Questions for atheists... Somehow I expected a different sort of questions 
Do you think you couldn't get honest answers before this civil discourse section existed?
I think I've always tried to provide my honest opinion in equivalent "questions for atheists" threads, even on those that looked like some form of homework.
Most of you guys are alright.
A few are not.
Like in any group of people, I guess...
Yes, why not?
Although it is good to know that there are people who, like me, don't believe that the universe requires a pre-existing entity, it is also good to have discussions with those who do believe it.
I highly doubt that I'll ever come to believe in the existence of any god, but I have, on occasion, found myself unable to counter a particular argument and that sort of thing gives me the awareness of just how powerful a flawed, but hard to spot, premise can be... Of how difficult an average person would find it to understand such flaws.
So yeah, I want to understand what makes people believe in something that, for me, is unbelievable. And that can't be accomplished with discussions solely with atheists...
Each person is an individual. I don't think I can make a broad statement on how to improve everyone, but my best advice is to be honest.
Ooops, it seems I already answered this...hehe.
As a sort of amateur psychologist, I like to try to understand what makes people think the way they do. What sort of life experiences lead people to think in particular ways that don't really conform with reality as I perceive it.
But, of course, there is also the awareness that only a particular set of theists take the time to register on an atheist forum. So I know to expect some skewness when looking at theists here and extrapolating to most others out there. I guess that's why I end up treating each person as an individual and try to understand that individual's path that made her/him believe.
(November 17, 2018 at 12:13 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: So these questions are for the atheists. Now that AF has this section for civil discourse, I feel I can ask this and get some honest answers from posters who are serious in talking this out.
Do you think you couldn't get honest answers before this civil discourse section existed?
I think I've always tried to provide my honest opinion in equivalent "questions for atheists" threads, even on those that looked like some form of homework.
(November 17, 2018 at 12:13 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: What are your opinions about us theists in this forum?
Most of you guys are alright.
A few are not.
Like in any group of people, I guess...
(November 17, 2018 at 12:13 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Do you generally like having us here? Why or why not?
Yes, why not?
Although it is good to know that there are people who, like me, don't believe that the universe requires a pre-existing entity, it is also good to have discussions with those who do believe it.
I highly doubt that I'll ever come to believe in the existence of any god, but I have, on occasion, found myself unable to counter a particular argument and that sort of thing gives me the awareness of just how powerful a flawed, but hard to spot, premise can be... Of how difficult an average person would find it to understand such flaws.
So yeah, I want to understand what makes people believe in something that, for me, is unbelievable. And that can't be accomplished with discussions solely with atheists...
(November 17, 2018 at 12:13 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: What can we do to improve and to make it easier/more enjoyable for you to have discussions with us?
Each person is an individual. I don't think I can make a broad statement on how to improve everyone, but my best advice is to be honest.
(November 17, 2018 at 12:13 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Are you in favor of this civility section to have more productive discussions with theists and other people of differing views?Yes.
(November 17, 2018 at 12:13 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: What do you hope to gain from productive discussions with theists?
Ooops, it seems I already answered this...hehe.
As a sort of amateur psychologist, I like to try to understand what makes people think the way they do. What sort of life experiences lead people to think in particular ways that don't really conform with reality as I perceive it.
But, of course, there is also the awareness that only a particular set of theists take the time to register on an atheist forum. So I know to expect some skewness when looking at theists here and extrapolating to most others out there. I guess that's why I end up treating each person as an individual and try to understand that individual's path that made her/him believe.
