Atheists and Christianity

gosimeon

If one looks through the Islam, Buddhist, Paganism and Spirituality boards on boards.ie you will notice that rarely will an atheist interrupt their threads. Their board is not filled with skeptics knocking their beliefs, or arguing against them. Surely this is not because the beliefs of paganism, islam, and "angels etc" are more agreeable with the atheists mindset. They are all still wrong as far as atheist are concerned.

So why not constantly refute their beliefs and interrupt their discussions etc?

I think the activity on boards.ie is generally reflective of most atheists reation to Christianity. While they seeminlgy couldn't care less about other faiths, they are obsessed with Christianity.

Why?

robindch

Perhaps because we're familiar with christianity and have to deal with it (and its, er, fallout) from time to time?

Asiaprod

gosimeon wrote:

If one looks through the Islam, Buddhist, Paganism and Spirituality boards on boards.ie you will notice that rarely will an atheist interrupt their threads. Their board is not filled with skeptics knocking their beliefs, or arguing against them. Surely this is not because the beliefs of paganism, islam, and "angels etc" are more agreeable with the atheists mindset. They are all still wrong as far as atheist are concerned.

Very interesting question. I lookforward to hearing the responses.

I think you need to take the Islam forum out of the mix. It has its own charter which is very clear on what is acceptable and was formed to meet a certain need. Buddhism, Paganism and Spirituality are very open to debate and many many Atheists post there.

In answer to your question, I feel part of it has to do with the intolerance that many die hard Christians extend to other groups i.e you are condemned for all eternity if you follow another path. This idea, along with the *efforts* aimed at conversion to the one true god, are a major sore spot. Even more so, is the attitude that it must be done our way, by the rules of our god. Remember that most Buddhists, Pagans or Spiritualists would not have been converted, but would have found their own way to their current belief. They would not feel in anyway insecure, and would not want others dictating how they spend their lives.
Speaking for my own belief, Buddhism, we would never try to convert you, we would never condemn you, we would even fight for your right to follow your own religion. But we would defend our right to follow our own path.

Scofflaw

Why? We live in a Christian country, and most of us went through Christian schools. Most of us were at least nominally Christian. Hardly surprising, then, that we usually argue against Christianity - it's environmental.

In my own case, I'm not terribly interested in arguing against Christianity as such - my interest is rather more specifically in attacking pseudo-scientific claims, and frankly the Christian Creationists on this forum keep me quite busy enough.

As to attacking Buddhism, what's to attack? Buddhism, like Taoism, is a philosophy requiring no Universal Deity. Pagans are frankly funny, and the Spirituality board is theoretically for inter-faith discussion.

Islam is a slightly different kettle of fish. I suppose the major reason for not going after their pseudo-scientific claims is that they don't represent, in a majority Christian country, the clear and present danger to science and rationality that Christian pseudo-scientists do. They are, realistically, of little account.

Hope that helps.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Zombrex

gosimeon wrote:

So why not constantly refute their beliefs and interrupt their discussions etc?

Because Islamic or Buddests or Pagan beliefs aren't a constant factor in Irish life.

I assure you if they were I would be constantly debating them as well.

Like Scofflaw I'm not particularly interested in debating with someone over Christian theology, or personal belief. I'm interested in the areas that influence society as a whole, such the Christian ideas towards science or morality.

Consider it the burden of being a member of the largest religion in the western world

Suff

Wicknight wrote:

Because Islamic or Buddests or Pagan beliefs aren't a constant factor in Irish life.
I assure you if they were I would be constantly debating them as well.
Consider it the burden of being a member of the largest religion in the western world

Irish Society is becoming very diverse when it comes to Religion/Faith, and if the Link is valid then Islam is the 2nd largest in the world...what I'm trying to say here... Wicknight your welcome to debat in the Islam forum


here's another Link with pictures

gosimeon

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate a good aul' argument, and the fact the creationists amuse you all...;)

Maybe you should learn about other religions and beliefs, attack them, and give us a break for a week or two?

