Chasm -
Well if you count merely talking about your beliefs as being preachy, then I can see why you consider most theists to be preachy. The word preach has a very specific meaning. It doesn't mean merely talking about one's beliefs. I've encountered atheists who disagree with you and say that theists in general don't preach, only a minority do so, and I've encountered atheists who don't consider merely talking about one's beliefs as being preachy, many in fact. So actually you are only speaking for yourself and whoever happens to see it your way, but your views don't represent all atheists. Also, when a theist comes here, atheists ask them to talk about their beliefs. With your definition of what preaching means (which is incorrect), that means that atheists want theists to preach to them. However, that's obviously not the case. They recognise the difference between talking about, and preaching at. The very fact that theists are welcome here is an illustration that you're incorrect with your definition of what preching means, because in the rules it states no preaching, yet theists are welcome. How do you square that? You can't really, because your definition of preaching is flawed. If the rules of this forum agreed with you, then no theists would be welcome unless they never talk about their beliefs. Obviously that's not the case either. To add to that, if preching means merely mentioning or talking about, then that would mean that every single atheist here preaches, since they all at some point talk about their view. It may not be a belief, but if your definition of preaching (ie talking about something) is correct, then everyone here preaches. But again, not the case. We all have a right to talk about our views, and some would say that we all have a right to talk about them but without preaching. Those who say that know the difference, whereas you don't seem to.
Well if you count merely talking about your beliefs as being preachy, then I can see why you consider most theists to be preachy. The word preach has a very specific meaning. It doesn't mean merely talking about one's beliefs. I've encountered atheists who disagree with you and say that theists in general don't preach, only a minority do so, and I've encountered atheists who don't consider merely talking about one's beliefs as being preachy, many in fact. So actually you are only speaking for yourself and whoever happens to see it your way, but your views don't represent all atheists. Also, when a theist comes here, atheists ask them to talk about their beliefs. With your definition of what preaching means (which is incorrect), that means that atheists want theists to preach to them. However, that's obviously not the case. They recognise the difference between talking about, and preaching at. The very fact that theists are welcome here is an illustration that you're incorrect with your definition of what preching means, because in the rules it states no preaching, yet theists are welcome. How do you square that? You can't really, because your definition of preaching is flawed. If the rules of this forum agreed with you, then no theists would be welcome unless they never talk about their beliefs. Obviously that's not the case either. To add to that, if preching means merely mentioning or talking about, then that would mean that every single atheist here preaches, since they all at some point talk about their view. It may not be a belief, but if your definition of preaching (ie talking about something) is correct, then everyone here preaches. But again, not the case. We all have a right to talk about our views, and some would say that we all have a right to talk about them but without preaching. Those who say that know the difference, whereas you don't seem to.
