The Intersection of Faith and Doubt: finding common ground.

[XK9_Knight]

Wonderful to meet you all!

I’ll address you all in no particular order.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe any of you "hate" me; I've been talking with atheists at school or work for the last 4 years, and they're just like everybody else (generally swell people). But an odd thing seems to happen when the matter of religion pops up; they use words like, “superstitious or absurd.” I remain stony-faced and the conversation proceeds as normal. So, generally I expect a bit of criticism.

Losty! Thank you for the cookies!
HERESSOMEJELLO!!!



GalacticBusDriver, I didn’t come here to debate. As you may gather, I think debates can be rather pointless. I’ve actually been in one.

… it was awful.


Ignoramus and Jenny, yes, I’m very much interested in “seeing the other side of the coin,” so to speak. And you’re both quite right, we share human traits, but there’s a considerable emotional gap what we believe and our desires in life. I once watched a discussion between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox, and there came a point where they both became still, talking about their eventual deaths. I thought, “My God, this is Richards soft side.” Something I hadn’t seen before.

That resonated with him, and that’s the kind of discussion I’d like to have.


JesusHChrist, ay! More sauce please!


Minimalist, School of Copenhagen I take it? Nice!


CindysRain, hey! It’s hard to find things that aren’t brainwashing us these days, right?

As long as you're not a close minded fundamentalist that supports stoning people to death you'll have no problems interacting with us… most atheists here will constantly disagree with you on god/religion.

Now the magical question, why exactly do you believe?

That’s pretty much a given.

Me? Typical Christian: He lived, died and rose. I don’t think much more explanation is needed?

Also, so what if I want to be closed-minded and stone people who disagree with me? This… IS… MERICA!

Lol.

[Losty]

Oh my hehe. I think we will get along just fine.

Also, I'm not sure about your emotional gap thing. Besides from religion, I think most people believe and desire the same things in life. We believe in being good people, we desire happiness or at least contentness. We search for fulfillment. The difference is just that we may find it in different places.

[Bibliofagus]

Welcome!

[SteelCurtain]

XK9!

We have a few resident theists in the bullpen. You'll find we generally are reserved in our judgment---natural skeptics that we are---about most theists at first. But we are a warm and welcoming community, so long as there is no pulpit time.

Join in and have fun!

[eyemixer]

Welcome!

[Mister Agenda]

I’ll state out right that I am a Christian. Call me what you will, “ignorant, stupid, sheltered,” whatever floats your goat (Perhaps that can be my title instead of Christard?). Nonetheless I’d be very interested in interacting with this community. To be honest I nearly gave up my faith at least twice, although I’m not sure what kept me from it (a story for another time, I suppose).

You'd have got off to a better start without the presumption that we'll be bastards to you.

Put more simply what do you and I agree on; do we share some common ground?

It would be a bit odd if there wasn't a single thing we agree on. Our theist visitors don't usually come here seeking conversation with atheists on things we might agree on though, unless they're searching for a 'gotcha!'. Hopefully, that's not you.

I don’t expect to find this “rich, resonant” question right away; part of the fun with questions like these are in the discussion. But, let’s not entertain the possibility that is no common ground unless it comes to that point, shall we?

Welcome to the forum. There are plenty of topics that could fit the bill you're describing.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Hullo OP, welcome to the forum

[XK9_Knight]

You'd have got off to a better start without the presumption that we'll be bastards to you.

“Bastards” is such a strong word, perhaps “unsympathetic” is more accurate. Like I said, I remain “stony-faced”…

I’m not offended by being called “superstitious,” it’s just what seems to pop up in conversations with atheists. And who could blame them? We’re discussing things on opposite ends of an intellectual spectrum.

Secondly, I believe a little self-deprecation is appropriate.

It would be a bit odd if there wasn't a single thing we agree on. Our theist visitors don't usually come here seeking conversation with atheists on things we might agree on though, unless they're searching for a 'gotcha!'. Hopefully, that's not you.

Oh dammit, you got me! :p

Seriously though, I think what Losty had to say was quite apt.

… I think most people believe and desire the same things in life.

I think there are many things, Mister Agenda, which you and I would agree on; I’m sure we’d agree that football and chocolate are awesome!
(and if you don’t agree we can’t be friends)
(But I might be willing to overlook that defect because you seem like a cool person)

But how can I connect with people like yourself on a level that’s about something more than just the superficial? I’d like to explore that.

[Losty]

Seriously though, I think what Losty had to say was quite apt.

… I think most people believe and desire the same things in life.

But how can I connect with people like yourself on a level that’s about something more than just the superficial? I’d like to explore that.

Actually what I said there, I was referring to things that are not superficial.

Like most people, I believe in love, empathy, hope, kindness, charity, etc.
the only difference between myself and most theists is that I believe we as human beings are naturally inclined to lean towards these things and away from things like hatred, apathy, despair, cruelty, and total selfishness because of evolution. Because it benefits is as a community, a society, and a species. Where theists tend to believe this way because their deity has given them objective morality.


I desire fulfillment and happiness just as most theists do but I just find it it a different place.
I desire to make the most of my life just as theists do, it's my reasoning for this desire that may differ from yours but we still desire mostly the same things.

Where as on a superficial level we probably actually have less in common. I think American football is boring and confusing and I actually don't really care for sports much at all. Chocolate is always nice but it's messy and hard to clean up afterwards so I prefer to leave it out.

[Confused Ape]

Hello. Hope you enjoy the forum.