Zombrex

Suff wrote:

Wicknight your welcome to debat in the Islam forum

Thank you Suff

I have no doubt that Islam will eventually become something I often find myself debating about.

Son Goku

Islam has had nothing I yet find incredibly objectionable. Most of the discussions are mainly about Islam in the modern world and what the moderates who post there think of their extremist brethren.

Buddhism, I would only ever post to ask questions or understand it better. The same goes for Paganism, which I wouldn't really want to criticise because it's kind of "religion done right", in the sense that they believe what they believe and aren't in anybody else's face.

Christianity, however, has the Creationists with all their associated nonsense. That's the main reason I post. If similar stuff popped up elsewhere, I'd post there as well. Secondly, partially similar to what Asiaprod, nobody else is quite as bad with the "You're all wicked sinners" stuff.

gosimeon

Don't mind the "wicked sinners" type Christians. Just because you are a follower of Christ doesn't make you above anybody. It is not the Christians authority to judge; Matthew 7:1, "Judge not that ye be not judged."

I'm sorry if you have had bad experiences with Christians who are on their "high horse". They aren't what it's all about.

To quote my mates Buddhism book, and one of my favourite sutra pieces,

He who treads the Path in earnest
Sees not the mistakes of the world;
If we find fault with others
We ourselves are also in the wrong.
When other people are in the wrong, we should ignore it,
For it is wrong for us to find fault.
By getting rid of this habit of fault-finding
We cut off a source of defilement.
When neither hatred nor love disturb our mind
Serenely we sleep.

Nevyn

Scofflaw wrote:

Pagans are frankly funny,

Funny haha, funny strange or as in does this taste funny ?

gosimeon wrote:

If one looks through the Islam, Buddhist, Paganism and Spirituality boards on boards.ie you will notice that rarely will an atheist interrupt their threads. Their board is not filled with skeptics knocking their beliefs, or arguing against them. Surely this is not because the beliefs of paganism, islam, and "angels etc" are more agreeable with the atheists mindset. They are all still wrong as far as atheist are concerned.

We have had open debate and disscussion on the paganism forum.
It is welcome as long as it is civil.
There is not the large body or work or scripture or dogma associated with
the varying forms of paganism compared to christianity so there is less to argue about and nit pick at.

gosimeon wrote:

So why not constantly refute their beliefs and interrupt their discussions etc?

This has happened and for the most part boils down to one side saying your
really don't believe that do you and the other saying I do other pagans may not and I am happy to believe it and not care what you think and you are free to believe it or not yourslef.

Wicknight wrote:

Because Islamic or Buddests or Pagan beliefs aren't a constant factor in Irish life.

I would disagree with that, but this is not the place for such a discussion if you want too have it in the paganism or indeed spirituality forum I would join you.

While Ireland is still stuck between being thearchic and a true republic there will always be those who think we have religionous freedom ( we do you can be any sort of chirstian you want, which was the goal at the time to be inclusive of catholics and prodestants ) and those that see the christian frame work as damaging to us as a country and a socitey as we move forward so that franklyeveryone is on equal in terms of acessing what should be state services from education to getting married and buried.

Zombrex

Thaedydal wrote:

I would disagree with that, but this is not the place for such a discussion if you want too have it in the paganism or indeed spirituality forum I would join you.

I didn't mean that in a bad way. I meant it as in I'm not constantly opening the newspaper only to find myself annoyed at something someone is doing in the name of Islam or paganism

Asiaprod

gosimeon wrote:

To quote my mates Buddhism book, and one of my favourite sutra pieces

That made my day, never thought I would see that posted on a Christianity forum, by one such as your good self. Truly, my appreciation.

Thaedydal wrote:

I would disagree with that, but this is not the place for such a discussion if you want too have it in the paganism or indeed spirituality forum I would join you.

