Why do athiests post in the Christianity forum?

r3nu4l

Serious question. Not an attack on athiests, I just don't understand the obsession that some athiests here have with posting (sometimes deliberately confrontationally and goadingly) in the Christian forum.

If you have no belief in God then by default, there is no need to post in the Chirstiainty forum...unless you are trying to 'convert' Christians to become athiests.

It has been argued that the reason that Athiests post there rather than in Islam is because :
a) The Islam charter prohibits attacks on Islam
b) Most athiests on boards.ie are more familiar with the Christian model of thinking.

I can totally see the point in not posting in Islam because of reason a)

I don't understand b) though. If you don't believe in God and want to discuss matters related to athiesm (e.g. aren't all those religious freaks just plain whacko?) then you already have your own forum right here.

What does it matter to you that Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc believe in a 'higher power'?

If you are unsure of your athiesm then yes, I can understand posting in a religious forum asking questions and looking for answers but if you are a dedicated athiest then you shouldn't need to post inthe Christianity forum at all.

Neither of these questions answer the fundamental question I pose though. If you do not believe in God, or saints, angels etc then you have absolutely no reason to post in that forum, imo.

Bear in mind that I really am just being inquisitive here, I'm not attacking you or trying to tell anyone not to post there. (I don't visit it often enough to care tbh! )

I want to understand the mindset and see if there are any rational reasons for posting in that forum.

Because they think they are very brainy and intelligent for knowing the"truth" and have to convince the christians that they are totally wrong and that religion is evil and that people who believe in religion are losers.(Well,the ones that attack in the chritianity forum anyway)

Scofflaw

Repost from the other thread, if we are moving over here.

You are assuming, I think, that the atheist has a problem "with belief in God, regardless of religion". I certainly don't. Belief in God is a harmless and indulgable idiosyncracy unless it negatively influences social policy.

Since we live in a democracy (poor abused thing that it often is), the powers that be take note of what the people think and believe. So if a majority of people believe that homosexuality is wrong, or that science is incorrect, or that other religions should be suppressed because they're inventions of the Devil, that has an effect.

Muslims don't have that sort of influence in Ireland - it's 95%+ Christian. So, it's because I don't actually have a problem with belief in God per se that I argue first and foremost against the locally hegemonic deity - because it's belief in that God that influences social policy around here.

That's not to say that there aren't posters who do have a problem with belief, or posters who are going through a period of rebellion that simply includes the Church they grew up in. However, there's nothing we can do about immaturity but wait...

cordially,
Scofflaw

bonkey

r3nu4l wrote:

What does it matter to you that Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc believe in a 'higher power'?

I wouldn't necessarily call myself an atheist, but it doesn't matter to me at all that they believe in a higher power, any more than it matters to me what anyone does or does not believe in.

What I'm interested in is learning how and why different people believe in what they believe in. I'm interested in what I have to learn from them.

I've noticed that the Christians on the Christian forum seem more willing than many to be asked tough (to the point of being at times insulting) questions. They put up with the derision of atheists who are as cock-sure in their convictions whilst remaining willing to engage, and often offer the asked-for perspectives knowing it will lead to further derision from some.

I may not share their beliefs, but for me to believe there is nothing I can learn from them would be pure arrogance on my part.

r3nu4l

Scofflaw wrote:

Repost from the other thread, if we are moving over here.

Yeah, I figured it was better than to have multiple discussions at once and Tim jokingly but rightly pointed out that I might have been hijacking his thread

Scofflaw, your points about your belief are fine and I take them on board but it still doesn't answer the question as to why athiests here post in the Christian forum.

As for the belief that majority belief influences the state, it does indeed, simply because politicians will always want to appeal to the largest number of voters.

That said, do you truly think that the majority of Christians posting on boards.ie don't use birth control just because the church says they shouldn't? I bet they do use birth control, I bet they are having sex outside marriage too. I'd like to see any politician propose a ban on birth control as part of his/her election manifesto I think the Christians wouldn't be voting for them.

