Classical

I would like some suggestions of some very active discussion forums on-line to debate the fundies.

I would like to find one that allows questions and honest, open discussions, not one where I'll get banned by saying I don't believe the bible is gods word.

I think we all need to "go to it" in our spare time, because I am very alarmed by the recent growth of their numbers and power.

Thanks in advance.

Hazel-rah

I've personally never seen a forum frequented by fundies that allows or welcomes the "open, honest discussion" you seek.

I can, however, point you to a couple of street corners in downtown ATL if you'd like to do it in person...

rationalOne

www.beliefnet.com has sections for many different religions, and special forums set aside in each one for debates.

Machiavelli

http://s4.invisionfree.com/Christian...sion/index.php

Is a pretty tolerant forum. I've never been asked to leave, never been insulted, and had pretty coherant responses. And I haven't pulled any punches eithor.

There are some there that seem sort of "out there", but most are as "down to earth" as a Christian can be.

SecularFuture

Rapture Ready
There are some.... err... very interesting people at that board.

Asha'man

But the odds of getting banned are extremely high there.

Honestly, the best place to debate fundies is probably II. The moderation is fair, and based on standards of conduct rather than which side of the argument you are on. The only problem is that the fundies here attract so much attention, they don't survive long.

Diogenes the Cynic

In my experence, any forum in which allows for truly fair and open, hardball debate ends up scaring away fundies. You either have to do the best you can in Christian forums (which will ban you or lock your threads as soon as you make things uncomfortable for them) or just try to feed on the slim pickings of a board like this. It's hard to find fundies who are willing to engage in a systematic debate for very long. They either blow up, or just stop posting or resort to some sort of dismissive hand waving ("well I just believe what I believe and I'm not going to change.")

I do think it's possible to get some fundies to modify their views. A lot of them are just young or naive and they haven't really examined their own beliefs before. A lot of this type- the young ones who have had this stuff pounded into them and never seen it challenged or in some cases even subjected to objective facts about things like evolution- end up becoming the most vociferous free thinkers.

Of course, the older, more set fundies won't change for anything.

Classical

I always had some questions in my mind after I got "saved" and boy you just bet as I got older and started to question more fully I changed positions once I started to read the arguments.

So I say bash away, every single chance you get. You never know who you will convince! :thumbs:

seebs

ChristianForums allows a fairly broad range of debate in General Apologetics, although it's hardly all fundies.

Note, BTW, that there are fundies out there who are better allies as they are than they would be if you changed their minds, who are already very big on tolerance and acceptance of their neighbors...