Christian Forums

[ThePinsir]

I know we have a few Christians here who chime in a lot, and they're usually dealt with pretty hard. I thought about going to a Christian forum and trolling a bit, but I'm not sure I'm a good enough debater/know how to refute apologetic arguments well enough and I'll be outnumbered and made to look bad.

Do any of you guys frequent any Christian forums? Are you actually "successful" at all?

[No_God]

I'm entirely too lazy to register to another forum.

[pocaracas]

Don't break the rules and you'll do fine...
Sadly, it's very easy for an atheist to break a rule on those forums.

[c172]

What poca said. I am registered on Rapture Ready, and have been for maybe 2 years. But I have yet to post because I can't find a good place to jump in.

[FreeTony]

I'm a member of one. I gave up after a while as you just get the same stupid arguments and no one gets anywhere.

You have to accept rational discussion will not change their minds. Rationality isn't what got them there in the first place, so it's not going to have any effect now.

[DeistPaladin]

Do any of you guys frequent any Christian forums? Are you actually "successful" at all?

I went to ChristianForums at one time (that's what it was called) and all my posts were deleted and I was banned within 48 hours.

"Bashing Christianity" is against the rules on such forums. Needless to say, religious people play the hurt feelings card anytime even pointed questions are asked so pretty much anything could count as "bashing Christianity".

Being a skeptic poster on a religious forum is like being a liberal on Fox Noise. There are certain lines which must be carefully walked. Making forceful arguments is a no-no. The field is tilted and anyone who doesn't play accordingly is summarily banned.

[KUSA]

You can try to be more Christian than they are. Make some outlandish claims about God and see what they say. If they disagree you can call them a heretic.

[No_God]

KUSA, you just gave me a great idea.

[Simon Moon]

I went to ChristianForums at one time (that's what it was called) and all my posts were deleted and I was banned within 48 hours.

"Bashing Christianity" is against the rules on such forums. Needless to say, religious people play the hurt feelings card anytime even pointed questions are asked so pretty much anything could count as "bashing Christianity".

Being a skeptic poster on a religious forum is like being a liberal on Fox Noise. There are certain lines which must be carefully walked. Making forceful arguments is a no-no. The field is tilted and anyone who doesn't play accordingly is summarily banned.

This has been my experience also.

I have been banned from a couple of Christian forums for doing nothing more than asking honest questions and responding to fallacious answers.

I always did it with decorum, tact and manners, never cussed (which I don't do anyway). I was never insulting.

Yet I was banned within a couple of days from them with no warning.

They don't like when you can demonstrate why their favorite pet arguments (Kalam, Teleological, Ontological, TAG) are fallacious. Intellectual honesty is not their strong suit.

[Chad32]

I'd much rather be in a group that mostly holds the same beliefs as me. I appreciate having some christians around like GodsChild, so I can actually debate and not just bounce the same ideas back at people who agree with me, but I don't want to be surrounded by people who don't share my beliefs.

Probably the best way to make fun of them would be to outdo them, instead of just pointing out their errors. Go all Jack Chick on them or something.

I guess I could say you likely won't get far on their home field, but that's probably how many christians think about coming here. I know it's possible to actually change a person's views through online debate, but it probably doesn't happen as often as many would like.