So, why are we here .. on this forum?

[Rayaan]

[pocaracas]

Why are we here?
To chat, learn, try to teach... get frustrated, laugh... forum stuff!
I came looking for the arguments of believers for maintaining their belief and to see how they could be countered.... while trying to counter them myself.
All this because I've met a priest, catholic, Opus Dei, who wanted to talk with me... to help me with any doubts I had... well, I figured I should learn what it is he could possibly tell me and be prepared to tell him how things are in the real world.
I've learned of Pascal's Wager, logical falacies (strawman and red herring seem to be the most common), quantum fluctuations, some History and possibly some other things while here on this forum.... thanks to all for that!


Unfortunately, the priest had a serious health problem and is no more among us.... Yet, here I remain... peace!

[Whateverist]

[Faith No More]

I came here because I used to have interesting conversations with my friends who were all non-religious, but as we got older we all moved our separate ways and don't talk very often. I came here looking for those same type of conversations and was quite pleased with what I found.

Plus, it is so cathartic as an American atheist to talk to like-minded people. It's not that people are overtly pushing their beliefs in my face, but religion has a huge impact on our culture. It's nice to have a group of people to whom I can say, "So, how about that silly god shit?"

[Whateverist]

Plus, it is so cathartic as an American atheist to talk to like-minded people.

I think it is also cathartic to tell some pompous idiot thumping a bible and warning us of hell fire that they just aren't all that.

[Nine]

I have no friends. Certainly no friends that want to talk about anything that is discussed on here. I like that people on here have the balls to disagree passionately and not have hard feelings towards each other afterwards. I think anger and passion get mistaken for one another.

Fuck having a mission free roam is far more fun.

[frz]

Fuck! I had the same idea for a thread the other day. Mmm!

[The Grand Nudger]

I'm always looking for some counterpoint to my appraisal of religion and the religious. A redemptive claim, lol. There used to be people in my life who could hold a conversation about religious faith (it's history, it's myriad incarnations, it's value) without any of the garbage we so often see attached - and I'm always looking to recapture that. I've also had a recent god infusion into my family - and so it's become an issue that talking about to friends and loved ones (who are pretty much entirely family in both categories at this point) has become a no-no.

That and I can't fucking stand to read the ridiculous shit that people whose education completely failed them write about topics in biology and anthropology - particularly. It's either here or at the top of my lungs to the next douche in the walmart with a pamphlet - and I have to go back to said walmart to buy diapers.

[Tonus]

I don't much care what someone's beliefs are, I'm more interested in how those beliefs are justified (or not). My motivation is to challenge my own beliefs and to keep myself honest.

This is my approach, to see what others believe and how it compares to the way I viewed the world when I was a believer.

[Whateverist]

That and I can't fucking stand to read the ridiculous shit that people whose education completely failed them write about topics in biology and anthropology - particularly.

That can really be irritating. Sometimes people who believe they have god on speed dialing act as though books and education are superfluous when you can just ask the big guy for the answer. Others wrap themselves with the cloak of humbleness, positioning themselves for inheriting the earth an all that. There just aren't good reasons for remaining a dumb ass.