How People Argue "Eristically"

In philosophy and rhetoric, eristic (from Eris, the ancient Greek goddess of chaos, strife, and discord) refers to argument that aims to successfully dispute another's argument, rather than searching for truth. - Wikipedia

You know you're in an eristic or bad faith discussion with someone when he or she does the following ...

• Your opponent refuses to engage the most important points you're making.
• Your opponent focuses on issues that are minor or tangential to your main argument.
• Your opponent demands evidence to support your tangential points, while providing only opinion and no evidence to support his own claims.
• Your opponent directly or indirectly attacks your motivations, thus moving the discussion away from the issue to your character.
• Invariably, if you're arguing with an eristic "Devout Catholic", you'll be told (in so many words) to go to confession for defending your position with any zeal, fortitude or persistence; or, in lieu of that, you'll be referred to a Scripture verse that implies that you are lacking in charity for standing up for the truth.
• Your opponent will completely ignore tone, context and the obvious connection between ideas in anything you say.

It is futile to argue with such a person.  Your opponent is not interested in discovering the truth.  To engage such a person is not only frustrating and a waste of time, it is a sin.  It is casting "pearls before swine" (Mat. 7:6)