Post number 1

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

So let them think they've won. What does it matter to you?

This is an atheist forum so although theists are welcome, atheists should always win - it is our home ground!

Irrelevant. Location should not have any bearing on the strength of one's arguments. I've bested theists, and been bested by theists in this forum, and I'm not afraid to admit it. The notion that atheists should always be right is ridiculous.

I agree, if the comment was serious. However,call me a romantic, but I decline to accept that any of our atheist members are that gormless. I choose to believe to comment was tongue-in-cheek.

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Q Up to the invention of pencillin,what did they call a man with syphilis?

A An incurable romantic.

[Faith No More]

I don't believe i mentioned anything about dignity or respect, however i have shown it in my efforts, thus far and will make a great effort to continue to do so. That said, What you label as Dignity and your understanding of respect will never take precedence sound biblically based teaching.
"Peer pressure" and the expectation for me to "fall in" will never be a consideration of anything I speak or write on.

I offer clarity and understanding, not pink bows and Lolly pops. With clarity and understanding will come conflict, and an opportunity for resolution. What often stands between conflict and resolution is Pride. One will not ever be able to offer a conflicting view point without hurting dignity/respect, if pride is a factor. IF Pride is indeed an issue for you then know it is not up to me to resolve it for you. i can offer tools to help you resolve matters of pride, but ultimately all of the heavy lifting will be done by you. Until then know that just because a scriptural teaching is an affront your personal pride, does not mean what is being said is shaped or aimed at attacking the unbelievers dignity nor is it an intentional effort to disrespect anyone. It is simply a relevant view point to the conversation we are having.

For example:
Passages like Mt7 are apart of the scriptural teachings I am here to pass along. This teaching says (By the words of Christ Himself) Not everyone that claims to be a Christian is indeed a Christian. Then He goes on to a List of items that only the elite could perform even in His day. Even then the "miracles" were not a true indication of the persons Christianity.He finishes the teach by telling us what is the key to Christianity.

Perhaps it was one of the other new Christians that mentioned diginity. You guys do tend to blur together.

As for the rest of your post, when you take out the thin veiling of concern and leave it bare with the actual contempt it portrays it translates thusly. "I don't give a damn about respecting anyone as long as I feel that I have a sound biblical basis for my views." You can dress up your message all you like, but it's clear that your sense of superiority leaves you feeling justified in treating others as inferior human beings.

[Drich]

Perhaps it was one of the other new Christians that mentioned dignity. You guys do tend to blur together.

Perhaps

As for the rest of your post, when you take out the thin veiling of concern and leave it bare with the actual contempt it portrays it translates thusly. "I don't give a damn about respecting anyone as long as I feel that I have a sound biblical basis for my views."

If one was ONLY looking at the content and was completely oblivious of context or failed to factor in all of the comments, bitter remarks and personal attacks I have not responded to negatively then I could see how one could come to such a ill informed conclusion.

You can dress up your message all you like, but it's clear that your sense of superiority leaves you feeling justified in treating others as inferior human beings.

If this is true then why are my efforts focused on the questions comments and concerns that focus on Christianity, rather than turning to defend my "honor/Pride/Sense of superiority?"

Outside of defending my mission statement I have done nothing but "offered the other cheek" for any of you who find it necessary to lash out at me. And will continue to do so.

[Whateverist]

So let them think they've won. What does it matter to you?

This is an atheist forum so although theists are welcome, atheists should always win - it is our home ground!

Irrelevant. Location should not have any bearing on the strength of one's arguments. I've bested theists, and been bested by theists in this forum, and I'm not afraid to admit it. The notion that atheists should always be right is ridiculous.

So happy to hear how enthusiastically you're putting this out there, Tiberius. We may be light years apart politically but I agree with you here. I'd left this site after a brief time about a year ago because it just seemed that there were so many rabid atheists who were more eager to savage theists than to reason with them.

I found a more comfortable forum over at Agnostics International where I go by the same nom de plume and help moderate. We don't tolerate any ad hominem attacks there but things do get heated at times. Hard core fundies who will do nothing but quote scriptures are tedious but I do enjoy talking with the rare ones who are thoughtful and up front about what they know and what they choose to believe and why. But there is a much larger population here and many people who I like a lot and even more whose ideas and ability to express them impress me. So now I enjoy both.

Again, nice to hear that you welcome and even seek to attract a diverse group. I think it is appropriate on an atheist forum for people, who have suffered and sacrificed much to escape the social pressures that a religious community can exert to keep the flock together, to vent a little. But it would be good if we can all agree to treat each other with respect even when we disagree. As you say, if threads are correctly labeled as religious then it is up to each of us to take responsibility to choose our own poison.

[Drich]

So let them think they've won. What does it matter to you?

This is an atheist forum so although theists are welcome, atheists should always win - it is our home ground!

Irrelevant. Location should not have any bearing on the strength of one's arguments. I've bested theists, and been bested by theists in this forum, and I'm not afraid to admit it. The notion that atheists should always be right is ridiculous.

So happy to hear how enthusiastically you're putting this out there, Tiberius. We may be light years apart politically but I agree with you here. I'd left this site after a brief time about a year ago because it just seemed that there were so many rabid atheists who were more eager to savage theists than to reason with them.

I found a more comfortable forum over at Agnostics International where I go by the same nom de plume and help moderate. We don't tolerate any ad hominem attacks there but things do get heated at times. Hard core fundies who will do nothing but quote scriptures are tedious but I do enjoy talking with the rare ones who are thoughtful and up front about what they know and what they choose to believe and why. But there is a much larger population here and many people who I like a lot and even more whose ideas and ability to express them impress me. So now I enjoy both.

Again, nice to hear that you welcome and even seek to attract a diverse group. I think it is appropriate on an atheist forum for people, who have suffered and sacrificed much to escape the social pressures that a religious community can exert to keep the flock together, to vent a little. But it would be good if we can all agree to treat each other with respect even when we disagree. As you say, if threads are correctly labeled as religious then it is up to each of us to take responsibility to choose our own poison.

[Faith No More]

If this is true then why are my efforts focused on the questions comments and concerns that focus on Christianity, rather than turning to defend my "honor/Pride/Sense of superiority

Because that is precisely where you derive your sense of superiority from by assuming that your inerpretation on the nature of our existence is so important that everyone would want to hear your answers. Look, I get it. Your sense of completeness through religion makes you want to share that with everyone, but when you just show up and say, "Ask me questions," it comes off as more than a little condescending.

[theVOID]

How have you come to this conclusion?

Preponderance of the evidence.

Let me demonstrate:

Please give me a coherent definition of God.

[fr0d0]

If you want to hang out with atheists, put all the religious people on ignore, and go hang out in the Atheism forum.

Yeah I have all the atheists on ignore. (note you're still there lovva!

Please give me a coherent definition of God.

VOID listening for an answer:

[Norfolk And Chance]

You're kidding right?

Isn't going on an atheist forum, ignoring all the atheists and only listening to theists, just a longwinded way of going on a theist forum?

[fr0d0]

Yes Norfolk, I'm kidding. That free lobotomy wasn't such a good idea I think