Open discussion of the Christian Why We're Here thread

[robvalue]

I was just thinking about my own participation. What are my goals? Primarily, I want people to think. I don't want them to simply agree with me, about anything. If they do happen to agree after thinking, then great. If not, no problem, I just appreciating them taking the time to consider.

So I'm not ever posting with the intention of trying to "take away people's religion". This is all probably pretty obvious to most people anyway, but I thought I'd mention it. I was considering the moral implications of my posts (or any atheists) happening to cause someone to see through their religion and abandon it. On the whole, I'd expect they'd be better off and happier, excluding the reactions they might get from religious folk around them.

But suppose they weren't? I guess that's something we can never know. Could we burst someone's bubble, leaving them desperate to get back inside it but being unable?

I think there's several defences here though. Firstly, the theists are choosing to come to an atheist forum. They can't realistically expect not to face questions here. Secondly, they are choosing to read what we write. And thirdly, all we can ultimately do is cause them to think, it's not like we could just "take away their religion" even if we wanted to. If it all unravels after them giving it some thought, then obviously it was on shaky ground, and part of them was ready for this possibility just by coming here (excluding the entirely cultish preaching types who aren't here to listen to anyone else in any serious way).