Heathen Dawn

Catholic Answers, a large Catholic apologetics organisation, has recently launched a discussion board, similar to this one, based on the same software (vBulletin 3.0), here:

http://forums.catholic.com

It’s teeming with Catholics, of course, and a few Protestants who are in it for the fight, as well as some Eastern Orthodox. As for non-Christians, I think I’m currently the only one there, and there aren’t any atheists so far. Anyway, some of you might want to cut your teeth on it, that’s why I posted this. Have fun.

Gooch's dad

Thanks for the notice, but this seems better suited for GRD.

Gooch's dad, MD moderator

capsaicin67

I decided to check it out for a change of pace, and as an escapee of Catholicism I thought it might be an interesting place to mix it up. So far I can't really get into it, it's like a BB about Santa Claus or something with topics like What Do Liberals Think About Flying Reindeer? I just can't figure out how it can be interesting to participate?

How do others participate at such places?

Heathen Dawn

What are you talking about? There’s serious discussion going on on that board, with Catholics, Protestants, Mormons and Wiccans (well, one of them) engaging theology. Not to mention discussion between various Catholics, such as Traditionalists and sedevacantists.

And the atmosphere there is a lot more friendly than on Christian Forums. The Catholics there have treated me very well.

TySixtus

I just registered over there, being a ex-Catholic myself. Nice site, but the format is shitty. Kind of hard to look at, really. I like II's setup a lot more!
Ty

capsaicin67

What I mean is that much of the stuff under discussion is targeting true believers, not looking for the "truth" or objective inquiry. Not looking to mix it up or be challenged or hear outside views. And a lot of what they are there to do, of course, is revel in notions that many of us here find absurd.

Which threads do you find interesting?

How do you think of your role as an "outsider"?

Heathen Dawn

I take this to mean you’re disappointed that they don’t feature the same standard of scepticism of the supernatural that you’re used to here on IIDB. Tough...

That’s wrong. They let Protestants challenge them, in fact they have a whole section (Apologetics) dealing with challenges from the Prods.

OK, so you can’t believe that bread and wine becomes the real flesh and blood of God. Once again, that’s only to be expected.

The threads on sola scriptura, those on Mary, those on Mormonism, the big Non-Catholics thread, and quite a few more.

I’m only there to correct misconceptions about Wicca and paganism, and for casual discussions on theology and comparative religions. The Catholics there treat me very well—much better than the mob on Christian Forums.

capsaicin67

I take this to mean you’re disappointed that they don’t feature the same standard of scepticism of the supernatural that you’re used to here on IIDB. Tough...

LOL. Well, what I mean is that I find much of the mindset to be a nonstarter for any sort of discussion that could hope to be intellectually honest or productive, and yes, the quality of discussion around here probably has biased me toward that end..... Discussing the supernatural as fact is "tough" for me I spose...?

Stuff like How to Start Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration? . It's kinda interesting, in the way that any other arcane bizarre practices are, but a lot of what they talk about as fact is so far removed from my reality is all.

Heathen Dawn, I'm not trying to say "don't go there" or don't enjoy it", to anyone. Not at all. I signed-up. I'm trying to understand what people like us do there ......? If there were a What Are Atheists Like? thread, I could get into that, but the ones about Catholic belief....do I, um, try and stir them up, or do I what? a lot of it is about whacky stuff that is posted as fact, not as a point for scrutiny.

What do the rest of you do at the other Xian boards? How do you participate? It sounds sorta interesting, I'm just trying to figure out what people do in these places...? Or how those of you that go there see your role and participation? Just wondering....

I'll go back and check out the stuff that you specifically mentioned, HD......

Heathen Dawn

Under what username? I don’t see capsaicin in the members list. TySixtus and Starboy are there the same as here, and so am I.

Do you mean atheists? Well, most of the stuff is loaded with accepted assumptions, and the really interesting bits are the debates between the Catholics and the Prods. For atheists, I reckon the best thing would be to start debate threads on atheism in the Apologetics forum. And search and refute misconceptions about atheists and atheism, same as I do for Wicca.

There’s a rule on that forum against mocking Catholic beliefs and practices. A Protestant there laughed at the notion of eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus, and I think he’s already got a warning for that. Take care.

On Christian Forums and TheologyWeb there are sections specially for debate between atheists and theists—General Apologetics on CF and Apologetics 301 on TWeb. As for me, I usually stick to Non-Christian Religions on CF and to Comparative Religions on TWeb.

Check out these threads:

Non-Catholics on these boards

Religion

lpetrich

I don't think I'd ever want to bother those guys about Communion wafers and stuff like that; that seems to me almost too silly to be taken seriously.