We need more theistic activity

[The Grand Nudger]

What we need is quality, not quantity. 

[The Valkyrie]

What we need is quality, not quantity. 

So, no chubby theists??

[vulcanlogician]

I agree with the sentiment of this thread, and both Khem and CL make good points. "Quality over quantity."-- "Don't scare them off."

I think that we have some "quality" theists who join the forums and start a thread with an honest (but perhaps logically problematic) post and everyone is like: "WTF!? Burden of proof!-Sky Fairy!-Ignorant!-Fuck off!" And it's overwhelming for some people who otherwise might eventually understand where we are coming from and go on to become a quality contributor.

I think that theists who aren't obv-trolls need to be given the benefit of the doubt, especially if they display openness and willingness to listen.

The best result, IMO, is a theist coming here and learning about atheism, a subject about which he or she might have been poorly informed. I'm not saying we shouldn't put the hard questions to them eventually, but if a person shows a propensity toward logic and reason, perhaps we should be more cordial... approach them at their level at first and show them why we think atheism is reasonable.

We should reserve our savage wit for the trolls, holy rollers, and bigots. Reasonable theists ought to be identified as such and met half way.

PS: Don't forget that many of us were once convinced theists who had questions about atheism.

[Whateverist]

PS: Don't forget that many of us were once convinced theists who had questions about atheism.

Exactly.  If you were talking to yourself back then .. instead of screaming at your old, stupid self .. what would have actually helped you back then?

[ignoramus]

Kit, practice on me! I'll be your theist and will swear to abide by all the proper theistic qualities!
I'll give you the runs for your money. Go! CL can back me up if I get stumped by all the sciency bulldust...

Be warned. I'll probably be using the word "objective" a lot!

[purplepurpose]

Kit, assault Christian Forum strongholds(they don't ban if your cautious). There are dozens of people that can be slain by your common sense.

[Napoléon]

Back when I used to post daily I’d of been one of the first ones to say “fuck off this is our forum, don’t like it then leave!”, but since then I’ve definitely seen the benefit of having multiple points of view.

I think it’s easy for this place (or any forum for that matter) to become an echo chamber. And it’s not always easy to discern the trolls from the uninformed.

[Edwardo Piet]

I agree with the sentiment of this thread, and both Khem and CL make good points. "Quality over quantity."-- "Don't scare them off."

I think that we have some "quality" theists who join the forums and start a thread with an honest (but perhaps logically problematic) post and everyone is like: "WTF!? Burden of proof!-Sky Fairy!-Ignorant!-Fuck off!" And it's overwhelming for some people who otherwise might eventually understand where we are coming from and go on to become a quality contributor.

I think that theists who aren't obv-trolls need to be given the benefit of the doubt, especially if they display openness and willingness to listen.

The best result, IMO, is a theist coming here and learning about atheism, a subject about which he or she might have been poorly informed. I'm not saying we shouldn't put the hard questions to them eventually, but if a person shows a propensity toward logic and reason, perhaps we should be more cordial... approach them at their level at first and show them why we think atheism is reasonable.

We should reserve our savage wit for the trolls, holy rollers, and bigots. Reasonable theists ought to be identified as such and met half way.

PS: Don't forget that many of us were once convinced theists who had questions about atheism.

I agree that if we need more theists to join then we need them to be quality theists and we also need the atheists to stop being rude assholes to them.

I just don't agree that we need more theists to join

When they do join I hope they're both nice and not scared away!

[The Industrial Atheist]

PS: Don't forget that many of us were once convinced theists who had questions about atheism.

Exactly.  If you were talking to yourself back then .. instead of screaming at your old, stupid self .. what would have actually helped you back then?

Yeah, I believed all, or at least almost all the bullshit. Of course I wouldn't have gone to an Atheists forum to convert people. Despite my beliefs, in practice I was rather "Live and Let Live." 

A lot of people shut down when faced with ridicule/embarrassment. I get that this is a forum for Atheists, but I agree with Vulcan and Whatevs.

---

BTW am I the only one that thinks "Theistic Activity" sounds like a paranormal horror movie?

[vorlon13]

Exactly.  If you were talking to yourself back then .. instead of screaming at your old, stupid self .. what would have actually helped you back then?

Yeah, I believed all, or at least almost all the bullshit. Of course I wouldn't have gone to an Atheists forum to convert people. Despite my beliefs, in practice I was rather "Live and Let Live." 

A lot of people shut down when faced with ridicule/embarrassment. I get that this is a forum for Atheists, but I agree with Vulcan and Whatevs.

Even at the very top of the Christian org chart chaos reigns as to who is in charge of the enterprise. The ridicule and embarrassment is well deserved.

Matthew 20 (KJV)
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.


Matthew 28 (KJV)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.