Do religious beliefs actually have any significant bearing on moral decision making?

[pathos]

At worst, three or four people could be accused of something akin to not rolling out a red carpet and handing the OP a bouquet of roses, and that was enough to get a mod to ask folks to calm down. As many people went ahead and answered the OP. The forum start page indicates that 124 members have visited the site in the past 24 hours; I have no idea how many of those were in the ~9 or so hours since this topic was started, but it seems reasonable to assume at least a couple dozen.

I think it's a bit of an overreaction to compare it to bullying.

"Personally, if you are a student, you are doing a sloppy job."

See number 2. http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/5-signs...00647.html

Something Kayenneh has perhaps also fallen victim of "got butthurt when people pointed it out to you and asked you to introduce yourself.. Yeah, how rude of us!" Hardly constructive criticism, and I think my point has gone right over your head so I will repeat it again.

It seems much of the ill-feeling is based on highly misplaced intellectual snobbery. "As people who clearly pride themselves as not being of a religious bent, what does it say that you unite around a common cause of belittling the person who didn't engage in the 'rite' of introducing himself and asking the correct group leaders for permission?"

In my opinion it doesn't need every single person to take part in bullying to mean that 3 or 4 people have been deliberately hostile.

But yes I do accept that many people were extremely welcoming and offered constructive criticism and/or advice.

And again to hark back to the point on needing a thicker skin, I would refer you to Stewart Lee's stand up on "it's just a joke" before I begin to respond in kind and suggest you just need a thicker skin.

[pocaracas]

As people who clearly pride themselves as not being of a religious bent, what does it say that you unite around a common cause of belittling the person who didn't engage in the 'rite' of introducing himself and asking the correct group leaders for permission?

As the first guy who actually replied to your questionnaire....

How would you react if you were hanging around with a group of friends and some guy stepped in and started asking you all a few questions? No introduction, no nothing, just a "please, fill these out as best you can".

You probably wouldn't do that to other people in the face, why do you do it here? Just as in real life, it's impolite.
Regardless of our "religious bent", we are people and we don't like being treated impolitely.... remember the Jim Jeffries first... and only... commandment: Don't be a cunt!

[pathos]

As people who clearly pride themselves as not being of a religious bent, what does it say that you unite around a common cause of belittling the person who didn't engage in the 'rite' of introducing himself and asking the correct group leaders for permission?

As the first guy who actually replied to your questionnaire....

How would you react if you were hanging around with a group of friends and some guy stepped in and started asking you all a few questions? No introduction, no nothing, just a "please, fill these out as best you can".

You probably wouldn't do that to other people in the face, why do you do it here? Just as in real life, it's impolite.
Regardless of our "religious bent", we are people and we don't like being treated impolitely.... remember the Jim Jeffries first... and only... commandment: Don't be a cunt!

I would say that this is an open forum and that people didn't need to click on my thread or engage in it.
I would offer another piece of common wisdom to such people and say "If you haven't got anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."

[Kayenneh]

In my opinion it doesn't need every single person to take part in bullying to mean that 3 or 4 people have been deliberately hostile.

Well, that's only your opinion. Bullying is defined as repeated, aggressive behavior over a longer period of time, intended to gain power over another person. Since you have been here for only one day and since I don't think anyone feels the need to gain power over you, you are not being bullied.

Hardly constructive criticism

It wasn't criticism and thus not supposed to be constructive.

It seems much of the ill-feeling is based on highly misplaced intellectual snobbery.

Says the arrogant person, who can't apologize for being wrong.

[pathos]

In my opinion it doesn't need every single person to take part in bullying to mean that 3 or 4 people have been deliberately hostile.

Well, that's only your opinion. Bullying is defined as repeated, aggressive behavior over a longer period of time, intended to gain power over another person. Since you have been here for only one day and since I don't think anyone feels the need to gain power over you, you are not being bullied.

Hardly constructive criticism

It wasn't criticism and thus not supposed to be constructive.

It seems much of the ill-feeling is based on highly misplaced intellectual snobbery.

Says the arrogant person, who can't apologize for being wrong.

I beg to differ your behaviour is highly territorial. I can assure you I have absolutely nothing I would wish to apologise for and it is another example of your attempts to gain power over me that you indicate I am indebted to do so.
I think that 4 people like this comment says enough "How would you react if you were hanging around with a group of friends and some guy stepped in and started asking you all a few questions? No introduction, no nothing, just a "please, fill these out as best you can".

You probably wouldn't do that to other people in the face, why do you do it here? Just as in real life, it's impolite."

