So a few baptists came to the door today . . .

[Prism]

20. I don't.

And I'll tell you what colors this.

I'm a caregiver for a man with Parkinson's and Asperger's. People dismiss him every day. Literally, every single day, people interpret him socially and go "Ohhhh, you're crazy. No thank you." And it hurts him. It depresses him. His personality and logic dictate a certain kind of social interaction, and he doesn't quite get why people react differently to him.

Not to equate Christianity to mental illness - and I don't - but it's somewhat similar. These people believe this. They have been raised or indoctrinated to think a certain way. I can afford to give them my attention and address them in a way they understand. Just as I try to alter my beliefs to address my patient in a way that makes sense to him.

If I can adjust to someone with Asperger's, to rework my worldview into a construct that someone else gets, why can't I greet a biblical literalist in the same way, to address them on their level, argue according to their logic, and do so in a non-hostile way?

Just saying "Go to hell, shut up," isn't changing a mind, IMO. Engaging might, though.