I would be interested in that topic, count me in.

Son Goku

gosimeon wrote:

Don't mind the "wicked sinners" type Christians. Just because you are a follower of Christ doesn't make you above anybody. It is not the Christians authority to judge; Matthew 7:1, "Judge not that ye be not judged."

I'm sorry if you have had bad experiences with Christians who are on their "high horse". They aren't what it's all about.

Oh, I know that. I'm pointing out that the only reason I'm here at all is the Creationist stuff coupled with that attitude, however I'm aware the balance of such people on this forum isn't representative of Christianity in general.

Nevyn

Wicknight wrote:

I didn't mean that in a bad way. I meant it as in I'm not constantly opening the newspaper only to find myself annoyed at something someone is doing in the name of Islam or paganism

I wish I coudl say the same some of the actvities at Tara have had me cursing a blue streak.

Talliesin

gosimeon wrote:

I think the activity on boards.ie is generally reflective of most atheists reation to Christianity. While they seeminlgy couldn't care less about other faiths, they are obsessed with Christianity.

I don't think it's indicative of most atheists at all.

I think its primarily indicative of a superstitious reaction that some Atheists have to Christianity, particularly non-Fundamentalist Christianity, which this sort of Atheist react to superstitiously as if it holds to beliefs found only in Fundamentalism. It's a superstition rather than a belief, for the most part, since they are generally capable of understanding that there are Christians who do not hold to Fundamentalist beliefs (that is to say, in the literal truth of the Bible) and generally even accept that this is not only possible but actually the case for many Christians (the majority in this country for a start) but they still act as if this wasn't the case. It's this irrational disconnect between their stated beliefs and the beliefs that they act upon that makes it a superstition.

In this same superstition other religions, particularly outside of the religions of the Book ("dhimmis" in Islamic terminology), don't really exist.

The superstition has its origins in the move away from a mythological outlook (in which stories are held as being both something that happened and something that is happening in a sense which makes a literal reading that tries to reconcile the story with modern history meaningless) towards a purely historical view that led to both the birth of Fundamentalism (taking the Bible to be an historical account that is correct) - though most Fundamentalism does maintain one mythological aspect to the story of Christ's life (viz. that his death on a cross and subsequent resurrection is a "living" event with effects upon humanity now, and as such is in a sense happening now as well as something that happened two thousand years ago)- and Huxlean modern strains in Western Atheism and Agnosticism (taking the Bible to be an historical account that is incorrect).

It's this shared origin between Fundamentalism and Huxlean Atheism that both makes Fundamentalism the primary target of evangelical Atheists and also causes the superstitious tendency for them to address all Christians (and indeed, all theists) as if they were Fundamentalists. It also leads to that very evangelicalism and adds to the evangelicalism of Fundamentalism (though of course they are also building upon the Evangelicalism to be found in the New Testament) since they see themselves as in a position to save (with a small or large S depending on which they are ).

Schuhart

gosimeon wrote:

If one looks through the Islam, Buddhist, Paganism and Spirituality boards on boards.ie you will notice that rarely will an atheist interrupt their threads.

Much what people have already said; I think the key point is who is going to argue the other side of the case. A discussion on Buddhist, Paganism and Spirituality boards is unlikely to present any challenge - i.e. at teh end of the day its 'whatever you're having yourself'. People generally don't know enough about Islam to engage in discussion and, in any case, the Islam forum is less open to that kind of discussion.

By default, the discussion ends up here.

Zombrex

Talliesin wrote:

I don't think it's indicative of most atheists at all.

I think its primarily indicative of a superstitious reaction that some Atheists have to Christianity, particularly non-Fundamentalist Christianity, which this sort of Atheist react to superstitiously as if it holds to beliefs found only in Fundamentalism.

Is the fact that the Christianity forum is actually full of quite fundamentalists Christian ideas, and largely lacking in non-fundamentalists posters, not a more logical explanation as to why atheists treat a lot of the posters on that forum as if they are fundamentalists?