It is a highly reductive metaphor and suggests that I can't come to an open forum, and make a new thread as I'm "interrupting friends" and am being rude. It is an open forum, it is not your territory. You are even beginning to lose sight of your own argument. Frankly it is alarming that that comment received so much appreciation. Although I commend it for being worded politely, the metaphor misses the point completely.

[Minimalist]

How can you research the effects of religion on morality, without considering the immoral acts perpetrated by religious organizations? You're only looking at a piece of the puzzle, not the entire picture.

Because, by definition, when jesus freaks commit atrocities they are not atrocities but instruments of divine justice.

With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.

Steven Weinberg

[rexbeccarox]

There are five pages of some rudeness, some constructive criticism, and some answering of your questions. Almost everyone who has participated in this thread has made suggestions, politely and rudely, as to how you could go about being better received here, and therefore likely garnering the information you need, but you stubbornly declined.

Why don't you browse the introductions forum a bit to see how we normally treat newbies? Forums are run by the people who frequent them. Yes, even "open" forums. You don't get to dictate how we, as a community (because that's what we are), choose to conduct them until you've established yourself as a part of that community.

[Kayenneh]

I beg to differ your behaviour is highly territorial.

It's highly territorial because I'm a moderator. Or do you suggest that I shouldn't do my job?

I can assure you I have absolutely nothing I would wish to apologise for

Of course not, because you are of the opinion that you haven't broken any rules, though I already proved you wrong on that point.

You probably wouldn't do that to other people in the face, why do you do it here? Just as in real life, it's impolite."

I beg to differ. I have no scruples whatsoever about telling people in their faces that they behave like asses.

It is a highly reductive metaphor and suggests that I can't come to an open forum, and make a new thread as I'm "interrupting friends" and am being rude. It is an open forum, it is not your territory.

Yes, everyone it allowed to join, but when you do, you will submit to the rules or there will be consequences. You failed to do so and here we are.

[pathos]

There are five pages of some rudeness, some constructive criticism, and some answering of your questions. Almost everyone who has participated in this thread has made suggestions, politely and rudely, as to how you could go about being better received here, and therefore likely garnering the information you need, but you stubbornly declined.

Why don't you browse the introductions forum a bit to see how we normally treat newbies? Forums are run by the people who frequent them. Yes, even "open" forums. You don't get to dictate how we, as a community (because that's what we are), choose to conduct them until you've established yourself as a part of that community.

I feel that is a very accurate summary of the situation.

I have no wish to change your community as I won't be participating again but in my opinion I don't feel you have to establish yourself as part of a community to make correct judgements upon unfair practice.

I feel that whether or not it was right to post this thread (which if this forum purports to allow freedom of speech would be the former) that it was not needed to take pleasure in my mistake and to constantly ridicule it time and time again, question my academic standards, call me lazy, arrogant, "butthurt", stupid etc.

I genuinely believe you don't have a very welcoming or nice community here. Not because you all mistreated me but because you are happy to turn a blind eye to it because it is just the "freshman" who posted the thread before introducing himself anyway. Maybe You should try and practice what you preach, as many of you have bragged about the clear moral distinctions there would be between Atheists and religious people, and seem to be under the impression no scientific evidence is needed for this claim. At least the religious people unanimously welcomed me into their forums and answered my questions. Farewell.

---

I beg to differ your behaviour is highly territorial.

It's highly territorial because I'm a moderator. Or do you suggest that I shouldn't do my job?

I can assure you I have absolutely nothing I would wish to apologise for

Of course not, because you are of the opinion that you haven't broken any rules, though I already proved you wrong on that point.

You probably wouldn't do that to other people in the face, why do you do it here? Just as in real life, it's impolite."

I beg to differ. I have no scruples whatsoever about telling people in their faces that they behave like asses.

It is a highly reductive metaphor and suggests that I can't come to an open forum, and make a new thread as I'm "interrupting friends" and am being rude. It is an open forum, it is not your territory.

Yes, everyone it allowed to join, but when you do, you will submit to the rules or there will be consequences. You failed to do so and here we are.

Final point - lol @Kayenneh you actually try and argue with a post you already gave "kudos" to. "Quote:
You probably wouldn't do that to other people in the face, why do you do it here? Just as in real life, it's impolite."

I beg to differ. I have no scruples whatsoever about telling people in their faces that they behave like asses." I didn't write this. You really do just argue with anything you seem to think I have written.

[rexbeccarox]

So you expect us to be friendly, but don't feel you have an obligation to offer the same?

Don't bump your enormous head on the door jamb on your way out.