Hello from Indiana

[Tempus]

Welcome, spockrates! Have you been shown around yet? No? What a bunch of bastards. Especially the atheists. But especially the theists. But especially the atheists. And those damn deists. I'm sure there's a pantheist here somewhere too, probably under a table. I'm equally sure you'll fit right in here, but we may need to remove part of your brain. And eat it. But hey, I'm sure after a while you'll be volunteering! Oh, and don't look into the light! No, wait, was it don't look or do look? I forget, but it's very important you do one of them. Also, we have a jukebox. It's already killed three people, but it's usually okay as long as we keep playing music. Talk about murder on the dance floor. Well, I think that's all -- see you around!

[Brian37]

Well even if you prefer to ask questions, I find it silly to not expect debate on the "enemy" turf.

And when I say "enemy" I do not mean literally, just that you and I are not in the same camp.

If you expect to have a long stay here, I'd advise you to treat us all as individuals because even we do not agree with each other on all things. And I would advise you to know the difference between a claim and a person.

People make claims, but claims are not people. One individual human can have a variety of claims on all sorts of subjects.

If you are not willing to debate, you might be putting yourself in for a world of self inflicted pain, It makes me wonder what you expected when you came here.

To me it would be like being a non smoker go into a smoker's house and demand they don't smoke, OR VICE VERSA, being a smoker going into a non smoker's house and demand they smoke.

When you say " I only want to ask questions", in the 11 years I have been debating on line, what I run into the most, when someone uses that line, is someone who is fishing, trying to play the shepherds trying to save the lost puppies.

Debate is your best option. You will not be the only one asking questions and your claims will get knocked around.

We do want you here, I am quite sure the mods and of the atheists here do want you here. BUT it is a two way street and it wont be a love fest all the time. It won't mean we hate you. But in the back and fourth if you do not prove your claims, we simply wont adapt them. That does not mean AS INDIVIDUALS, we will hate you personally.

But if you ask questions, we will too. So simply do your best to make your arguments and don't take it personally. This is your first post, none of us here know you personally. But we will judge your claims and put them through the ringer.

Thanks for the advice, Brian. I suppose I should clarify my OP by saying I'm looking more for a thoughtful dialog, rather than a heated debate. I'm not into partisan religion. As Socrates said:

"The partisan cares nothing about discovering the truth about a matter, but only about convincing his audience. The difference between him and me is this: My only concern is convincing myself! Whether I convince others is of little concern to me."

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Here's hoping you're sincere in wanting to learn why others doubt a gods' existence.

You can view forum statistics by looking at the bottom right of the main page and clicking the link there.

Otherwise, welcome, and good luck.

I'm sincerely sincere about my sincere desire to know the truth--whatever He, She, or It my be!

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Hello Indiana, I'm an Absurdist, I do not believe there is a god, I'm not even convinced there is a me, as such I do not have a camp, but I laugh at carry on films which are camp, (British cultural reference which you may not know about).
How's the potato harvest doing?

PS didn't Holmes come before Spock?

You mean, you're not sure there's no I in me? (I suppose such a thought is either absurd, or profound, depending on the context!)

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It is almost all atheists. And be prepared to be cursed out.

I'm sure what anyone calls me, I'll be able to say I've been called worse!

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I haven't been here long, but from what I've seen the only people who get cursed out are people who absolutely reject reason, ask loaded questions, and make grand statements just to get people riled up...ring a bell?

And welcome, spockrates. Good to see another Star Trek fan.

Illogical is something of which no one has ever accused me, KockEmOut. Live long and prosper, my Treky acquaintance. I suppose I'm like Spock in that sense. I have been accused of asking questions that drive others to their wits' end, and kidding too much. I suppose I'm like Socrates that way.

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Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Looking forward to thoughtful discussions on the forum.

Thanks for the advice, Brian. I suppose I should clarify my OP by saying I'm looking more for a thoughtful dialog, rather than a heated debate. I'm not into partisan religion.

What makes you think I want "partisan" religion. I think our species is far to divided by religion. But this is debate, not global conflict. Both you and I get to go home at night.

What do you want me to say? When you deal with me you are going to get heated debate. Others here may like the library. I don't mince words.

So keep that in mind if you choose to respond to me. Otherwise there is an ignore option.

To me the "heat" is a lot like the concentration it takes when kicking a field goal in the Super Bowl when the crowed is shouting for you to miss. It is like the foul shout in the NBA with second left and the crowed is shouting for you to miss.

If you get stuck on my words, instead of making an argument for yourself, that says more about you and your lack of argument, than it would about anything I could say to you.

I don't like taboos, ESPECIALLY when it comes to god claims. I find it silly that you would come on to a board full of people who reject god claims and then say "I prefer". You can "prefer" all you want, but this is the away game, not your home turf.

[Norfolk And Chance]

It is almost all atheists.

Who'd have thought, eh?

[KichigaiNeko]

Live long an prosper from the experience