(March 4, 2015 at 10:35 am)rasetsu Wrote:

(March 3, 2015 at 11:46 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote: That shit will never happen. Truly challenging their beliefs seems to be beyond most theists.

Quote:John Corrigan "Jonathan" Wells (born 1942) is an American molecular biologist, author and advocate of intelligent design. Wells joined the Unification Church in 1974, and subsequently wrote that the teachings of church founder Sun Myung Moon, his own studies at the Unification Theological Seminary and his prayers convinced him to devote his life to "destroying Darwinism." ... In 1989, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a PhD in molecular and cellular biology in 1994. He became a member of several scientific associations and has published in academic journals.

Wikipedia

Your exception proves what, exactly? Just because one person (or a few people) do something incredibly unlikely doesn't mean the majority will.

We all know the likelihood of the average theists running off to critically examine their beliefs is vanishingly small.

(March 4, 2015 at 2:52 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote: ...
We all know the likelihood of the average theists running off to critically examine their beliefs is vanishingly small.

IMO the areas of knowledge that help are: philosophy, comparative religion, religious history, archaeology, etc.
Also making friends with people who don't share your beliefs might help.

It would be interesting to take a poll of ex-Christians to see what caused them to wake up.

(March 4, 2015 at 2:52 pm)SnakeOilWarrior Wrote:

(March 4, 2015 at 10:35 am)rasetsu Wrote:

Your exception proves what, exactly? Just because one person (or a few people) do something incredibly unlikely doesn't mean the majority will.

We all know the likelihood of the average theists running off to critically examine their beliefs is vanishingly small.

I think her point, that absolutist language such as "never" or "always" is usually inaccurate to one degree or another, is a useful one to take on board. Being nuanced in thought and speech seems to get closer to the truth of a matter as complex as this, just as a knife is more useful than a sledgehammer in peeling an apple while leaving the flesh edible.

I've heard it said that theists will never convert due to online discussions, but I've seen it happen twice. Yes, it's a small percentage indeed. It also means that I cannot use the word "never" in describing the phenomenon.

(March 3, 2015 at 4:27 pm)watchamadoodle Wrote:

(March 3, 2015 at 4:11 pm)Godschild Wrote: Like you said , you're gullible, and some people sold you a bunch of unproven crap.

I assume you mean the unproven crap is atheism.

So how can you not wake up, GC? I could understand if you insulated yourself from all but your fundamentalist brethren, but you are very active here on AF. You seem as smart as most people here, but your beliefs make you look silly.

What would be the harm in simply admitting that the Bible is partly myth? There are lots of Christians that admit this. I guess there is a psychology that goes with being a fundamentalist - the few chosen ones against the corrupt world. There was a good essay about that psychology if I can find it.

your mistake is thinking this is about finding truth. It aint, it's about our side winning. or ex pizzed off Christian releasing anger. witch might not be all bad in the end. rail in here and the next person that says "god bless you" to them when they sneeze can go on and live a normal life.

(March 4, 2015 at 4:25 pm)comet Wrote: your mistake is thinking this is about finding truth. It aint, it's about our side winning.

Whose side winning what, now?

Am I the only one who doesn't understand a word of comet's posts?

(March 4, 2015 at 4:36 pm)Norman Humann Wrote: Am I the only one who doesn't understand a word of comet's posts?

They are cryptic. I think he's saying the Christians are here to "win" (which for them means only to proclaim their belief stubbornly in spite of atheist counterarguments)? And the atheists (especially ex-Christians) are here to take-out some of their frustrations on a virtual Christian, so that they can be civil to Christians in real life? That's how I understood what comet said.

(March 4, 2015 at 4:58 pm)watchamadoodle Wrote:

(March 4, 2015 at 4:36 pm)Norman Humann Wrote: Am I the only one who doesn't understand a word of comet's posts?

They are cryptic. I think he's saying the Christians are here to "win" (which for them means only to proclaim their belief stubbornly in spite of atheist counterarguments)? And the atheists (especially ex-Christians) are here to take-out some of their frustrations on a virtual Christian, so that they can be civil to Christians in real life? That's how I understood what comet said.

no. I said neither side cares about the truth. Its about winning, But I guess we claim its just them if ya wanna.

(March 4, 2015 at 7:12 pm)comet Wrote: no. I said neither side cares about the truth.

A reflexive conclusion when your on the wrong side of it.

(March 4, 2015 at 7:12 pm)comet Wrote: no. I said neither side cares about the truth. Its about winning, But I guess we claim its just them if ya wanna.

Hey, yeah, you just go ahead and dictate our beliefs to us, that's fine. When did you come into your telepathy, and where did you find out who we all are?