Do you see my point? Not believing in God means that you should have no interest in posting about religion or about God or any religious forum at all. Maybe it is down to immaturity on the part os some or maybe as you say, it's a rebellion against childhood etc. I don't know, that's why I'm asking the question.

Tim Robbins

r3nu4l wrote:

Serious question. Not an attack on athiests, I just don't understand the obsession that some athiests here have with posting (sometimes deliberately confrontationally and goadingly) in the Christian forum.

Why I post:
1. To educate myself.
2. I enjoy debate
3. I don't want to live in a bubble i.e. only interacting with those who completly agree with me.

Mr. Presentable

I don't have to be a musician to post in the music forum, or a footballer to post in the soccer forum. The christianity forum is for the discussion of christianity, surely atheists or muslims or flat earthers are permitted a view and the right to express it. Or do you prefer debate where everyone is on the one side :rolleyes:

r3nu4l

Tim, all of those are valid reasons! Thank you. I agree that education is a good thing. I've no desire to become a Muslim for example but I do ask questions about Islam in the Islam forum, so I can understand your point.

I find that debate is only good if it's worded constructively and is non-confrontational. Hostility has no place in debate. I remember years ago in our lab we had a debate about abortion. Very different opinions and yet not one person raised their voice during a 30 minute debate! :eek: That was weird considering the strong personalities involved.

Not living in a bubble I can understand. I do find however that there is sometimes a nuance of 'mocking' from some posters but I guess you shouldn't tar everyone with the same brush

Beruthiel

r3nu4l wrote:

but it still doesn't answer the question as to why athiests here post in the Christian forum.

It's probably got to do with the fact that most of us are ex catholic church.

it's a rebellion against childhood etc. I don't know, that's why I'm asking the question.

And one step further, we all started out the same to a degree, just some of us somewhere along the way said that stuff is for suckers, we cannot understand why some still don't see that it is, confuses the hell out of me.
I don't go into that forum by the way, can't handle that kinda blind faith. I'd probably be banned from there if I were to post.

Mr. Presentable

r3nu4l wrote:

I do find however that there is sometimes a nuance of 'mocking' from some posters

Oh, there'll be plenty of that all right. But you'll get that in most fora, it's just that it's easier to offend people's beliefs when they are strongly held.

r3nu4l

nipplenuts wrote:

I don't have to be a musician to post in the music forum, or a footballer to post in the soccer forum. The christianity forum is for the discussion of christianity, surely atheists or muslims or flat earthers are permitted a view and the right to express it. Or do you prefer debate where everyone is on the one side :rolleyes:

Agreed and I'm not saying that Athiests shouldn't post there. I was asking why a lot of them feel a need to post there because I didn't understand why they would if they don't believe in God. Tim has stated why he does and they are good and healthy reasons.

There does seem to be an 'us and them' feel coming from certain posters in this forum whereas in your exmple above I don't see any 'us and them' from non-musicians and musicians in the Music forum.

Do I prefer debate where everyone is on the one-side (little sarcastic rollieeyes)? Re-read your sentance slowly and see if you can spot what's wrong with it...I'll give you a clue, debates have two sides therefore a debate cannot have everyone on the same side...but then you knew that, you were trying to get personal (confrontational?) when I think I stated clearly enough that I was looking for answers not making an attack.:D

Scofflaw

r3nu4l wrote:

Yeah, I figured it was better than to have multiple discussions at once and Tim jokingly but rightly pointed out that I might have been hijacking his thread

Scofflaw, your points about your belief are fine and I take them on board but it still doesn't answer the question as to why athiests here post in the Christian forum.

As for the belief that majority belief influences the state, it does indeed, simply because politicians will always want to appeal to the largest number of voters.

That said, do you truly think that the majority of Christians posting on boards.ie don't use birth control just because the church says they shouldn't? I bet they do use birth control, I bet they are having sex outside marriage too. I'd like to see any politician propose a ban on birth control as part of his/her election manifesto I think the Christians wouldn't be voting for them.

Do you see my point? Not believing in God means that you should have no interest in posting about religion or about God or any religious forum at all. Maybe it is down to immaturity on the part os some or maybe as you say, it's a rebellion against childhood etc. I don't know, that's why I'm asking the question.