There isn't a whole lot of balance in the forum. The atheists such as myself are almost filling the vacuum of the moderate Christians. I often find myself arguing the moderate Christian position against fundamentalist position, despite the fact that I'm an atheists. Where are the real moderate Christians? Why are they not challanging the rather fundamentalist ideas put forward by posters such as JC, BC and Wolfsbane?

gosimeon

Fair point about the lack of "moderate" Christians on here. I think that you will have to get used to it now, though. About 20000 people in Ireland are now Evangelical (that is the box I am thrown into, I guess!), and that number is growing rapidly (eai.ie). Many of these people believe in 6 days etc. As long as they can back up their beliefs with at least semi-credible facts then they are entitled to believe what they want: who am I (the "moderate" Christian) to tell them they are wrong or stupid? To me, frankly, it doesn't matter what they believe about what happened 6,000 years ago. It has no baring on their avtual faith - they are still Christians.

I'm sure a lot of moderate Christians would share my views: let them at it, it doesn't matter that much.

Schuhart

gosimeon wrote:

To me, frankly, it doesn't matter what they believe about what happened 6,000 years ago.

I think the problem is more with the thought process behind such a belief, and what it is capable of in other situations.

Practically, it’s not so much the idea that the world is only six thousand years old. It’s the idea that the end of the world is only a few decades away, or any other destructive notion that someone feels they can adopt and justify by fancy.

gosimeon

Who knows when the end is?

Could be tomorrow.
Could be in a million years!

Zombrex

gosimeon wrote:

I think that you will have to get used to it now, though. About 20000 people in Ireland are now Evangelical

Great .. something to look forward to

gosimeon wrote:

Many of these people believe in 6 days etc. As long as they can back up their beliefs with at least semi-credible facts then they are entitled to believe what they want

They are allowed to believe what every they want even if they cannot back their beliefs up with "semi-credible facts." What they believe isn't really the issue. What they want others to do based on what they believe is the issue.

gosimeon wrote:

I'm sure a lot of moderate Christians would share my views: let them at it, it doesn't matter that much.

That would be a rather naive attitude to take.

30 years ago people probably said the same thing about Evangelican fundamentalism in the US. Now that group decides Presidential elections.

At the end of the day I have certain core beliefs (I suppose you could call them fundamental), that I would hope a lot of Irish people share, and I will argue against what I see as an attack to those principles. And I see fundamentalist Christianity as a threat to them.

gosimeon

Just like Christians have a set of core beliefs, and they will argue for their beliefs....

You aren't too different to "Evangelicals" at all!

Scofflaw

gosimeon wrote:

Who knows when the end is?

Could be tomorrow.
Could be in a million years!

As far as I'm aware, the world death rate is still holding steady at 100%.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Zombrex

gosimeon wrote:

Just like Christians have a set of core beliefs, and they will argue for their beliefs....

You aren't too different to "Evangelicals" at all!

I knew you would say that

In the end you are right.

There isn't a whole lot on the surface between something like Amnesty International or an evangelical mission, between Richard Dawkins and Al Queda.

Of course ideology and methods are all wildly different but they are all attempting to spread core beliefs that they hold to and that they think are others should listen to.

In the end life is really just one big argument between different sets of ideas.

What one must allow, and be able to do themselves, is debate and argue their points openly and freely with reason.

Of course that again is just one of my core beliefs, others might disagree with even that

Scofflaw

By the way, have you considered that Christians are also very concerned with atheism. "Atheist secularisers" appear to be target number one on a pretty ongoing basis.

I don't think we're such a big issue for Buddhists, or Pagans, or even Muslims.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Zombrex

Scofflaw wrote:

By the way, have you considered that Christians are also very concerned with atheism. "Atheist secularisers" appear to be target number one on a pretty ongoing basis.

Sure most American Christians would rather live beside an Islamic terrorist than an atheists ... or something ...

