Open discussion of the Christian Why We're Here thread

[Edwardo Piet]

At first I found it kind of funny that everyone was giving their introductions but each Christian was so different... so much so that I felt like they're just going to be talking past each other for the whole discussion.

Now I just feel like even the Christians on the thread who I like the least... I still feel like they're honest. And I guess it's going to make it a lot easier for me to be tolerant of people I consider nuts in future. Perhaps it has been an empathy failure on my part?

Honesty is the number one quality for me, so as absolutely reprehensible as I find some of theirs views, especially Drich... everyone does seem genuine.

But then... Neo hasn't turned up yet lol. And he always comes across as snide, condescending, pretentious and disingenuous to me... so we shall see.

Still. I feel like I like them all more now (those who have posted). Even Drich as utterly vile as he is (one of the most horrible people on the site, IMO).... he does seem genuine.

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I'd guess the reason most Christians (I'm including all the drive-by types in this) come to atheist forums is because it's guaranteed to be full of targets.

I can't speak for the silent lurkers of course, but in all my time on such forums, I've never seen anyone even remotely swayed by any preaching anyone has brought. What I have seen instead, quite frequently, is people become more disgusted with the religions in question due to the way they get presented.

Thankfully there are a few theists here and there who actually want to engage with atheists and are genuinely interested in hearing what they have to say. To those, I say thank you very much.

I may hate the logic of theists, but we do have a handful of die hards here, like a TimeX, take a licking and keep on ticking.

I hate the logic of theists because it isn't logical.

I don't hate theists (or anyone) though... but I do struggle to show respect towards them because I don't respect many people in general... and people with repugnant or childish views I respect even less. Still, I can get along with anyone who doesn't annoy the crap out of me or take offense at my correcting them when they're flat out wrong. I do think this discussion has led to me feeling like I can tolerate theists more easily now. As my biggest quibble was that many of them always seemed so dishonest to me. But I really did just forget just how deep their ignorance runs... and that they really really can't help it. It slips my mind sometimes. And seeing them all make it very clear just how indoctrinated they all are into their own particular Christian views (all clearly differing by having slightly different versions of Christian beliefs drummed into them)... it makes it easier for me tolerate them. Makes me pity them more instead. I know they don't want my pity... but they're gonna get it anyway.