Wads4

I agree, I have always seen it as total war;--for our children's minds, for our personal liberty, and for the survival of reason and science. We can fight the war politely,-but it is still war.

luminous

I came here to have my Christian beliefs challenged in order to see how strong they are. I realized that hearing the other side from my pastor wasn't going to cut it and since I don't have any non-Christian friends that are remotely interested in discussing these issues, here I am. I also read books against Christianity/God but discussing issues on this forum is far more interesting.

andrewcriddle

I find it enjoyable and informative to discuss BC&H and this is one of the more interesting and thought-provoking places on the web to do so.

Andrew Criddle

Johnny Skeptic

I understand that, but I would like to know if it is your additional intention at this forum to try to get skeptics to become Christians. What evidence convinced you to become a Christian?

dongiovanni1976x

It doesn't seem like an appreciation for dicussing these topics requires any additional motives (although there may be some) but your second question seems to be entirely unrelated to the theme of this thread.

I must assume you prefer to only speak to Christians but I myself am curious what you are looking for...do you think it is not possible to simply "enjoy" discussing/learning things as a end unto itself (in the sense that happiness/pleasure/joy etc is the result of this desired end)?

Johnny Skeptic

Quite frankly, my only purpose in being here at the Secular Web is to help destroy fundamentalist Christianity. That is my purpose mainly because many fundamentalist Christians, including President George Bush, attempt to legislate their religious beliefs. I am not in the least bit interested in discussing religion as a hobby. It is the effects of religion that is my chief interest, and the chief interest of millions of other skeptics as well.

dongiovanni1976x

I can't remember where I borrowed this from but I have it posted here at my desk at work as a favorite quote of mine...I find it rather germane to what you just stated: I see the harm that fundamentalist Christianity can have on society and the injustices it attempts to place on others based upon an irrational creed; but I still find history an exciting subject matter to discuss and doing so here only aids me in my defense of secular humanism when I am out and about in the "non-cyber" world. Though I welcome a good debate online with such Christians I find that this is not the best place to win their hearts and minds. I have had much more success when I get them one on one and there is no fear of embarrassment and I can establish some basic trust between myself and the person with whom I am debating. Establishing "doubt" is necessary inorder to rid the arrogant "certainty" that belies all forms of intolerance. I humbly admit my own ignorance as an example of my good faith to be as open minded as possible. This is all I hope to achieve when debating someone with a "rationale of certainty" who attempts to impose their beliefs upon others.
But for the most part this forum is just a means by which I arm myself for that battle and not the battleground itself.

Wads4

Good for you,-hope you are surviving in this nest of atheism.

Mace

Some Christians see it as an obligated duty to save us. Many posters at IIDB forget that they believe they're doing the right thing--just as we are. And time may prove us both wrong.

Johnny Skeptic

Thanks for your comments. For you this is not a battleground, and that is fine, but for some people this is a battleground. Many people who visit various religious debate forums, some who make posts, and some who only read posts, accept or reject Christainity as a result of being at the forums.