So, how many people have you successfully de-converted from their old beliefs, ideas or religions? Any?
I can say I have de-converted a total of zero people.


(Poll runs for 14 days- I'm aiming for at least 50 votes!)

I don't "de-convert" people , i discuss with them the validity of whatever we both believe and why.

None, never tried, I don't consciously try and change people's religious attitudes.

The possible exception to that is some kids... although I don't attempt to change them either, just encourage them to think for themselves and keep their minds open, thinks which are religiously neutral and would pay off for them, I hope, whether they stay or become religious later on or not.

None. Why, was I supposed to?

Fallible wrote:None. Why, was I supposed to?

I don't think so. I mean, I could be wrong but as far as I'm aware, according to the general idea, it seems likely that it is almost definite to say: probably not. As I say, however, I could be wrong - I mean, don't get me wrong or anything but; I have been known to be wrong in the past - on more than one occasion, I might add. In fact I can think of several examples, for instance, to my knowledge, here in, thus far, I have actually never ever received 100% marks on any single official examination or test paper.
I think so anyway.

I think I've changed at least a few peoples' minds. My mother used to be much more of a hippie mystic crystal person, now she's just an ex-Unitarian Universalist who still goes for the coffee. I've dragged both of my parents a bit to the right on issues related to markets and education, and I've changed several of my friends' perspective on what constitutes evil, how they should consider people as moral agents and the like.

None. People can only de-convert themselves.

I'd like to think that I've sown a few seeds of doubt from time to time though.

I have no idea how many people I've deconverted, but I have reason to suspect that some essays I've written may have been the tipping point for more than a couple of people.

Two that I know of. I would hope that some of my discussions with numerous people may have had some sort of influence on them so that they may reevaluate their faith with a more reasoned and rational eye.

I helped my wife let go of her childhood indoctrination, but she was already part of the way there with a few hangovers and superstitions. In my company, she felt more at ease to express her doubts and rationalize her way through some of the issues before being confidently able to proclaim her atheism.

I also have had discussions with a receptionist at work over a couple of year about religion and faith. She is from a very strongly catholic family, but had no idea of what was really in the bible and what her faith proclaimed. She was a cultural catholic who mouthed the words but had some doubts. Through a number of discussions about different aspects of faith and the contents of the bible (she was very surprised at some of it), she's finally let go of religion to the point where she doesn't go to church at all and is thinking of not getting married in a church despite her parents' wishes. She's not sure that she can win that battle though.

I don't set out to deconvert people. But I do have a strong interest in education and it's natural for me to help explain certain concepts that come up in conversation with various people and to encourage rational thinking.

I really don't care about the personal beliefs of others so have no interest in de-converting anyone,nor in teaching,except within a discipline in which I actually have some expertise. (there's only one)

I will discuss politics and other life issues with family and close friends, and the odd specialist academic,but seldom with strangers and never with apologists. I find proselytisers and polemicists of kinds irritating at best.

I've got a few people to change their minds about evolution. Not God though, apparently i just don't understand him

And i never preach when in those sorts of conversations. All i do is point out that the whole argument should be about what the data tells us. If you want to look at the data and come to the conclusion that evolution is false, then that is fine. But first look at the data!!!

None that I am aware of, but I have 'produced' 2 non-theists. My son has an honours degree in chemistry and my daughter has an honours degree in human biology. So I have affected the theist/non-theist ratio a smidgen.

Make love, not war.

New slogan;- Make non-theistic babies, not war on theists.

Loke wrote:So, how many people have you successfully de-converted from their old beliefs, ideas or religions? Any?
I can say I have de-converted a total of zero people.


(Poll runs for 14 days- I'm aiming for at least 50 votes!)

The pedant in me says that 'de-converted' should be replaced by 'converted'.

"So, how many people have you successfully converted from their old beliefs, ideas or religions? Any?
I can say I have converted a total of zero people."

Just saying.

redwhine wrote:None that I am aware of, but I have 'produced' 2 non-theists. My son has an honours degree in chemistry and my daughter has an honours degree in human biology. So I have affected the theist/non-theist ratio a smidgen.

Make love, not war.

New slogan;- Make non-theistic babies, not war on theists.

I'm loving the new slogan!

Loke wrote:So, how many people have you successfully de-converted from their old beliefs, ideas or religions? Any?
I can say I have de-converted a total of zero people.


(Poll runs for 14 days- I'm aiming for at least 50 votes!)

I was on a now-defunct website and, in discussing Biblical fallacies, accidentally managed to deconvert a Protestant minister who was questioning his own faith.

So far, that's it.

Although, to be fair, I haven't really tried.

redwhine wrote:None that I am aware of, but I have 'produced' 2 non-theists. My son has an honours degree in chemistry and my daughter has an honours degree in human biology. So I have affected the theist/non-theist ratio a smidgen.

Make love, not war.

New slogan;- Make non-theistic babies, not war on theists.

and to your son and daughter, good for them, on their degrees.

redwhine wrote:

Loke wrote:So, how many people have you successfully de-converted from their old beliefs, ideas or religions? Any?
I can say I have de-converted a total of zero people.


(Poll runs for 14 days- I'm aiming for at least 50 votes!)

The pedant in me says that 'de-converted' should be replaced by 'converted'.

"So, how many people have you successfully converted from their old beliefs, ideas or religions? Any?
I can say I have converted a total of zero people."

Just saying.

Oh I see! Just how we shouldn't have atheism in the Non-belief field but in the Belief field; on our User Page! - I get you!

UJGWSHNUGGUHGGGHIIIGHIGHIUHIUFSGFOJHOHOAEHORAHAOEGURAWNKRJIHOPJHAPHJAJPEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jUST RANDOM TYPING ON THE KEYBOARD THERE. iTS TO EXPRESS MY IRRITATION. wHICH YOUR POST HAS KINDLED! (oH FUCK i LEFT cAPSLOCK ON, DIDN'T i... )

I voted for 7, mostly because I consider myself to be the person that was pivotal in getting them to think. I just asked simple questions, while telling them that I didn't want an answer, but rather that I would prefer that they thought about the questions, and honestly answered just themselves. Granted, most of them were struggling with some doubts to start with, so maybe I shouldn't claim credit...

My school chaplain. I was pleased about that. Everything else is icing.

Well, I helped one person on her way out of Christianity by discussing her faith with her. The way I see it, though, she'd have gone there anyway, if maybe a couple of years later.
I guess I can chalk that up as half a conversion.