So many atheists?

IFX

Most of the people who post on this forum are atheists?
Why is that?
1. Do we enjoy recking heads?
2. Do we enjoy a lively discussion with a different view?
3. Are we lonely or something?
4. Opposites attract?
5. Conversion attempts?
6. Deep down we are unsure?
What is the motivation?
Your comments...

Funsterdelux

Maybe atheists have spent more time informing themselves with knowledge about christianity(and other religions) and are more competent in discussing christian subjects/arguments, than your general joe christian,

its just an idea

Zombrex

IFX wrote:

What is the motivation?
Your comments...

I tend to only post on threads where Christians are attempting to subvert science/history/logic to support their religious dogma. If I see a flaw, some error or something just down right silly, I will throw in a comment or two (or a few hundred on the Creationists thread).

As a mod once said this isn't a thread for christians, it is a thread for discussing christianity. Christianity is still a very influential force in western society and as such the currently held views and opinons of Christians influence atheists as much as anyone else.

Asiaprod

IFX wrote:

Most of the people who post on this forum are atheists?
Why is that?

1. Do we enjoy recking heads.......Us! never.
2. Do we enjoy a lively discussion with a different view.......of course
3. Are we lonely or something.........NO
4. Opposites attract?.............always
5. Conversion attempts................would we do that?
6. Deep down we are unsure..................:eek: NO
What is the motivation.................Its nice here?

Joking aside, it is a very interesting question.

BrianCalgary

Face it, you love us.

hairyheretic

I enjoy a discussion. If you are where everyone thinks the same way you do, its going to cut into the odds of a good arguement somewhat

robindch

> What is the motivation?

First off, I enjoy a good debate. It forces me to consider things that I don't normally consider and come to a reasoned understanding of them. It also forces me to look up, reference and understand things that I wouldn't normally read up on, which widens my angle of view. I like that and I've learnt quite a lot about many things in the last 18 months or so around here, and have changed some of my views on account of this. Much thanks to all for the sometimes inadvertent prodding.

Secondly, I'd like to understand why people adhere to religious beliefs with such tenacity. It used to be a complete mystery to me why people would place vast amounts of personal political capital in the literal truth of a book full of dream-like or incoherent stories, but as has become clear, it's not as simple as that at all. There's a lot of fascinating internal psychology, general societal and evolutionary things going on too.

Finally, sometimes it's very funny, either intentionally (you know who you are), or unintentionally (you probably don't). And, of course, I'm still trying to find out how some posters are able to turn on their computers, when their understanding of the world past the end of their noses would discredit a wet fart in february.

Asiaprod

BrianCalgary wrote:

Face it, you love us.

Indeed:) And I also go with robindch answer, you can learn an awful lot here.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

because it's all part of gods plan for us.

duh

aidan_walsh

Are all camps really so different, in the end?

Scofflaw

aidan_walsh wrote:

Are all camps really so different, in the end?

! Yes.

Mostly I'm here for the same reasons as Wicknight - Creationism and all its little wizards. However, I do also find myself arguing with explanations of, and recommendations for, social and personal phenomena that Christian posters "have the answers to".

Altogether, that comes to arguing with the Christian worldview wherever its answers to moral, social, or physical things comes straight out of the funny Book, as interpreted by whatever loonie happens to be quoting it.

If I lived in the Middle East, I'd argue with Muslims, and their loonies, and their funny book.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Schuhart

Scofflaw wrote:

If I lived in the Middle East, I'd argue with Muslims, and their loonies, and their funny book.

I made a solemn declaration recently that I was going back to slagging all traditions equally. Oh, well.

If you lived in the Middle East, exactly how long do you think you'd be let broadcast the view that Mohammed was no more divinely inspired than the cat, and the Quran is just another garbled version of the same old nonsense that you'll find in the Bible, which was originally pilfered from somewhere else anyway, all dumbed down for Bedouin tribesmen? Or something like that?

Scofflaw

Schuhart wrote:

I made a solemn declaration recently that I was going back to slagging all traditions equally. Oh, well.

