger. The free-thinker that you are, I'm sure can find a way to have an intelligent and rational debate with those "radical right-winged religious fanatics".

Answer 10

There is no way to have a rational debate with people that are unwilling to see or hear your views. These people including some that have answered your question already are closed minded. They believe that they are right and there is no way of having a rational adult conversation with them. You will always be wrong in their minds and the minute you try to voice your opinion their minds close and their mouths open.

Answer 11

Is your question about how to have a debate or about how to work alongside religious fanatics?

Debate: Most work environments are not conducive to heated debates on religion, abortion, gay marriage, or other hot button topics. Might want to zip it if everyone else is. Part of working is getting along with folks who are different from yourself.

Working with Fanatics: If they are constantly expressing their judgments, then they open themselves up to be judged. Go for it!

As a sidebar, I can only assume that you are a white guy, because men of color and women of all colors have been putting up with co-workers expressing negative comments about "our kind" since the day we entered the workforce. Either put up or shut up. Sometimes, it is necessary to shut up to keep one's job.