I think, again, that misses the point slightly. It's easy to think of an atheist as "someone who has no interest in religion", but the reverse is usually the case. It would be better to think of an atheist as "someone who questions faith".

The majority of people in this world are believers - that's a simple fact. There may not be a consensus on what faith you should have, but there's certainly a nearly unanimous consensus on having faith.

So "questioning faith" is a bit of an ongoing process. Every day we meet intelligent, educated people who are theists (Christians mostly, locally) - - it would be both difficult and stupid for us to simply say "we're right, they're wrong, we need look no further".

Clearly, as atheists, we cannot be certain we are right.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Zombrex

r3nu4l wrote:

Agreed and I'm not saying that Athiests shouldn't post there. I was asking why a lot of them feel a need to post there because I didn't understand why they would if they don't believe in God.

Because the effects of the religion and faith are not limited to only those who believe in it.

Christians, like all people, interact with everyone else. Their beliefs effect how this interaction takes place and as such effect others.

It simply isn't enough to say that because I don't believe in God then Christianity shouldn't concern or interest me. I don't believe in God yet Christianity still effects me because it effects people who effect me.

As such I'm very interested in Christianity and debating Christianity, as I am in Fianna Fail even though I don't vote for them, or Communism though I'm not a communists.

r3nu4l

Scofflaw wrote:

I think, again, that misses the point slightly. It's easy to think of an atheist as "someone who has no interest in religion", but the reverse is usually the case. It would be better to think of an atheist as "someone who questions faith".

Point very well made! I think my view of what being an athiest means has been over-simplified for too long! Okay, some very good reasons for posting there then.

I could never understand it, I always thought that it was just weird, saying you have no belief in God and then posting reams of scripture in a forum populated by Christians That makes it easier to understand the reasoning for posting on the Christian forum as opposed to other fora too. As Beruthiel said, most athiests in Ireland are probably from a Catholic background so it makes more sense then to post there.

Now I'm beginning to see where you're coming from. Thanks folks.

Another interesting point WicKnight. I'm not sure how much Christianity effects most athiests (probably because I'm not athiest) on a day to day basis but I see where you're coming from.

Sangre

Glad you've realised that being an atheist doesn't mean we've no interest in religion. Usually the opposite is the case as people have made a conscious decision to move away from it.

Personally as someone who is doing law at a postgrad level now I would strongly advocate the complete secularisation of our state and constitution. I dislike coming across cases (mostly 70s etc.,) where Judges would talk in legal terms about our Christian nation and Constitution*. I don't believe true freedom of religion can be achieved in a theistic government.

While I don't post a lot on Christianity I often read it. Mainly to gain glimpses into what makes people believe. Sometimes their leaps in logic and reason are baffling and I struggle to comprehend them. Fine if you beleive in faith but often people try to rationalise it to themselves. For example, one that is bugging me lately...some theists reject the Big Bang Theory because it doesn't explain the start of the universe(not that its meant to), they can't get their head around the universe not existing and evolution creating man etc., because of this they reject it for God. Why is a omnipresent and omnipotent God any easier to accept than rigourlessly tested scientific models? Why do they ask where did the universe come from and not where did God from. Imo, the idea of that type is God is a lot harder to get my head around than the alternative. However for most theists this isn't the case and I like to try and find out why.


*Ironically it was this reasoning that made birth control legal!

Zombrex

r3nu4l wrote:

Another interesting point WicKnight. I'm not sure how much Christianity effects most athiests (probably because I'm not athiest) on a day to day basis but I see where you're coming from.

Well that is because you, thankfully, live in a largely secular state, where the legislative and judicial branches of the government are largely free from religious interference. The point is thought that they only go that way through challenging the established religion of the time (Christianity) and will only be maintained that we by constant vigilance from all religious interference.

r3nu4l

Yes, I was referring specifically to Ireland in my last post.

I think that most Christians in Ireland would also agree that a state that runs unhindered by any religion is a much better idea than the bad old days we experienced in Ireland.

I also recognise that this is probably only the case because of what we experienced in Ireland at the hands of the Catholic Church.

