The following is an exchange I had with a pagan. I submit it, unedited, along with commentary that I hope will help you Christians see that I’m not the one making communication difficult.

ME : I am going to assume you have never had a real conversation with a person with whom you disagree. I don’t want to dismiss you if you’re trying the best you can to communicate and you simply lack the skills. So, I will make one last attempt to honor your commentary with a reply.

Here is the rule: The conversation will continue until you refuse to answer a question. You can say, “I don’t know” but you CANNOT respond with a question of your own. If your response does not answer the question, I will ask for clarification. When you break this rule, I will respond to your comment with a winky face (because you seem to like those) and you won’t hear from me again on this thread.

I have screen shots of this exchange which I will use to teach other people about the futility of trying to have a civil, rational conversation with depraved minds.

DO you agree to these terms or are you chicken?

PAGAN: Sounds like fun but once I’ve answered your question. I get to ask you a question that you must answer and I will also ask for clarification.

Is your first question pizza related? 😉

Notice that the pagan immediately changes the rules. He thinks we’re going to take turns asking questions. I will not agree to these terms because right now, the pagan doesn’t understand the point of my original post. His questions won’t help us make progress. Also, pagans lie. He will continue to ‘ask for clarification’ no matter how I answer.

ME: First Question: Do you believe that truth exists?

PAGAN: If you define truth as factual and in accord with reality, then yes I believe that truth exists. My turn. In your pizza analogy, why were you in a pizza shop buying a fish gravel pizza made by a dog, shoe, plant, squid etc

He answered the question! Then asked his question which demonstrated, as I predicted, that he didn’t understand the original post. In that post, I WAS NOT buying a fish gravel pizza. I explained to him in a previous comment — he doesn’t understand the analogy.

ME: New rule. You are not allowed to ask questions until I give you permission. You are unqualified to ask meaningful questions at the moment. Do you believe people should try to obtain truth?

— This is where you may be tempted to say, “John, why not just answer his question? Why do you gotta be a jerk?” ….because…the pagans take over conversations by demanding Christians justify their beliefs. This has happened because too many Christians feel obligated to respond to every insipid question a pagan pukes onto social media. The godless are incapable of thinking good thoughts (the Bible calls them fools). It is a waste of my time to let a fool interrogate me about my faith. The poor chap is so confused, he doesn’t even know WHAT TO ASK. I did not agree to answer his question after he answered one of mine. This is just his attempt to control the conversation.

PAGAN: Bloody hell, that didn’t last long. Rather than answer the question, you changed the rules. Why not answer my question and then I’ll answer your second question…..or are you chicken?

ME: 😉

PAGAN: haven’t broken your rule, as per the conditions you wanted to play by….at least try to be consistent.

You could just say that you don’t know why you were buying a fish gravel pizza in your analogy and we can move on to our second questions.

(Remember to screen shot the exchange to show how you conduct a civil and rational conversation with a depraved mind……so far, its hard to tell which one of us that is….I’m not the person buying a fish gravel pizza 😉)

— To the bitter end, the pagan remains unteachable. I told him he didn’t understand the analogy yet he repeatedly asserts his flawed take. I would suggest to anyone tempted to accuse me of being ‘rude’ or ‘unkind’ that it is rude to keep pushing a narrative at me after I told him he is misunderstanding my point. His goal is not to UNDERSTAND me. His goal is to DOMINATE me.

At the same time, it was a great show of RESPECT when I asked the pagan to explain his position. Notice that I did not assign him any false beliefs? Notice I tried to give him the courtesy of explaining himself but he chose to end the conversation.

I respected his decision by keeping my word.

(Romans 1:28) Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.