Now it's free association over words with a negative connotation.

It was uncivil to discuss the evils of slavery in the pre war south (and..you know..still is, lelz).  It was uncivil to make a fuss about ones station in life in victorian or colonial society.  Civility has always been used as hammer with which to beat down the proles whenever the social order is threatened. Civility has never been more than deference to that order...whatever that order is. Civility, itself, is hammered into our heads (and it's hammered into our heads as a floating positive) precisely because that order depends on a certain amount of unquestioning acceptance. The notion is now and has always been that too much honesty would dissolve the glue..and if that glue is holding up something you value..you're going to think civility is a big deal..whereas, when you're on the other side of whatever's been glued together, you might have a different view.

God has never been civil. Not too sure why we must?

I wonder what understanding we are meant to come to ?

Truth is on 95% of what we do, work, watch movies, cars we have or family experiences we have, in simply living our lives we are likely very similar and there is plenty to chat about and agree on. But on the subject of theism, in particular Christianity what common ground is there ?

For most people there is little more to learn about what christians believe, or indeed why they believe it. what is it christians want us to come to an understanding on (that hasn't been discussed at length already) ?

(November 19, 2018 at 8:43 pm)possibletarian Wrote: I wonder what understanding we are meant to come to ?

Truth is on 95% of what we do, work, watch movies, cars we have or family experiences we have,  in simply living our lives we are likely very similar and there is plenty to chat about and agree on.  But on the subject of theism, in particular Christianity what common ground is there ?

For most people there is little more to learn about what christians believe, or indeed why they believe it.  what is it christians want us to come to an understanding on (that hasn't been discussed at length already) ?

Maybe it has more to do with how we treat each other when we don't come to an understanding.

Most of the pissing contests are about political issues. ...not Theism/atheism.

Then why isn't there a civility section for politics if that were the case?

I find most theists come here to discuss religion only.
Not for the community or fun aspect of it ...

Shit, I hope they're not like that irl.

IRL they're all about politics...but it's sort of a thin veneer for their fetish for a fascist theocratic dystopia. Don't even get me started on how american christianity has turned into nothing more than a vehicle for conservatism. Thankfully, I got one of the liberal ones and locked that shit in! Her family though..fuck, what a nest of vipers, lol. Still love em, something to be said for snakes.

They probably wouldn't think that was a very civil thing for me to say...but...you know, they don't understand how much respect I have for a cottonmouth.

(November 19, 2018 at 8:55 pm)Belaqua Wrote:

(November 19, 2018 at 8:43 pm)possibletarian Wrote: I wonder what understanding we are meant to come to ?

Truth is on 95% of what we do, work, watch movies, cars we have or family experiences we have,  in simply living our lives we are likely very similar and there is plenty to chat about and agree on.  But on the subject of theism, in particular Christianity what common ground is there ?

For most people there is little more to learn about what christians believe, or indeed why they believe it.  what is it christians want us to come to an understanding on (that hasn't been discussed at length already) ?

Maybe it has more to do with how we treat each other when we don't come to an understanding.

My grief with xtians is that they will generally try every little piece of shit "reasoning" they've ever learned to push the jeebus on people...and do some really shitty things if they don't get their way. They are here generally to poke and prod us to drink the kool-aid, or to at least annoy those "godless heathens". Catholic Lady is the only believer that I have ever seen not do that. Ever. Oh, wait- Aliza. Subsurface support via kudos for other xtian's posts is a different thing, to me. I've come to the conclusion that hanging out at atheist sites paints a bull's eye on both sides. I'm not in the least bit interested in discussing theism/atheism, it is like teaching a horse to sing, from both sides. I've found a few internet friends here who happen to be atheists, simply because we interact on an atheist site. I'm going to take a walk from here soon, and even though I have joined some other atheist sites over the years, I'll probably abandon them, too, in time. Just too much angst, dealing with the dick-headed (both kinds). I don't need that. Life is too short, and I'm at the short end. Not good-bye, just yet.

(November 19, 2018 at 9:43 pm)Fireball Wrote: My grief with xtians is that they will generally try every little piece of shit "reasoning" they've ever learned to push the jeebus on people...and do some really shitty things if they don't get their way. They are here generally to poke and prod us to drink the kool-aid, or to at least annoy those "godless heathens". Catholic Lady is the only believer that I have ever seen not do that. Ever. Oh, wait- Aliza. Subsurface support via kudos for other xtian's posts is a different thing, to me. I've come to the conclusion that hanging out at atheist sites paints a bull's eye on both sides. I'm not in the least bit interested in discussing theism/atheism, it is like teaching a horse to sing, from both sides. I've found a few internet friends here who happen to be atheists, simply because we interact on an atheist site. I'm going to take a walk from here soon, and even though I have joined some other atheist sites over the years, I'll probably abandon them, too, in time. Just too much angst, dealing with the dick-headed (both kinds). I don't need that. Life is too short, and I'm at the short end. Not good-bye, just yet.

Yeah, there are a hell of a lot of bad arguments in the world, but after a while on a forum like this it seems like we've heard every single one of them. I don't blame you for having your fill of it. 

It does seem wiser to walk away when you feel done, rather than get angry and lose your cool. And finding two people on the opposite team you can think well of speaks well for you and for them.