Crucifix

I post there for discussion. I'm not interested in proslytising, debating or arguing, but I am interest in discussion.

Tar.Aldarion

I like to debait

Asiaprod

Beruthiel wrote:

I don't go into that forum by the way, can't handle that kinda blind faith. I'd probably be banned from there if I were to post.

I'm sure you would let me do that:)

lostexpectation

simply you don't know the exact degree of faith these pople have and then could be agnostic and some people (of low post count) aren't familiar with general feeling on the boards about where things should be posted. An often even posts/posters that are overwhelmingly critical of religion/christianity are more about religion then they are about atheism.

Dave!

REPOST FROM ANOTHER THREAD

r3nu4l wrote:

Guys, if this forum was full of Christians slagging you off for not believing and constatntly criticising you all you wouldn't like it.

Are you so unsure of your lack of belief that you feel you have to knock the belief of others? I doubt it, so why do you constantly attack

As was already mentioned, we enjoy a lively debate and we're (okay I'll change that to 'I am') passionate about the truth. You've posted before about us being "unsure" of our beliefs, and that's why we question others'..... It just doesn't make sense. If I were unsure about my beliefs, I would not be engaging in debate with others on a public forum, where my beliefs might be disproven!!! I would circumvent, avoid, and dodge discussion about my beliefs, by trying to make it a bannable offense to question them.... hey wait a minute! That sounds a bit familiar ¬_¬

r3nu4l wrote:

Protelysing (attempts to convert someone to a religion) is banned on most religious fora on boards.ie, likewise I feel that it should be a bannable offence to attempt to convince Christians that they are wrong and should be athiests.

Well I feel it should be a bannable offence to say that the earth is 6,000 years old.......

r3nu4l wrote:

How many of you post on the Muslim forum taking quotes from the Qu'ran and aggressively asking them to defend their faith. It's a bannable offence there but some of you guys seem more interested in calling the Christians fools, than calling the Muslims fools, why is that?

Well I've posted in the Islam forum on occassion, and put strong questions to them about their beliefs. eg. here. The 2 systems of belief share some aspects and differ on others. Unfortunately I'm not too educated on Islam, and amn't very familiar with the life of Muhammed (despite studying it in college ) nor the Quran. It's also not as prevalent in Irish society (although that's changing), so it's not really as problematic (eg. 90%+ of schools in the country are Catholic, probably less than 1% are Muslim!).

I think you're barking up the wrong tree and trying to psychoanalyse us too much. In my experience, the vast majority of atheists aren't atheists because they got buggered by the priest when they were altar boys, as you seem to be suggesting.

Christianity is merely the prevalent religion for most of us, and we don't know enough about Islam to attack it with the same ferocity.

InFront wrote:

Actually, I've noticed that too. Most atheists are perfectly polite and get on fine in Islam, and then you read their posts in Christianity and it's a whole other story.
I would have thought if you were an atheist who feels that God is a myth, surely you'd find both religions ultimately as daft as one another. So why do Christians get it hardest? I don't know, but at a guess I'd say that some people just harbour a grudge against them.
Threads like this just make everyone look like a bunch of isolated playground groups looking over and bitching about one another.

Yeh.... again you're trying to portray us all as bitter because we were forced to go to mass for years, or merely disillusioned with the Catholic church because of the sex scandals.

I've studied Christianity consistently since when I was old enough to read, until I was 17. I'm quite familiar with the belief system, and the silly stories in it. I'm not familiar with Islam to the same extent, and am not really motivated or bothered enough to read much about it beyond wikipedia........

r3nu4l wrote:

Not believing in God means that you should have no interest in posting about religion or about God or any religious forum at all.

em, why? Not believing in something means that we have to ignore it completely? Since when? Like it or lump it, religion has been prevalent in human society for centuries, and organised religion has been instrumental in the shaping of various countries around the world. Certain churches are more dominant in specific areas and historically have had a very powerful effect on the culture of these areas. Religion is extremely important in history, and continues to be in modern times, with things like suicide bombings, and the banning of contraception. To suggest that because I don't believe in a god that I should completely ignore or not engage with religion is ludicrous.

r3nu4l

Thanks for your input Dave. I've already answered a lot of what you've raised here so I won't rehash...