Nevyn

See budshist and pagan or anyone who is deluded enough to be worship 'false gods' or the devil pretending to be a god can be clearly point out and at for thier misdeeds.

Thier wrong doing is plain to see where as a athiest who is a good person and
lives a good moral life but does not profess any faith in anything is harder to slate tbh and while pagans are actively dooming oursleves and our souls
athiests are passively doing so which seems to be a greater offense.

The only types of athiests I have a problem with are the insulting and condesending ones, or the christian athiests who have get to get over thier christian up brining and have never looked at or considered that there are possibley other gods.

Then again I would have issues with a busy body of any religion trying to hassle me and mine about thier truth.

robindch

> "Atheist secularisers" appear to be target number one on a pretty ongoing basis.

I trump you with "secular humanists", "materialistic evolutionists" and "liberal pressers"!

Your lead...

kmick

Specific religions have different thoughts and interpretations on how to Live.

However it is all the one God.

God is in my mind, the energy of all that exists.

Religious people see that energy as a deity.
Scientists see God in a formula about enthropy.
Atheists worship god through a respect for other people. And other people are just energy - a collection of atoms constantly on the move.

Its all the same thing - like yogurt it just has flavours.

Tim Robbins

gosimeon wrote:

Don't mind the "wicked sinners" type Christians. Just because you are a follower of Christ doesn't make you above anybody. It is not the Christians authority to judge; Matthew 7:1, "Judge not that ye be not judged."

I'm sorry if you have had bad experiences with Christians who are on their "high horse". They aren't what it's all about.

Excellant question.
I have more of a gripe with Christianity because:
1. it is the illogical faith system that was attempted to be forced on me, several times.
2. I think this state is completely biased towards Christianity. If you look at the amount of hours Schools spend teaching Christianity and compare that to other faiths or atheism, agnostism you must agree that there is a complete bias and the situation is far equitable.
3. I know enough about it to argue with it.
4. I don't think other faiths, Buddism for example are as bad or as illogical as Christianity. The Eastern faiths seem to be more flexible.
5. In my life it has been Christians who have given me the most hassel for my views. No Muslim, Buddist or Pagan has ever tried to argue with me that I am lost, I am going to hell etc. or I haven't a clue about history.
6. I am a human, I am biased and ultimately I probably have a bit of a chip on my shoulder more about Christianity.
7. There is more Christian propaganda (Lee Strobel, CS Lewis) in our society or in our state than any other faith.

Nevyn

robindch wrote:

> "Atheist secularisers" appear to be target number one on a pretty ongoing basis.

I trump you with "secular humanists", "materialistic evolutionists" and "liberal pressers"!

Your lead...

how about liberal secularist ?

gosimeon

Liberal secularists trying to impose your Californian values, as well as abortion and cannabis legalisation.

Scofflaw

Thaedydal wrote:

robindch wrote:

> "Atheist secularisers" appear to be target number one on a pretty ongoing basis.

I trump you with "secular humanists", "materialistic evolutionists" and "liberal pressers"!

Your lead...

how about liberal secularist ?

"Political Correctness Brigade". I think that's us as well. "Liberal Presser" - hmm, sounds rather physical...

cordially,
Scofflaw

Scofflaw

kmick wrote:

Specific religions have different thoughts and interpretations on how to Live.

However it is all the one God.

God is in my mind, the energy of all that exists.

Religious people see that energy as a deity.
Scientists see God in a formula about enthropy.
Atheists worship god through a respect for other people. And other people are just energy - a collection of atoms constantly on the move.

Its all the same thing - like yogurt it just has flavours.

Now I wish you'd been around on the atheist forum for a couple of debates on the nature of God...

cordially,
Scofflaw

Scofflaw

There's one other major reason we don't cross swords with Muslims as often, which is that little thing Pope Benedict rather rashly brought up. The Christian God is supposed to be logical, and rational, the Muslim God is under no such restraint.

