Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Infinity Lover · 04-13-2003, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amie
ahh optimistic that they'll adapt your way of thinking eh?

Is your *NON* belief really that much of a focal point in your life that you would remain optimistic about people potentially deconverting?

Hallo schat

There are also religious people who would pray for an atheist's soul, hoping they'll see the light. Do you consider making such a focal point in one's life a positive or negative thing though?
You have referred to yourself as a "sucky witness", so were you jokingly doing so, or do you really sometimes wish you were better at it?

Infinity Lover · 04-13-2003, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Celsus
I was interested in Christianity before I deconverted, and I'm still interested in it after. One day, I also intend on getting some basic grounding on Islam. That said, I'm more interested in BC&A or PD than I am in most of the other fora. Neither of those prove or disprove the existence of God (although BC&A discussions tend to dismantle specific versions of "God" rather quickly). The arguments against the existence of God do not really interest me, except when I'm feeling bored and need a good debate to occupy myself with. Debates are also a good learning experience since you damn well better research your position on things you don't know well before arguing a specific side. Oh and I also like joining in debates where I know I'm right.

Joel

Would you call your interrest in religion culturally based then?

...or am I trolling my own thread by digging deeper and asking people questions about their motives? Just checking...

Celsus · 04-13-2003, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Infinity Lover
Would you call your interrest in religion culturally based then?

Yes and no. Yes because my family are evangelical Christians. No because I have had just about nothing to do with Christians for the last 4 years (in RL of course). Mostly, the interest is completely of my own undertaking. The Bible is a fascinating book to me, and it and its history are a nice departure from reality (or at least a whole different world).

Joel

Edited to note IL's edit: It depends on you. Why are you asking these questions? Or rather, what are your motives for coming to this board, and what did you expect?

Godot · 04-13-2003, 05:19 AM

Even for us evil atheist types, religion plays a part in our lives. At all times, our paths intersect with people and ideas that seethe from the religious sphere.
Personally, I like to discuss it because I find it absolutely fascinating! I'm not likely to change my stance WRT religion (of any denomination), but I can still debate the finer points of it from a philosophical and naturalist perspective.

ju'iblex · 04-13-2003, 05:32 AM

i come to learn, about a variety of things i would never encounter in real life. I have always been interested in religion though, every religion, it plays a large and important part in our history and present, and here i get to explore that on a number of levels.

Rousseau_CHN · 04-13-2003, 05:44 AM

Because it is out there...and out there coming here. It must be stopped, and no way is it going to stop by itself.

But another reason why I, an atheist, discuss it is because Atheism is about liberation.

Atheism is free...nothing is a taboo, nothing is held sacred, everything is to be discussed, everything is to be doubted.

Infinity, you make a hasty generalization when you say that we spend "so much" time discussing religion. I don't think that there are any atheist here who are so "atheist" that they spend so "much" time arguing about religion.

There are other discussion board that we take part in. We are broad--we are expansive. Our lives are not confined to that narrow existence of proving that God is a lie.

Nostalgic Pushhead · 04-13-2003, 11:06 AM

I take a sick pleasure in laughing at fundamentalists. They just cause me much humor.
I just find the mindset of extreme religion fascinating...
I'm an atheist, but I don't think I have the skills to really debate, so I just follow threads and put in my uneducated 2 cents when I feel like it.

Bree · 04-13-2003, 11:14 AM

It's kind of funny - I usually do not discuss religion or anything related to religion with anyone outside of IIDB. IIDB is a way for me to talk (or vent

) about these things in an appropriate environment. Other than that, I let sleeping dogs lie.

It may seem that atheists love to talk about God even more than Christians do - but this is a board for atheist discussion about different aspects about religion.

Amie · 04-13-2003, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by QueenofSwords
I wasn't aware that she had a history of doing this.

Hi Queen
I wasnt aware I had that history either.

Quote:

ahh no optimistic that they'll find out that evolution is more realistic that creation, optimistic that they'll learn why people are pro-choice, optimistic that they'll realize religion is not necessary for morality and so on. That's more realistic eh?