DaveMcG wrote:

REPOST FROM ANOTHER THREAD

...I would not be engaging in debate with others on a public forum, where my beliefs might be disproven!!! I would circumvent, avoid, and dodge discussion about my beliefs, by trying to make it a bannable offense to question them.... hey wait a minute! That sounds a bit familiar ¬_¬

Do people who are unsure bury their heads in the sand to avoid getting an answer? :eek: I certainly wouldn't...then again I'm a scientist so I've always been curious, if someone tells me not to push a big red button, I can't help wondering why and my fingers start to twitch!

Well I feel it should be a bannable offence to say that the earth is 6,000 years old.......

So do I! I hope that apart from the few whackos out there who truly believe this, that the majority of Christians don't. I've never yet actually met anyone who believes the Earth is 6,000 years old.

...because they got buggered by the priest when they were altar boys, as you seem to be suggesting.

Erm, no, I wasn't suggesting that at all. I was referring to the control that the Catholic church (in particular) has had over the Irish State since it's foundation. Telling us what to do and when to do it and generally being judgemental muppets when Jesus himself said 'judge not...'. That aside, I take your point that these issues are not what make the majority of athiests unbelievers.

em, why? Not believing in something means that we have to ignore it completely? Since when? Like it or lump it, religion has been prevalent in human society for centuries, and organised religion has been instrumental in the shaping of various countries around the world. Certain churches are more dominant in specific areas and historically have had a very powerful effect on the culture of these areas. Religion is extremely important in history, and continues to be in modern times, with things like suicide bombings, and the banning of contraception. To suggest that because I don't believe in a god that I should completely ignore or not engage with religion is ludicrous.

I've already addressed that and others have explained why they are interested. Fair enough.

Well, I've had lots of good answers from you guys and dolls, thanks for the insight. I feel I'm getting a better understanding. I don't normally visit these fora, (once every few months or so) but it's nice ot get some good discussion going and learn a bit more when I do.

bonkey

r3nu4l wrote:

I hope that apart from the few whackos out there who truly believe this, that the majority of Christians don't. I've never yet actually met anyone who believes the Earth is 6,000 years old.

What about the 10,000 to 15,000 year region...a refinement of Ussher's timeline, rather than a complete rejection of same.

Scofflaw

r3nu4l wrote:

Well I feel it should be a bannable offence to say that the earth is 6,000 years old.......

So do I! I hope that apart from the few whackos out there who truly believe this, that the majority of Christians don't. I've never yet actually met anyone who believes the Earth is 6,000 years old.

Er - have you been on the Christianity forum? Some days it feels like every second poster is a Biblical literalist...

cordially,
Scofflaw

stevejazzx

Why do atheists post in the Christianity froum?

The question and questioner are very disingenuous, I find.
Firstly, unless the poster in any forum is contrvening charter policy then he or she posts where they want when they want. That is the nature of boards.ie and indeed the most pivitol component in it's success. Discouraging a certain type of poster in a certain forum is only a way of removing that freedom.
So why would people want to remove that freedom? To enjoy some form of exclusivity or simply impose further control over the content? What would that do for the chrsitian forum that chrsitian forum is not already able to do?
Are the christians honestly arguing for a forum where nothing challenging to the central doctrine of chrsitianity would ever be posted? And all the atheists will just stay over here and we'd never interact, debate and actually learn from one another? What would be the benefit in that?
Isn't it in the nature of our human condition to question the circumstances we find oursleves in and isn't it our responsibility as enlightened beings to constantly reevaluate our position in the world? Or would people rather go about blindly? They probably would and that is the tragedy. I'm not saying that Chrsitians are going around blindly, not at all, I'm saying that Chrsitain or Atheists or whoever for that matter who only want appaeased and massaged with hyper controlled content in the comfort of an exclusive forum are going around blindly.
It is not about converting poeple from religon to atheism or vice versa, it is about finding out exactly why poeple have decided to believe what they claim to believe and that process is fundamental in measuring the validity of their claims which ultimately leads to validity of the belief itslef.
Surely it is clear that people with contrasting opinions make up the very fabric of a good forum? I feel very sorry for the peplpe who would rather bury their heads away in the certainity of their belief than ever have to deal with the possibility that ideas and beliefs they hold may be of been made at an age when their capacity for seeing the world was considerably diminshed. If we do not accept the possibility that we may someday change our minds about what we believe life to be all about, then we are admitting that we are pathetic brainwashed creatures unable to think for oursleves.

