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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 15, 2015 at 9:51 pm
(April 15, 2015 at 2:43 pm)abaris Wrote: I don't move in circles where the topic comes up. Can't say, outside of this board, I ever had a discussion about religion. Truth be told, I don't even know if my brother, his wife or my nephew are religious. They certainly don't go to church. That much I know, but we never talked about it, since there never was any reason to do so.
More or less the same with me. Kind of a shame, though. My "your god broke my legs" line is so fun to use. I'd like more opportunities.
"I was thirsty for everything, but blood wasn't my style" - Live, "Voodoo Lady"
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 15, 2015 at 10:27 pm
"Do you argue with religious people?"
Often and harshly.
Playing Cluedo with my mum while I was at Uni:
"You did WHAT? With WHO? WHERE???"
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 15, 2015 at 11:16 pm
I don't initiate it,but if they ask I tell them.
ALL PRAISE THE ONE TRUE GOD ZALGO
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 16, 2015 at 12:53 am
I used to needle my god believing younger brother about about his beliefs. But he just seems so depressed I've given it up. Now I just encourage him to hold his beliefs reasonably and defensibly. I don't get any pleasure from busting people's chops over god belief unless they're aggressively provocative. It's their call. Don't care.
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 17, 2015 at 8:44 am
I will only argue if someone try's "saving my soul". I tend to talk on the phone a bit loud on my deck so I have every neighbor in my apartment wanting to convert me.. I just need to stop talking to my atheist friends on the phone outside... dang.. i don't have really any non-atheist friends.
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 17, 2015 at 9:02 am
Quite frequently yes. However...I'm beginning to think doing so is a waste of time for both parties.
Quite simply if someone isn't ready to convert or de-convert, then nothing you say will change that. And if someone is ready, then they won't really need any encouragement either way.
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 17, 2015 at 4:18 pm
(This post was last modified: April 17, 2015 at 4:19 pm by henryp.)
One important (or at least interesting) reason to talk with religious people, is understanding why they are religious. Try to identify the societal and evolutionary tools used to prey on their various biological desires.
I say it's important and/or interesting, because those tools aren't just used in religion. Politics, advertising, society, nature, it's all trying to flip switches to get you (and often as many people as possible) to behave in a certain way. All designed to control our behavior.
With religion, you've already identified the idea as bullshit, so getting an understanding of why someone believes it, and how people got them to believe it, and why they continue believing it is an excellent study of human nature.
Nationalism for example, is another one. They have 5 years pledging allegiance to an inanimate object. You have to stand and take your hat off for the national anthem. Athletes are always applauding the troops. Vets get standing ovations in sports arenas on military appreciation day. I think of all these things, and how it must look to a 5-17 year old watching everybody they care about and look up to standing and applauding the troops and thanking them for their sacrifice...etc...
And then when they turn 18, there's the recruiter. It's diabolical.
That shit is everywhere, in so many facets of our lives. Even if you don't care practically, it's super interesting (to me anyways) just to observe it as a hobby. And the more people you can look at and understand, the easier it is to pick up on this stuff.
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 20, 2015 at 4:56 am
(This post was last modified: April 20, 2015 at 4:57 am by MJ the Skeptical.)
Oh my yes, I love a good challenge, even from other atheists.
I have an atheist youtube channel, an atheist gamer tag, atheist username on other forums. I guess I'm asking for it...
If the hypothetical idea of an afterlife means more to you than the objectively true reality we all share, then you deserve no respect.
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 20, 2015 at 9:39 am
I want to but I'm afraid I might pop a vein
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RE: Do you argue with religious people?
April 20, 2015 at 10:56 pm
I was a stong atheist, at the time I first signed up here at AF. I learned a bit about logic, and theistic arguement, before I went to see my estranged Father in Queensland. We clashed a great deal, and he was telling me that I was with Satan. It wasn't good for our relationship - what was left of it in the first place, and my arguing (I think) wasn't to blame.
Now I think it's sometimes better to censor yourself when you're talking to someone who you would like to keep in your life than to argue against the persons most cherished idealism. Nonetheless, I'd still prefer to be able to be honest with a person, and if they can't accept that I have a different point of view then maybe that person isn't worth keeping in my life.
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