If you lived in the Middle East, exactly how long do you think you'd be let broadcast the view that Mohammed was no more divinely inspired than the cat, and the Quran is just another garbled version of the same old nonsense that you'll find in the Bible, which was originally pilfered from somewhere else anyway, all dumbed down for Bedouin tribesmen? Or something like that?

Well, from the (relative) safety of Internet anonymity, I reckon a decent while! If I was Israeli, of course, pretty much as long as we still had bombs - although in that case I'd probably argue contra Judaism.

However, you raise a good point - that one of the reasons we're on the Christianity board is that most Christians are prepared to verbally defend their religion without getting too badly upset. Some would argue that this shows how far Christianity is aware of its weaknesses - others would argue it shows that Christians are confident of their faith.

Having said that, there are Christian posters who are entirely unable to accept criticism of their faith. I can't really answer whether Muslims are more or less likely to take offence, because I don't generally argue with them.

At the end of the day, I am, as they say in the North, a Catholic atheist!

cordially,
Scofflaw

Schuhart

Scofflaw wrote:

At the end of the day, I am, as they say in the North, a Catholic atheist!

In my view, lapsed Catholicism is the one true faith. It has the added advantage that you can still use holy water when battling vampires.

On the general question, I am aware of that danger of drawing up a league table of religions sorted by collateral damage inflicted on non-adherents. All I would suggest is diversifying discussion to other faiths when the opportunity presents (which is rarely on the Islam forum). At the end of the day, I'm all for empirical research on this question and interested in the conclusions other might come to.

mountainyman

In some cases I really do think it is just to be annoying.

Atheists on this forum set up a series of straw men and knock them down. I understand Brian's loose moderation style but people are often rude about the practise of religion in a way that is irritating and tedious.

MM

Zombrex

mountainyman wrote:

Atheists on this forum set up a series of straw men and knock them down.

And how!

mountainyman wrote:

I understand Brian's loose moderation style but people are often rude about the practise of religion in a way that is irritating and tedious.

He has the benefit of the infinate compassion and forgiveness of his religion to draw on.

Sangre

Every Irish person is affected by Christianity in some shape or form, whether its through the interaction with peers, a lobbying group, childhood education or the whims of the legislature.

Although I really don't see the point in debate of faith though, how can you put forward a logical, rational arguement for/against something that is clearly not based on these criteria?

robindch

> Atheists on this forum set up a series of straw men and knock them down.

Could you give an example of something which falls into that category?

Nalz

religion - books, wars, arguements, people at keyboards, deaths, prayers bla bla, bla bla, bla bla.

on both sides of the coin, people have missed the point. Whether Jesus or any other Godly holy figure existed (im not saying he did/did not) - there a message left for us all, the jist of it is somethin like this:

love & care about one another and do to others what you would like to be done to you. treat one another the same way. live life the best and most the honest way possible

all this worshiping, praying and arguing IMO is not the way to go. Especially in public. It breeths fear, anger and authority. People can have there beliefs but conflict is not necessary. Kids not being let into schools cas they're Catholic/Prodestant etc...WHAT A LOAD OF BULLSHíT. nowadays if you thought something bad of a person of a different skin youd be locked up. Yet its okay to have conflict because of beliefs.

heres one belief you should all live by:

- respect one another and live life the best way you can

and your church:

- is the world your living in right now. so start worshiping and respecting that, and the people in it. Im sure any one of your Gods would be happy enough with that...if s/he wasnt, i wouldnt want them as a God, choice or no choice.

good old religion.

Dades

Scofflaw wrote:

However, you raise a good point - that one of the reasons we're on the Christianity board is that most Christians are prepared to verbally defend their religion without getting too badly upset.

Actually if you read the sticky in the Islam forum you'll note that critisizing or even challanging the faith is a bannable offence. Kid gloves or what.

Obviously "Islam" in the context of the forum name equates to "Christian" rather than "Christianity".

Nevyn

You can dislike it, disagree with it and say you think it is hooey but you have to respect people's right to believe and practice as they wish.

Out of all the zealots I have ever encountered the ones I have found the most offensive are the scathing atheists.

robindch

> You can dislike it, disagree with it and say you think it is hooey but you
> have to respect people's right to believe and practice as they wish.