Carbiens

didn't read the whole thread but..

as an athiest i agree with lostexpectation. my religous beliefs aside, i have a dislike for the roman catholic church for the the fact that for hundreds of years they have forced (although in most cases not voilently) their veiws and beliefs on other cultures. as an athiest i consider my beliefs/views/opinions very private and therefore cannot understand why other non-believers need to provoke people.

to put it simply, most people are intelligent enough to make up their own minds. if they perhaps are not intelligent enough then maybe they are happier where they are. you have no right to try and change someones view on anything even while engaged in a debate and as far as i can see athiests posting provokative material in any of the religous forums is direct a contradiction to your own beliefs (or lack thereof)

r3nu4l

stevejazzx wrote:

Why do atheists post in the Christianity froum?

The question and questioner are very disingenuous, I find.

Disingenuous:
not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; "an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time"- David Cannadine; "a disingenuous excuse"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Steve how can you find me or the question disingenuous (based on the above definition? The question is very genuine, believe it or not I don't spend a lot of time thinking about athiests. Therefore when I did think about it I said, rather than have a half-formed opinion about why athiests would post on a Christianity forum, why not ask them about it? I was completely genuine in asking and to be frank, find that unless you can show good reason to believe otherwise, I am insulted by your wordy remark.

As for the rest of your post, well the other posters have been welcoming enough to tell me why they choose to post there and have helped me gain a better understanding and insight into their reasons and I have learned something and have had my questions answered. Until the guys answered on this thread I had a very narrow understanding of what an athiest was. Now I know a bit more and am happy with that.

As for the Christians, I am not arguing for them at all. My religious beliefs are irrelevant to the specific question I needed answered.

Disingenuous indeed Sir, were this a matter of honour a mere 150 years ago or more I would have called you out for duelling at dawn! I fart in your general direction

r3nu4l

Carbiens wrote:

didn't read the whole thread but..

as an athiest i agree with lostexpectation. my religous beliefs aside, i have a dislike for the roman catholic church for the the fact that for hundreds of years they have forced (although in most cases not voilently) their veiws and beliefs on other cultures.

I'm not disagreeing with this point at all but do you also have a strong dislike for the English because they too have forced their veiws and beliefs on other cultures?

I sincerely hope not.

Again, my question doesn't take away from your point and I'm not trying to be smartarsed or funny, I'm just wondering where the rationale ends.

5uspect

Sure the English once ruled three quarters of the earths surface but they didn't do it by claiming knowledge of absolute truth regarding the meaning of life and what happens to us for all eternity (tho I'm sure all English missionaries did and that does make them a valuable weapon).

The English did what they did out of ignorance but mainly selfishness and greed. Looking at the recent anniversary of the ending of the slave trade shows that as a nation they are starting to accept their wrong doings.

Taking your point further, should we have a strong dislike for Germans after the Nazi's almost religious like fascist views? German society today is one where being proud to be a German is something that is very difficult for many Germans to accept. The recent World Cup has done a lot to make Germans happy to even fly a flag.

Countries like Germany and Britain, have inflicted some of the worst atrocities on humanity imaginable. However they have realised this and they deserve respect for attempting to change.

The RC and many other churches are guilty of many crimes throughout history. However even though they have apologised for many of these crimes many ex-catholics see the RC's stance on condons, the unquestioned indoctrination of children into their superstition, the self righteous missionaries across the world to spread the "truth" and the disturbing interference in the running of democratic countries as wholly unacceptable.

