What is preaching and why is it banned

[Shell B]

Frodo, preaching is preaching and it most certainly happens here often.

No, providing scripture in response to a request for scripture is not preaching. Providing that scripture with a list of things atheists or a particular atheist is doing wrong is preaching. Telling someone why they cannot see god and how to go about doing so is preaching. Sticking to the topic without trying to convert is perfectly fine. Calling everyone sinners and saying they are going to hell is not. It's preaching.

Can atheists preach? Sure they can. Does it happen often here? No. Most of the atheists here do not waste their time trying to convince theists. They just tell it like they see it.

I'm going to reiterate something that I say to every person who bitches at me about who gets warnings and who doesn't. The only way to know a person has had a warning is to ask. It is done in private, more often than not. Therefore, any person who busts out an "atheists don't get in trouble and theists do" is talking out of their ass. While it could be true, you would have no way of knowing it. Funny how it often comes from those who think their gut feeling is proof of anything. That being said, atheists do get warned. It's up to them if any of them want to reveal that to you. I will not.

[fr0d0]

Thanks Cinjin. Good point about the attention seeking

Thank you for the detailed answer Shell. So would it be right to say that it isn't preaching if something is specifically requested? Other than that, and opinion should be qualified as Rhythm has outlined above.

'Telling people they are going to hell' is a way of saying something in the language of the religion. Personally I'd try to put that into common language, as I think a lot of religious language is loaded and causes people to shut off immediately. It would me so I would understand anyone else feeling that way. But then people espousing those words say that it's your guilt making those associations.

I strongly disagree that a lot of atheists here aren't set on deconverting people from theism, but I fully understand why you wouldn't see that. I'm not whining about that. I just acknowledge it. People have straight out said it, but likewise I will leave that to them to disclose that information to you if they see fit.

I know very well that atheists are warned about rule breaking in exactly the same way. Thing is... this is a place where atheist views are default. Just like in a Christian church, only preaching which agrees with the place's ethos flies. Not complaining about that. It's completely ok.

[Rayaan]

I strongly disagree that a lot of atheists here aren't set on deconverting people from theism, but I fully understand why you wouldn't see that. I'm not whining about that. I just acknowledge it. People have straight out said it, but likewise I will leave that to them to disclose that information to you if they see fit.

I agree with you that many atheists in this forum will try to deconvert us from theism. If not, then, at least they would like for us to deconvert by ourselves. In other words, maybe they are hoping that all these religious discussions will make us think more logically about our beliefs and then, maybe some time in the future, this can have an influence on us to certain extent and perhaps even lead us to deconvert ourselves from our religion. However, I'm not saying that there is something wrong about this. I think this is perfectly okay. They are presenting their own opinions and expecting us to agree with them. This is something that everyone does and this is just human nature.

[Cinjin]

They are presenting their own opinions and expecting us to agree with them.

This is the only sentence I disagree with you about. I do not expect any theist to agree with. It's great when it happens, but I don't expect it. Especially from someone like you Rayaan. You are not offensive to me. Like me, you are not trying to sell what you believe. You answer when asked. You tell people what it is you happen to believe ... just like me. That is all I ever want from anyone. I can't speak for anyone else here, but I have no problem with several of the christians I know. They respect others and keep their religion to themselves. In turn I NEVER bust their balls about it. Ever. Unfortunately, you are part of the minority. Most Christians will openly admit that they have an "obligation" to get me to see the "sweet love of jesus." More often than not, they end up condemning me to hell rather than showing me anything remotely resembling "love".

[Rayaan]

I do not expect any theist to agree with. It's great when it happens, but I don't expect it.

Yeah, that's what I meant to say actually. I was saying you "expect" us to agree with your opinions in the sense that you would like for this to happen, or you want this to happen, and similarly you just said that it is great when it happens. But, I don't mean to say that this is a bad thing at all. Everyone does this. Afterall, that is basically the purpose of debates, i.e. to tell someone why they are wrong and try to make them agree with you. Having said that, yes, I know that you don't really care either way as long as a theist is not openly trying to convert you or preaching to you. So, I respect that also.