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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 12:07 am
(November 7, 2013 at 9:58 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: (November 7, 2013 at 7:59 pm)Esquilax Wrote: Because people are interesting, and sometimes their stories lead to interesting discussions? If someone is sincere then I am happy to share, plus the Great Commission and all. In my experience any thread along the lines of "question for theists" is bait for a mockery trap.
I spent some time on the Rational Theist forums just to get a sense of what it would be like on the opposite side. Total drag. I quit. It was kind of uneven. Lots of hostility. Responses became predictable. Interesting responders tended to be less frequently online. But the hardcore defenders of the faith were unrelenting. Haven't been back.
Unlike you, I have no great commission. Heck, I don't really care if people change their religious views. Nothing in it for me and I have no naive belief in 'progress'.
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 12:18 am
(November 7, 2013 at 10:18 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: And honest question leads to more questions and hopefully understanding. To ask a question for the sole purpose of extracting information so as to launch an attack is childish. When you reply with a statement about the "perceived ridiculousness of your beliefs" how does that lead to an interesting discussion? Sorry, I'm becoming very disillusioned with the forum.
Well certioanyl didn't intend it like that, I'm genuinely curious about this topic.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 1:15 am
(November 8, 2013 at 12:07 am)whateverist Wrote: ...spent some time on the Rational Theist forums j... It was kind of uneven. Lots of hostility. Responses became predictable... Fair enough. You can't spit without hitting a stupid person, an asshole, bitch or pompous ass. As for responses becoming predictable, I'm starting to feel that way about here.
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 1:32 am
(November 8, 2013 at 1:15 am)ChadWooters Wrote: (November 8, 2013 at 12:07 am)whateverist Wrote: ...spent some time on the Rational Theist forums j... It was kind of uneven. Lots of hostility. Responses became predictable... Fair enough. You can't spit without hitting a stupid person, an asshole, bitch or pompous ass. As for responses becoming predictable, I'm starting to feel that way about here.
You are certainly right about that. I can see why you feel like that about the arguments too, because this conversation hasnt changed much since the time of Bertrand Russell.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 9:38 am
I was kinda hoping this thread could be somewhere that people could share the reasons for faith without being attacked for it. Silly me
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 10:35 am
(November 8, 2013 at 9:38 am)Optimistic Mysanthrope Wrote: I was kinda hoping this thread could be somewhere that people could share the reasons for faith without being attacked for it. Silly me
The main problem is a lack of understanding on the unbelievers part.
There are no abstract thinkers here. Only logical ones. And that's what it takes in the first step towards God.
My wife, and others I know who are very religious, are also very logical thinkers. They have to constantly be reinforced in their faith. It's hard for them at times. Their logical brain is always analyzing and trying to justify their faith!
Abstract thinkers on the other hand have an easier time accepting their faith as something "real". And their struggles are much less than a logical thinker.
I've been able to see this "concept" at work in my own family. And there is something to this.
Quis ut Deus?
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 11:25 am
I shared the story of my former faith and I didn't get 'attacked' for it.
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 11:33 am
(November 8, 2013 at 11:25 am)MindForgedManacle Wrote: I shared the story of my former faith and I didn't get 'attacked' for it.
bold added by me.
Meh, sometimes I'm in the mood for being dicky, but sometimes it just feels unnecessary. When a theist is being honest about why they became whatever they are, I kind of find it interesting (if they're really being honest). It's a discussion, not a middle school play ground.
On the other hand, when they start getting annoying and bitchy, I feel free to be as dicky as I want to be. I know maybe some of you have history with some of the theists here and that's the reason why you hate... so I'll gladly step out while I'm still in one piece.
(walks backwards slowly, reaches door, exits quickly)
Pointing around: "Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, you're cool, fuck you, I'm out!"
Half Baked
"Let the atheists come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of heathens belongs to people like these." -Saint Bacon
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 8, 2013 at 1:37 pm
(This post was last modified: November 8, 2013 at 1:45 pm by Mister Agenda.)
(November 7, 2013 at 10:18 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: And honest question leads to more questions and hopefully understanding. To ask a question for the sole purpose of extracting information so as to launch an attack is childish. When you reply with a statement about the "perceived ridiculousness of your beliefs" how does that lead to an interesting discussion? Sorry, I'm becoming very disillusioned with the forum.
I've become very disillusioned with you. At first I bought into your 'serious intellectual' pose. I thought you at least had intellectual integrity. I looked forward to your comments for something different from the usual fare served up by Christianists. But you've turned out to be a great disappointment.
(November 8, 2013 at 10:35 am)ronedee Wrote: (November 8, 2013 at 9:38 am)Optimistic Mysanthrope Wrote: I was kinda hoping this thread could be somewhere that people could share the reasons for faith without being attacked for it. Silly me
The main problem is a lack of understanding on the unbelievers part.
There are no abstract thinkers here. Only logical ones. And that's what it takes in the first step towards God.
Because God is an abstraction? I already believe that.
But it's worth noting that your posts in this thread have been honorable.
(November 8, 2013 at 11:25 am)MindForgedManacle Wrote: I shared the story of my former faith and I didn't get 'attacked' for it.
Me, neither. You have to admit that Lion did, though.
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RE: why did you become a christian?
November 9, 2013 at 3:40 pm
(November 8, 2013 at 11:33 am)Ivy Wrote: Meh, sometimes I'm in the mood for being dicky, but sometimes it just feels unnecessary. When a theist is being honest about why they became whatever they are, I kind of find it interesting (if they're really being honest). It's a discussion, not a middle school play ground.
On the other hand, when they start getting annoying and bitchy, I feel free to be as dicky as I want to be. I know maybe some of you have history with some of the theists here and that's the reason why you hate... so I'll gladly step out while I'm still in one piece.
(walks backwards slowly, reaches door, exits quickly)
Hm? I wasn't trying to be bitchy or a dick. My point was that Chad and the like think they're going to get attacked if they delve into why they became Christians, and my point is I gave a sketch both of how/why I became a Christian and what started my process of deconversion, neither of which I was attacked for.
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