(May 8, 2018 at 8:38 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote:

(May 8, 2018 at 2:35 am)Mathilda Wrote: Always fucking christians. You know that there are other theists as well. It's not a binary choice between atheism and christianity. Why didn't you post a thread asking "Overall, do you like theists being here?" There are also muslims, jews, buddhists, pagans, new agers etc.

As I said in the OP, the topic of Christians (specificaly) being here is currently a hot topic of discussion throughout the forums. So I wanted to know where people stand on that.

Why were other theists excluded from the other threads that made it a hot topic? That's why I started my paragraph with the word 'Always'.

(May 8, 2018 at 9:55 am)Mathilda Wrote:

(May 8, 2018 at 8:38 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: As I said in the OP, the topic of Christians (specificaly) being here is currently a hot topic of discussion throughout the forums. So I wanted to know where people stand on that.

Why were other theists excluded from the other threads that made it a hot topic? That's why I started my paragraph with the word 'Always'.

Don't know. You'd have to ask them.

I don't care what people believe as long as they are up for sensible discussion and don't act like nobjockeys.

(May 8, 2018 at 8:38 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote:

(May 8, 2018 at 2:35 am)Mathilda Wrote: Always fucking christians. You know that there are other theists as well. It's not a binary choice between atheism and christianity. Why didn't you post a thread asking "Overall, do you like theists being here?" There are also muslims, jews, buddhists, pagans, new agers etc.

As I said in the OP, the topic of Christians (specificaly) being here is currently a hot topic of discussion throughout the forums. So I wanted to know where people stand on that.

Hardly. Christians are a topic of debate solely in regard to a private thread that they themselves created. They are a topic of debate because they've intentionally made themselves one. The other topic of debate is whether there should be a separate subforum where standards of civility are enforced. Some have accused theists of wanting such a subforum in order to create a safe space for them. I think you're conflating the two. Christians weren't a topic here until they made themselves one. And now you, another Christian, are further escalating that trend with this thread.

That is true for me, Jorg. Hearing motives regarding what xtians as xtians should be doing here really steepened the we/them divide for me. I've learned I shouldn't get too close to them, that they very likely are merely enduring possible contamination from me in hopes of changing my WV to their own. (I still don't feel that way about C_L though.)

I don't have super strong feelings on the issue. I mean if you put it solely up to me I definitely would want them to still be here. I get along with the Theists just fine. I'm not much for debates though, and when I do debate, I tend to not make it too personal.

Some have stances on issues that I find kind of odious, but I remember that I used to think many of the same things. Many of them I find to be quite nice.

(May 8, 2018 at 10:36 am)Whateverist Wrote: That is true for me, Jorg.  Hearing motives regarding what xtians as xtians should be doing here really steepened the we/them divide for me.  I've learned I shouldn't get too close to them, that they very likely are merely enduring possible contamination from me in hopes of changing my WV to their own.  (I still don't feel that way about C_L though.)

Honestly?  C_L and Kingpin (I miss that guy) have been the only Christians I’ve encountered on here that haven’t had an ulterior motive for being here.  They were the only ones who actually wanted to reach across the aisle (so to speak) and actually attempt friendship with us.

The rest?  Lying for Jesus in one way or another in order to save souls.  Drich, of all fucking people, said it right: we’re project people for him and others of his ilk (who, in my eyes, are the majority of Christians on here). Not people to get to know, but things to fix.

And, IMO, it’s pretty obvious.  How many of them try to get to know us as people?  How many hang out and joke around in the off topic section?  Or play mafia?  Or generally try to engage this place as a community on a regular basis?  No, they’re found in the religious section(s) and politics section (which makes sense, since religion is just another form of politics), and that’s it.

So, given that the bulk of them are here in an adversarial capacity (while convincing themselves that they’re doing us a favor), I’m kind of amused that so many are offended by a lot of us not reacting kindly to it.  Especially when, in a lot of cases, atheists are outright banned from even engaging with Christians on their turf.

(May 8, 2018 at 10:30 am)Jörmungandr Wrote:

(May 8, 2018 at 8:38 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: As I said in the OP, the topic of Christians (specificaly) being here is currently a hot topic of discussion throughout the forums. So I wanted to know where people stand on that.

Hardly. Christians are a topic of debate solely in regard to a private thread that they themselves created. They are a topic of debate because they've intentionally made themselves one. The other topic of debate is whether there should be a separate subforum where standards of civility are enforced. Some have accused theists of wanting such a subforum in order to create a safe space for them. I think you're conflating the two. Christians weren't a topic here until they made themselves one. And now you, another Christian, are further escalating that trend with this thread.

The debate thread was created by one Christian. And the subsequent threads that branched from it were created by non Christians.

As to the civility subsection, my motivation for it is for civil discussion and has nothing to do with preaching. I've said this many times.

(May 8, 2018 at 11:09 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: As to the civility subsection, my motivation for it is for civil discussion and has nothing to do with preaching. I've said this many times.

Problem is that not everyone believes that it will turn out that way. The worry amongst some atheists is that some theists (not necessarily you) will complain about posts which they deem offensive because they attack their core beliefs. It is easy to be offensive yet stay civil. Some see this as the thin end of the wedge whereby some christians will end up using whatever excuse to shut down debate and promote themselves to become a form of protected as happens outside the forum (e,g, as happens with blasphemy laws)

Whether this happens or not depends on how it is moderated but it is certainly a possibility. But having a thread for christians only where atheists are not allowed to post certainly hasn't helped the perception.

If a trial run goes through, I suppose we will all get the chance to see how it goes.