One of the reasons science is a largely western concept, despite the early leads of others, is their inheritance (via Christianity, probably from the Greeks) of the idea of an ordered and comprehensible universe, made and run by an orderly and comprehensible God. That allowed science to get going as an orderly examination of God's Creation - one reason why Creationists believe that it has 'lost its way' or been forced to serve an unnatural liberal-secular-atheist-humanist agenda.

Part of the fun of the big Creationism thread is getting Creationists to a point where they can only say "God chose to do it that way" or "it was a miracle" - in such abstruse ways are points scored. A Muslim would not (or should not) feel that they had thereby stated anything but the most obvious truth.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Sangre

I'd also put that Christianity is by far the most 'powerful' religion. In terms of wealth, followers, technology and actual military strength.

Scofflaw

Sangre wrote:

I'd also put that Christianity is by far the most 'powerful' religion. In terms of wealth, followers, technology and actual military strength.

Very true. Also, while 'Islamists'* make war on the 'secular West' on a largely physical level, 'Christianists'** are involved far more in a war of words and influence with Western secular society.

There is a visible movement from the socially conservative right to roll back (or stem, depending on which viewpoint you take) the secularisation of society, which carries along with it various other movements such as climate change denial. A large part of this has been couched as an attack on science, perhaps because the answers that science provides are not to the liking of social conservatives ('abstinence' programs don't work, homosexuals don't make bad parents, etc), perhaps because science is the ultimate secularity.

Creationists, and other 'fundamentalist Christians', tend to be in the vanguard of such attacks. Atheists, you could say, are natural defenders of the secular society, because our loyalties are undivided. Moderate Christians, while they have nearly as much to lose from the loss of secular society, are in the awkward position of apparently having to choose between personal faith and public secularity - a false dichotomy, which, alas, militant atheism fosters as much as militant Christianism.

* Those who use the Muslim faith for political ends
** Those who use the Christian faith for political ends

cordially,
Scofflaw

Zombrex

kmick wrote:

God is in my mind, the energy of all that exists.

Religious people see that energy as a deity.
Scientists see God in a formula about enthropy.
Atheists worship god through a respect for other people. And other people are just energy - a collection of atoms constantly on the move.

Its all the same thing - like yogurt it just has flavours.

You have just defined "God" into meaninglessness ...

Scofflaw

Wicknight wrote:

You have just defined "God" into meaninglessness ...

QED.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Suff

Scofflaw wrote:

There's one other major reason we don't cross swords with Muslims as often, which is that little thing Pope Benedict rather rashly brought up. The Christian God is supposed to be logical, and rational, the Muslim God is under no such restraint.

first of all in Islam ("Allah") GOD is the same GOD of the Christians (the one you call the "Father" !) and in Judaism ("Yahweh")
GOD holds the highest level of Characteristics (Mighty, logical, Merciful, Companionate, All Knowing,....)

One of the reasons science is a largely western concept, despite the early leads of others, is their inheritance (via Christianity, probably from the Greeks)

Correction, Europe owes most of its philosophy, Art and Scientific culture to both the Arabs and the Greeks this was at the time of Al Andalus (currently Spain), for anyone interested in this fact please take alook at this BBC Documentary.

Part of the fun of the big Creationism thread is getting Creationists to a point where they can only say "God chose to do it that way" or "it was a miracle" - in such abstruse ways are points scored. A Muslim would not (or should not) feel that they had thereby stated anything but the most obvious truth.

Agree

Suff

Atheists are one of the most cynical people I've ever met

Nevyn

Suff wrote:

first of all in Islam ("Allah") GOD is the same GOD of the Christians (the one you call the "Father" !) and in Judaism ("Yahweh")
GOD holds the highest level of Characteristics (Mighty, logical, Merciful, Companionate, All Knowing,....)

That is the bit I never got all those people worshiping a middle eastern god of a desert tribe ?
I mean really Set so missed that bandwagon.