I don't think anybody has disrespected anybody's right to believe what they want to, or to stood in the way of practicing whatever they want. Several threads to this effect have come and gone in the atheism/agnostic forum, with the only point of disagreement arose over whether or not the belief itself should be respected.

> Out of all the zealots I have ever encountered the ones I have found
> the most offensive are the scathing atheists.

Looking up 'zealot' on google, it seems that the word originally meant somebody who's jealous on behalf of a deity. Perhaps not the best word to describe atheists

Nevyn

Oh I know it's meanings and using it in that context amuses me.

Zombrex

Thaedydal wrote:

You can dislike it, disagree with it and say you think it is hooey but you have to respect people's right to believe and practice as they wish.

Agreed.

Thaedydal wrote:

Out of all the zealots I have ever encountered the ones I have found the most offensive are the scathing atheists.

I would have to disagree with that though.

I find it quite offensive to be told that I am immoral, selfish, uncaring and evil because I am an atheist, as I myself, and the rest of the atheists I know, are often told on this forum.

It is one thing to say that what someone believes in is nonsense. It is another thing to say that because they believe (or don't believe) that they themselves are immoral and/or evil .

MeditationMom

I think atheist are trying to "fight" the "evil" that exists or comes out of all religions while at the same time intrigued with the grains of truth in them. Example being the Golden Rule and good stuff like that. The same is true for religious people. Fighting the "evil" in atheist's thinking but intrigued with their obvious logic and truth. We're all brothers and sisters here

Would you consider the Dalai Lama an atheist, proclaiming that "his religion is kindness?" Something one could claim as an atheist or as any religious person, as well.

For that matter are Buddhists atheists since they do not believe in God, but have plenty of strange beliefs that are not provable?

Do atheists have any strange, unprovable beliefs? Non-religious ones, like the material, three-dimensional world we live in is the only reality? Or, if you buy a Porsche you get the girl? There must be some - we are a gullible species. Easily fooled by our five senses, and daily advertising. Come on, one atheist please admit to a stupid belief of some sort

Anyway, here's to Boards.ie, where we surely are having a lot of fun talking to each other. I have learned so much in the last few months. It is also impressive how respectful people are even when quite frustrated with each other. In some of the US forums I have visited it all deteriorates pretty quickly into foul language and crazy accusations. Pretty boring. I have not yet found a multi-religious site, they are all just one faith, usually. Not much more than feel-good-clubs of the like-minded. So busy here, I don't have much time to really explore what else is out there.

Nevyn

:P we live in 4 deminsions don't forget time

Schuhart

MeditationMom wrote:

I think atheist are trying to "fight" the "evil" that exists or comes out of all religions while at the same time intrigued with the grains of truth in them. Example being the Golden Rule and good stuff like that. The same is true for religious people. Fighting the "evil" in atheist's thinking but intrigued with their obvious logic and truth. We're all brothers and sisters here

Someday you’ll get bored of posting here, and Maitri will be the only one left talking sense.

MeditationMom wrote:

Do atheists have any strange, unprovable beliefs?

I’ve usually said my leap of faith is to believe we are able to cope with the consequences of there being no god. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe people need to create a higher being.

I’m not being a smartarse in saying this. I just don’t see any obligation on the universe to be in any kind of equilibrium that means people necessarily have the emotional and intellectual wherewithal to deal with its reality. At the same time, I think we are capable of dealing with it – but that’s an act of faith.

Sangre

Thaedydal wrote:

You can dislike it, disagree with it and say you think it is hooey but you have to respect people's right to believe and practice as they wish.

Out of all the zealots I have ever encountered the ones I have found the most offensive are the scathing atheists.

www.atheistshatefags.com ?

Shellie13

its been prooven somewhere that theres part of the brain that seeks spirituality or answers to philospical issues-even if people dont believe perhaps we have a curiosity about these matters?!

Or perhaps were evil souls damned to hell who like a good ole fight?!

Dades

MeditationMom wrote:

Come on, one atheist please admit to a stupid belief of some sort

I believe I can get my golf handicap down below twenty.

Oh, and aliens. :eek: