The thing is, a religious forum is a place for people to talk about their faith, ask questions about it, get faith based advice, etc. They actually have something of substance to talk about: their faith. Having a bunch of people join who are going to do nothing but bash the faith in a trolly, condecending, hateful sort of way is counter productive to the purpose/subject of the forum. Its going to bring down the quality of the forum, so they need to set tighter rules and boundaries to keep that from happening.

So while most religious forums allow atheists to participate in discussion, voice disagreement, and have debates in a genuine and productive way, I can understand why they won't allow a bunch of people who aren't going to be respectful about it.

Since atheism isnt a "thing" like religion is (its actually a non thing lol), then it makes sense for atheist forums to be much more relaxed about these sorts of rules. It's not like atheists are going to talk about atheism, ask questions about atheism, and give atheist based advice, since atheism is literally just lack of belief and nothing more. Thats why this forum is filled with games, "whats up with you today" type threads, and other pointless threads that are just little jokes or w/e. If anything, having theists in here actually gives people more things of substance to talk about.

(October 30, 2017 at 11:18 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: The thing is, a religious forum is a place for people to talk about their faith, ask questions about it, get faith based advice, etc. They actually have something of substance to talk about: their faith. Having a bunch of people join who are going to do nothing but bash the faith in a trolly, condecending, hateful sort of way is counter productive to the purpose/subject of the forum. Its going to bring down the quality of the forum, so they need to set tighter rules and boundaries to keep that from happening.  

So while most religious forums allow atheists to participate in discussion, voice disagreement, and have debates in a genuine and productive way, I can understand why they won't allow a bunch of people who aren't going to be respectful about it.

Since atheism isnt a "thing" like religion is (its actually a non thing lol), then it makes sense for atheist forums to be much more relaxed about these sorts of rules. It's not like atheists are going to talk about atheism, ask questions about atheism, and give atheist based advice, since atheism is literally just lack of belief and nothing more. Thats why this forum is filled with games, "whats up with you today" type threads, and other pointless threads that are just little jokes or w/e. If anything, having theists in here actually gives people more things of substance to talk about.

That's fair enough if it's just to stop trolling but if it cuts off any and all discussion that's outside the box, even if it's respectful, then that's also what I was asking about. I don't know because I've never gone looking for a religious forum, hence asking Kit.

(October 30, 2017 at 11:18 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: The thing is, a religious forum is a place for people to talk about their faith, ask questions about it, get faith based advice, etc. They actually have something of substance to talk about: their faith. Having a bunch of people join who are going to do nothing but bash the faith in a trolly, condecending, hateful sort of way is counter productive to the purpose/subject of the forum. Its going to bring down the quality of the forum, so they need to set tighter rules and boundaries to keep that from happening.  

So while most religious forums allow atheists to participate in discussion, voice disagreement, and have debates in a genuine and productive way, I can understand why they won't allow a bunch of people who aren't going to be respectful about it.

Since atheism isnt a "thing" like religion is (its actually a non thing lol), then it makes sense for atheist forums to be much more relaxed about these sorts of rules. It's not like atheists are going to talk about atheism, ask questions about atheism, and give atheist based advice, since atheism is literally just lack of belief and nothing more. Thats why this forum is filled with games, "whats up with you today" type threads, and other pointless threads that are just little jokes or w/e. If anything, having theists in here actually gives people more things of substance to talk about.

You're right.  See, I don't give a flying fuck about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin!

(October 30, 2017 at 12:09 pm)emjay Wrote:

(October 30, 2017 at 11:18 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: The thing is, a religious forum is a place for people to talk about their faith, ask questions about it, get faith based advice, etc. They actually have something of substance to talk about: their faith. Having a bunch of people join who are going to do nothing but bash the faith in a trolly, condecending, hateful sort of way is counter productive to the purpose/subject of the forum. Its going to bring down the quality of the forum, so they need to set tighter rules and boundaries to keep that from happening.  

So while most religious forums allow atheists to participate in discussion, voice disagreement, and have debates in a genuine and productive way, I can understand why they won't allow a bunch of people who aren't going to be respectful about it.

Since atheism isnt a "thing" like religion is (its actually a non thing lol), then it makes sense for atheist forums to be much more relaxed about these sorts of rules. It's not like atheists are going to talk about atheism, ask questions about atheism, and give atheist based advice, since atheism is literally just lack of belief and nothing more. Thats why this forum is filled with games, "whats up with you today" type threads, and other pointless threads that are just little jokes or w/e. If anything, having theists in here actually gives people more things of substance to talk about.

That's fair enough if it's just to stop trolling but if it cuts off any and all discussion that's outside the box, even if it's respectful, then that's also what I was asking about. I don't know because I've never gone looking for a religious forum, hence asking Kit.

I agree. The religious forums I've been a member of in the past have all allowed atheists and discussions about the possibility of God not existing, etc. So long as the intention was to have respectful discussion/disagreement, not to go on there and start bashing their faith.

(October 30, 2017 at 8:38 am)emjay Wrote: Serious question, have you ever come across a religious forum that does allow freedom of speech... and therefore criticism?

They tend to allow their version of freedom of speech.

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There was one thread titled What I think about atheists that was filled with disrespectful content, but nothing was done about it. The theists are allowed their nonsensical, unrealistic views.

(October 30, 2017 at 12:35 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:

(October 30, 2017 at 12:09 pm)emjay Wrote: That's fair enough if it's just to stop trolling but if it cuts off any and all discussion that's outside the box, even if it's respectful, then that's also what I was asking about. I don't know because I've never gone looking for a religious forum, hence asking Kit.

I agree. The religious forums I've been a member of in the past have all allowed atheists and discussions about the possibility of God not existing, etc. So long as the intention was to have respectful discussion/disagreement, not to go on there and start bashing their faith.

Well one example would be, would you be allowed to ask awkward questions... or point out contradictions etc? From a theist perspective I'd imagine that a lot of the questions we ask are what you might call pedantic/splitting hairs... but from an atheist point of view (well from my point of view at least) those sorts of questions are perfectly valid and shouldn't be glossed over.

There was one theist who consistently responded to anything that went against his belief system with the one liner, and this is verbatim, "Your opinion has been noted."

In case you missed it above:
There was one thread titled What I think about atheists that was filled with disrespectful content, but nothing was done about it. The theists are allowed their nonsensical, unrealistic views.

(October 30, 2017 at 12:42 pm)emjay Wrote:

(October 30, 2017 at 12:35 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: I agree. The religious forums I've been a member of in the past have all allowed atheists and discussions about the possibility of God not existing, etc. So long as the intention was to have respectful discussion/disagreement, not to go on there and start bashing their faith.

Well one example would be, would you be allowed to ask awkward questions... or point out contradictions etc? From a theist perspective I'd imagine that a lot of the questions we ask are what you might call pedantic/splitting hairs... but from an atheist point of view (well from my point of view at least) those sorts of questions are perfectly valid and shouldn't be glossed over.

I can't see why that wouldn't be allowed, so long as the intention is to have genuine discussion and not mockery, etc.

(October 30, 2017 at 12:44 pm)Lutrinae Wrote: There was one theist who consistently responded to anything that went against his belief system with the one liner, and this is verbatim, "Your opinion has been noted."

In case you missed it above:
There was one thread titled What I think about atheists that was filled with disrespectful content, but nothing was done about it. The theists are allowed their nonsensical, unrealistic views.

'Your opinion has been noted' sounds like a positive.... more than we sometimes get

As to the other, I guess that's just the way it goes; there's always going to be bias in favour of whatever the forum is about, but if they have fair and even handed mods... like here... then that shouldn't be the case. I take it they don't then?

(October 30, 2017 at 12:49 pm)emjay Wrote: I take it they don't then?

Not from what I could discern.