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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 7, 2017 at 8:50 pm
I don't see the point in joining a Christian forum, any more than I would join a Buddhist, Muslim or Wiccan forum. People create internet spaces like these primarily to talk with like-minded people. It seem clear that no one is going to change anyone's mind regarding religion - at least not on an online message board - so the only real point in joining a forum dedicated to a specific religion is to be disruptive. Not interested.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 7, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Basically, if you either agree with them about religion or don't talk religion you're fine. The thing is religious forums are not about questioning religion. They are about supporting religious beliefs and religious believers.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 7, 2017 at 8:58 pm
(March 7, 2017 at 8:50 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: I don't see the point in joining a Christian forum, any more than I would join a Buddhist, Muslim or Wiccan forum. People create internet spaces like these primarily to talk with like-minded people. It seem clear that no one is going to change anyone's mind regarding religion - at least not on an online message board - so the only real point in joining a forum dedicated to a specific religion is to be disruptive. Not interested.
Boru
Bold mine.
Why? I think Neo-Scholastic and Catholic Lady are great examples of the benefits of having people with different metaphysical positions on this forum. I have always assumed they are a part of this forum because they want to get to know people that by virtue of their beliefs they may not get to know as easily in their day to day lives. Expanding your horizons seems like it has benefits to both parties.
I do agree if you go to a Christian forum and start listing out reasons why they should be atheists, then you are a fucking dick. But that doesn't seem to be the only reason an atheist might want to join a theist forum.
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 7, 2017 at 9:19 pm
Out of curiosity I looked in on one. It read only a few posts before deciding it was the same old shit I dislike about Christianity (and other religions) so I went back to atheist forums where people can speak freely and, for the most part, not be judged to harshly if at all. Nah, not about to sign up on one of those.
Robert
Today is the best day of my life and tomorrow will be even better.
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 7, 2017 at 9:49 pm
I joined a Christian forum a few years ago as an atheist. It was mostly people trying to convert me but I remember people being generally as pleasant as one can be over the internet. Wouldn't call it a negative experience, definitely mixed.
“Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher.
It is the air and light of every heart – builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody – for music is the voice of love.
Love is the magician, the enchanter, that changes worthless things to Joy, and makes royal kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.” - Robert. G. Ingersoll
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 8, 2017 at 11:22 am
(March 7, 2017 at 8:46 pm)Aristocatt Wrote: First Experience:
christianforums.com
I opted not to register because there are a dozen subforums only for Christians to post in.
I can't say that I blame them. I can understand why they do it...but in general I don't think it's very appropriate.
Second Experience:
worthychristianforum.com
It seems to be politically motivated. There was an I stand with Isreal petition(not an ad) being advertised at the top of the forum.
In general I don't join forums where admins use their power like this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowledge we don't have a subforum where only atheists can post. Here's a nickel, give me five pennies is not my idea of a discussion.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 8, 2017 at 11:29 am
(This post was last modified: March 8, 2017 at 11:31 am by Aristocatt.)
(March 8, 2017 at 11:22 am)Rhondazvous Wrote: Correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowledge we don't have a subforum where only atheists can post. Here's a nickel, give me five pennies is not my idea of a discussion.
We do not, and I believe that that is the right way to handle the forum!
That being said, for every subforum that says Christians only, they have a subforum for Non-Christians as well. And the non-Christian ones seem to get much more traffic. I disagree(quite strongly) with the decision to do it, but I can understand why they would want to do it. I looked at a few other Christian forums, and honestly the one with the Christian only subforums seemed like the best option.
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 8, 2017 at 12:13 pm
(March 7, 2017 at 8:58 pm)Aristocatt Wrote: Bold mine.
Why? I think Neo-Scholastic and Catholic Lady are great examples of the benefits of having people with different metaphysical positions on this forum. I have always assumed they are a part of this forum because they want to get to know people that by virtue of their beliefs they may not get to know as easily in their day to day lives. Expanding your horizons seems like it has benefits to both parties.
I do agree if you go to a Christian forum and start listing out reasons why they should be atheists, then you are a fucking dick. But that doesn't seem to be the only reason an atheist might want to join a theist forum.
I'd like to see myself going to a Christian forum and asking them to expand their horizons because talking about atheism would be beneficial.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 8, 2017 at 1:45 pm
It was a science forum, and I was posting in the 'anything goes' area about atheism and especially anti-Mormonism and actually got some heat about it there. That section of the fora was clearly marked with warnings about content and staying out if you had problems with controversial opinions. And I was being hassled by some members of the mod staff who apparently were unaware of how that area of their board worked. I remain mystified as to that entire episode.
And despite it being a science forum, they definitely had no standards about biology. There was some literally unbelievable crap posted about human evolution (which they accepted) regarding the human genome containing a bizarre admixture of primate and herbivore DNA. I ran afoul of that topic since it is so outré there isn't (wasn't?) anything to refute it with on the internet. I thought I was being poe'd, and as it dawned on me they were serious about believing it (or at least believing it was so far irrefutable) it became very difficult for me to remain there as a member.
Hate to say this, but I've been PM'd about either returning (I lurk very infrequently but don't post) or revealing where I went. I'm not adverse to shilling for fresh meat here, but to date, no one I consider even 'minimally' acceptable has stepped up yet.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
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RE: Experience of Atheists on Christian Forums
March 10, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Joined one once; tried to post a reply to a creationist thread. Had to submit my post for moderator approval.
Needless to say it never appeared and I left.
Quote:I don't understand why you'd come to a discussion forum, and then proceed to reap from visibility any voice that disagrees with you. If you're going to do that, why not just sit in front of a mirror and pat yourself on the back continuously?
- Esquilax
Evolution - Adapt or be eaten.
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