Thats assuming believers all believe the same I guess. Lets take a look at your examples my pretty.

optimism that they'll find out evolution is more realistic than creation

I am a believer and I say ABSOLUTELY evolution is far more "realistic"

optimism that they'll learn why people are pro choice

I have learned why people are pro choice however I am pro life.

optimism that they'll find out religion is not necessary for morality

No arguments there. I *agree* so you see one really doesnt necessarily have to deconvert for you to remain optimistic, you can be just as optimistic with believers

Quote:

Reality, science, tolerance and peace of mind are focal points in my life.

Mine too

Quote:

I like to see people acknowledging, accepting or using them. To that end, I remain optimistic about fundamentalists recognizing the flaws in their belief system.

No. You want to remain optimistic about fundamentalists recognizing *what you believe to be* flaws in their belief system. I think your *non* belief is flawed but thats simply my opinion and to each their own. I can't nor do I have a desire to change anyones beliefs to adhere to mine.

Quote:

"People" is such a generic term eh? I prefer to use the terms "liberal Christians" and "fundamentalists".

Why just those two? why not use the term "theist"? Since there are many that don't fit into either "liberal Christian" or "fundamentalist".
I personally could do without organized religion, but my belief is important to me.

Quote:

Amie, if you wish to continue a debate with me as to what I personally hope to achieve in posting on the Internet Infidels Discussion Board, please let me know and I will start another thread devoted to this topic

You couldn't debate me on toast.

Kidding Queen just kidding and btw I am actually rather fond of your weekly nutwatch

EDIT in trying to fix my plethora of grammatical and spelling errors...

Infinity Lover · 04-13-2003, 12:01 PM

Amie on toast... hmmm

(aw well; anything with Amie sounds good to me)

04-13-2003, 05:19 AM	#14
Godot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,335	back to the OP... Even for us evil atheist types, religion plays a part in our lives. At all times, our paths intersect with people and ideas that seethe from the religious sphere. Personally, I like to discuss it because I find it absolutely fascinating! I'm not likely to change my stance WRT religion (of any denomination), but I can still debate the finer points of it from a philosophical and naturalist perspective.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-13-2003, 05:32 AM	#15
ju'iblex Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Australia and beyond the realms of Gehenna Posts: 6,035	i come to learn, about a variety of things i would never encounter in real life. I have always been interested in religion though, every religion, it plays a large and important part in our history and present, and here i get to explore that on a number of levels.

04-13-2003, 05:44 AM	#16
Rousseau_CHN Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Nowhere Land Posts: 441	Because it is out there...and out there coming here. It must be stopped, and no way is it going to stop by itself. But another reason why I, an atheist, discuss it is because Atheism is about liberation. Atheism is free...nothing is a taboo, nothing is held sacred, everything is to be discussed, everything is to be doubted. Infinity, you make a hasty generalization when you say that we spend "so much" time discussing religion. I don't think that there are any atheist here who are so "atheist" that they spend so "much" time arguing about religion. There are other discussion board that we take part in. We are broad--we are expansive. Our lives are not confined to that narrow existence of proving that God is a lie.

04-13-2003, 11:06 AM	#17
Nostalgic Pushhead Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: So. Burlington, Vermont Posts: 4,315	I take a sick pleasure in laughing at fundamentalists. They just cause me much humor. I just find the mindset of extreme religion fascinating... I'm an atheist, but I don't think I have the skills to really debate, so I just follow threads and put in my uneducated 2 cents when I feel like it.

04-13-2003, 11:14 AM	#18
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	It's kind of funny - I usually do not discuss religion or anything related to religion with anyone outside of IIDB. IIDB is a way for me to talk (or vent ) about these things in an appropriate environment. Other than that, I let sleeping dogs lie. It may seem that atheists love to talk about God even more than Christians do - but this is a board for atheist discussion about different aspects about religion.

04-13-2003, 12:01 PM	#20
Infinity Lover Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,047	Amie on toast... hmmm (aw well; anything with Amie sounds good to me)

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.