Of course that not to say that the UK et al aren't interfering in many countries across the world... Should the English start suggesting how we should live and demanding to accept some nonsense they simply believe to be true then I'll oppose them just as much as I oppose the role of catholicism in Irish society.

stevejazzx

r3nu4l wrote:

Disingenuous:
not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; "an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who...exemplified...the most disagreeable traits of his time"- David Cannadine; "a disingenuous excuse"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Steve how can you find me or the question disingenuous (based on the above definition? The question is very genuine, believe it or not I don't spend a lot of time thinking about athiests. Therefore when I did think about it I said, rather than have a half-formed opinion about why athiests would post on a Christianity forum, why not ask them about it? I was completely genuine in asking and to be frank, find that unless you can show good reason to believe otherwise, I am insulted by your wordy remark.

Frankly, consdiering the level of debate on this very subject recently I find it hard to believe that you could be this uninformed on the general position of Athiest thought regarding posting on the christianity forum. Rarely are they over confrontational, most of the time they pleasant and inquisitive and the rest time they are apologetic. So if you're genuine perhaps you were simply asking a question you didn't relaise had already been asked and throughly debated. The question appears to me as simply a vehicle for you to offset some of your criticisms of Atheists posting on the Christianity forum which you are managing discretely enough. However perhaps you simply hadn't a clue and just were curious;)

r3nu4 wrote:

As for the rest of your post, well the other posters have been welcoming enough to tell me why they choose to post there and have helped me gain a better understanding and insight into their reasons and I have learned something and have had my questions answered. Until the guys answered on this thread I had a very narrow understanding of what an athiest was. Now I know a bit more and am happy with that.

Perhaps I've misread your intial intentions and if I have I apologise.

r3nu4 wrote:

Disingenuous indeed Sir, were this a matter of honour a mere 150 years ago or more I would have called you out for duelling at dawn!

I would've stayed in bed tbh...I only duel in the evening time...I've got a slow metabolism you see...

r3nu4 wrote:

I fart in your general direction

Don't tell me, your mother was a hamster and your father had a penchant for elderberries?

r3nu4l

stevejazzx wrote:

Frankly, consdiering the level of debate on this very subject recently I find it hard to believe that you could be this uninformed on the general position of Athiest thought regarding posting on the christianity forum.

My interests include politics, bowling (who'd've thought ), science and medicine, music, cinema, reading...but athiesm V Christianity has never really been up there. Up until I posted that thread it was as intersting to me as watching paint dry, it never inspired me at all. Even now that I've learned a bit more my curiosity has been sated

Rarely are they over confrontational, most of the time they pleasant and inquisitive and the rest time they are apologetic. So if you're genuine perhaps you were simply asking a question you didn't relaise had already been asked and throughly debated.

Yes I don't read up on religous debate at all to be honest. Give me politics, business news anyday, religous debate...snorefest for me tbh. Until I decided to post the other day that is.

The question appears to me as simply a vehicle for you to offset some of your criticisms of Atheists posting on the Christianity forum which you are managing discretely enough.

Believe me, I really, really, honestly don't mind athiests posting on the forum now that I understand what an athiest is and why they would be bothered. I can't stress that enough. I also do not have any beef with athiests either, life is far too short to get all hot and bothered because someone disagrees with what you say/believe.

However perhaps you simply hadn't a clue and just were curious;)

Yes, I was ignorant but not intentionally and willfully so, I was just never curious enough before to ask, once my curiosity was aroused I asked a question, as I always do.

Perhaps I've misread your intial intentions and if I have I apologise.

Accepted, thank you. Seriously.

I would've stayed in bed tbh...I only duel in the evening time...I've got a slow metabolism you see...

Ah but a nice early morning workout would boost that

Don't tell me, your mother was a hamster and your father had a penchant for elderberries?

Yes indeed, a terrible stench of elderberries around the house while I was growing up


/EDIT: Maybe I could have made my intentions clearer in my original post. I'll remember that if I start any more threads here.

Dades

This thread has been a lot more constructive than the similar one in the Christianity forum that I claim not to go into...

It's almost as if people here are actually reading each other's posts!

Carbiens

r3nu4l, i plan on answering your comment in a new thread later this week.

in the meantime, very good point mate