Pretending

[NoCapo]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

Personally, I don't think anyone does. The religious teachings that atheists discuss have nothing to do with most people's faith. It's more like a starting point for people to have a connection to the spirit. Everyone's own religion is personal.

I suggest you put the question to the Christianity forum. You could ask about specific doctrines that you are convinced no one actually believes, or maybe a general statement like the Nicene Creed. Rather than speculating about what other people believe, you could ask them... If you truly believe what you posted, I think you might be surprised by the responses.


-NoCapo

[OzzyRules]

Originally Posted by NoCapo

I suggest you put the question to the Christianity forum. You could ask about specific doctrines that you are convinced no one actually believes, or maybe a general statement like the Nicene Creed. Rather than speculating about what other people believe, you could ask them... If you truly believe what you posted, I think you might be surprised by the responses.

-NoCapo

I probably would get the responses you say, but it wouldn't prove anything. The kind of people who come on this forum have a reason for wanting to debate religion. Whatever the reason. But I just don't think they necessarily represent most people.

[NoCapo]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

I probably would get the responses you say, but it wouldn't prove anything. The kind of people who come on this forum have a reason for wanting to debate religion. Whatever the reason. But I just don't think they necessarily represent most people.

To be fair, you were saying that no theists actually believe the stated tenets of their faith. We can agree that statement was incorrect, and potentially meant in a hyperbolic way?

I agree with you that there are many believers, not just Christians, but other faiths as well, who have a... relaxed view of doctrine. But there is at least a significant portion that do take their interpretation of their faith very seriously and literally. It is not just a self selected group on the internet. If that were true, LGBT rights would not be in jeopardy, we would not have had to have the Dover court cases, and all manner of things would be different. But even nominal believers can get very riled when a nonbeliever chooses not to follow a specific point of their doctrine. Religion may be arguably good or bad, but it is not neutral, strictly personal, or irrelevant, whatever you think of it.

-NoCapo