Where is the context for people living in places that already have thier own gods ?

Scofflaw

Suff wrote:

first of all in Islam ("Allah") GOD is the same GOD of the Christians (the one you call the "Father" !) and in Judaism ("Yahweh")
GOD holds the highest level of Characteristics (Mighty, logical, Merciful, Companionate, All Knowing,....)

I accept that is the Muslim position. It isn't the Jewish or Christian position, and obviously cannot be the atheist position!

However, I suppose it is more correct to say that Islam does not require God to be rational.

Suff wrote:

Correction, Europe owes most of its philosophy, Art and Scientific culture to both the Arabs and the Greeks this was at the time of Al Andalus (currently Spain), for anyone interested in this fact please take alook at this BBC Documentary.

Apologies. I didn't mean to detract from the fact of Islamic transmission of Greek knowledge back into Europe, in addition to their own researches.

"Currently Spain" - woo.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Tim Robbins

Suff wrote:

Atheists are one of the most cynical people I've ever met

I presume your tongue is in your cheek.
I would say atheists in general think more critically then theists in general.
Although some are just cynical and haven't a clue what they are atheist about.
What I find really annoying is theists thinking atheists are losed or confused when they haven't really considered any of the arguments philosophical or scientific which brings a lot of thinkers to atheism.
.

Schuhart

Thaedydal wrote:

That is the bit I never got all those people worshiping a middle eastern god of a desert tribe ?

I can’t remember if I posted it before, but there’s a passage in Joseph Heller’s God Knows where Joab tries to persuade King David to invade the world while they have the chance, saying “There’ll be lots of goys. They might not like us. They’ll take our religion and forget where it came from.”

Which is, pretty much, it for half the people in the world.

PoleStar

A few points I had to get my 5 pennies worth in, oops I should have said cent!

1. As people said it is logical to assume that we will argue against Christianity in a predominantly "Christian" country. You aint gonna get doctors arguing about possums! Its all to do with familiarity.

2. What about the other religions? Well Buddhists as a whole are a very welcoming people who tend to find meaning in many things and would be very open to discussion. Pagans? Well need I say more! (Just kidding). As for Islam? Well from my experience, I find Chrisitians to be a bit more "I am right, you are going to hell", whereas Msulims tend to be a bit more "well I take your point, however I believe this because....."

3. And not least, but please read the Islam and humanities forum where you see constant discussion about various tenets of Islam!!!!!!

Juza1973

PoleStar wrote:

2. What about the other religions? Well Buddhists as a whole are a very welcoming people who tend to find meaning in many things and would be very open to discussion. Pagans? Well need I say more! (Just kidding). As for Islam? Well from my experience, I find Chrisitians to be a bit more "I am right, you are going to hell", whereas Msulims tend to be a bit more "well I take your point, however I believe this because....."

That means that you prefer to discuss with reassuring people, who doesn't shock you too much. Christian tends not to look at these things lightly because faith is very important. You can always discuss football or rugby with us if you don't like where these conversations are heading.

Nevyn

I have no problems dicussiong matters of faith or of a spiritual nature but there are those who seem to think that you can not have either of these things unless you are chirstian.

hairyheretic

Juza1973 wrote:

That means that you prefer to discuss with reassuring people, who doesn't shock you too much. Christian tends not to look at these things lightly because faith is very important.

Do you think that those of other beliefs don't consider those equally important?

Juza1973

hairyheretic wrote:

Do you think that those of other beliefs don't consider those equally important?

Each faith varies, however most of them don't have the universal missionary mission of christianity, so for the beliver is it a question of confronting opinions (maybe they want strongly you to agree and be conquered by them but is still not a requirement). For Christians it is a duty and also something that might change the life of the listener in the right way. For most of the other with different believes it might not be a question of life and death to discuss them, as important as they might be. You don't see many Jews and Hindus discussing their religion, but this doesn't mean it's not important to them.