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...go to the Christianity subforum and post challenging-to-hostile thread starters like Christians do here on a regular basis? I admit that I didn't look past the first page of threads on their subforum, but I saw nothing like the (pretty much) daily thread posted by some Christian, basically looking for a fight or, more delusionally, to proselytize and convert us godless heathens.
Do they go to the other religions' subfora and tell them they're wrong as well?
The main forum is the proper place for ridiculous, tendentious arguments.
Or, they can keep coming back here. I think of it as target practice, even though I typically invoke the pig wrestling rule when it comes to arguments on the "merits."
There are some atheist threads in the Christianity forum. I think the discussions are good as long as they remain civil and as long as each side respects the other person's beliefs. Being open and empathetic to different belief systems and worldviews, even though you may not agree with them, is very valuable in my opinion.
I look at them, but I really can't get into the doctrinal trivia. If I notice something that directly relates to atheism/agnosticism, and I think I might be able to shed some light on a question that someone has, I might post, but it's pretty rare.
I don't like it when they try to proselytize me, so I don't try to proselytize them.
Firstly thank you for mentioning Agnostics in your thread heading, it's bad enough we get second billing in our Religion and Spirituality sub-category but in addition we don't get mentioned separately from Atheists in thread headers very often.
The only thread I ever started in the Christianity forum was a non-provocative one asking about any potential "Holy Lands" located in North America.
I do challenge Christians acting decisively Un-Christian on occasion, the latest was calling out people who not only did not take issue with a board moderator named Woodrow Li liberally using the term "Sheeple" to describe certain individuals but actually rallied behind Woodrow and praised his thoughts and sentiments. If you care to view the exchange below is the link to the page where I first draw them down, scroll to bottom of page, exchange starts with post #90.
I avoid the Christian board entirely, most of the debates there are between two sides, each of which is wrong unless you've already bought into the assumption of a divine Jesus. There seems little point in arguing with someone who is basing their position on assertion or declaration without evidence, and sees their ungrounded position as not only valid, but as a "sacred" truth to be defended regardless of actual credibility. There is of course reliance on that board that somehow or other, quoting scripture rules all.
Now and again I take a peek at the religion board, but rarely these days. You can get a more interesting discussion going there, but sooner or later the asserters and declarers show up from the Christian board and the problem is reproduced.
rational people talk rationally. Irrational people talk irrationally. period. tossing a personal belief at people and thinking its not the exact same thing as "their" personal belief is silly.
When I see it here, I read the post, remember what the TOS says in a stickied post in this forum:
Quote:
This sub-forum is not the place for proselytizing or attempting to convert atheists or agnostics. It is meant for atheists and agnostics interested in discussions among themselves and for others who want to learn more about this worldview and are interested in posing non-confrontational questions to atheists or agnostics. Use our main Religion and Philosophy forum if you want to debate the merits of this worldview (but do a search first to see if your topics have already been discussed).
if the post doesn't meet those fairly simple requirements, then I report the post.
You all know the quote, attributed to G. B. Shaw:
"Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it."
If I wanted to be lectured about someone else's faith and told why my lack of the same faith is wrong and reprehensible, I'd hang around the main forum in Religion and Spirituality. Clearly I don't.
Firstly thank you for mentioning Agnostics in your thread heading, it's bad enough we get second billing in our Religion and Spirituality sub-category but in addition we don't get mentioned separately from Atheists in thread headers very often.
That may well be because nearly all atheists ARE agnostics. Belief vs knowledge. Overlapping but not mutually exclusive.
If you aren't willing to identify as not believing in any gods, then you are an agnostic theist. If typical in my experience, you are a theist only about the Christian deity. You simply assign a much lower probability / certainty to it than most Christians would.
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