I have found that meaningful discussion with theists is simply not possible, they simply put their fingers in there ears and shout loudly "LALLALLEELAALA".
Their difficulty of course is that they do not have a single fact to present, everything they put forward is assertion.
I think that out in the big wide world intelligent people have given up even trying to talk to those with irrational thought, which is a shame.
I have on occasions talked to local MP, but apart from the fact that he belongs to the House of commons Bible Study Group, along with that Andrea Leadson, a large number of his constituents would be shocked to the core if he were not CofE.
Equally the Theists too have given up trying to communicate with and convert the non believers. When did you last see a man with a "Jesus Saves placard" by the roadside or much less have one knock on your door.
Unfortunately, we have one with - well, not a megaphone these days, but definitely a microphone with loudspeakers! - appearing every now and again with an unending stream of words, to which I tend to respond with a cry of , 'Rubbish!' as I walk by!.
The two groups have simply decided to ignore one another.
Fortunately, humanist groups, the BHA and NSS continue their work.
The only people who I know who ever attend church go only for weddings, funerals etc. And then only out of some sort socio/ritual fashionable thing.
That applies to most of my contemporaries. Several have been widowed during the past ten years and they have had conventional funerals, even though I know the women concerned, if really pushed, would agree that there is probably no god or heaven etc. It is not, however, something that many people spend time thinking about.
Meanwhile with our Muslims friends fear of consequences causes most people to avoid saying anything at all.
Yes, I think the Islamic beliefs, or rather the two opposing groups, could perhaps be called the elephant in the room problem.
It is all a bit of a shame really but there it is, two tribes and all that. And never the twain shall meet.
Optimistically, I hope that when both groups begin to realise that when they trust the Science around them rather than the God they have never observed and for which there is zero evidence, then, ah well, who knows? I'll be long dead.
