Mageth

I just wondered if anyone had considered the possibility that you may be increasing legitimate Christian faith by challenging it so well?

I suspect that for every believer for which this board has strengthened their faith, there are at least two non-believers for which this board has served to affirm their unbelief. And I'm one of them.

And note that we've had several deconversions on this board, but I can't recall anyone converting to Xianity due to this board.

You all do make us think and seriously question our faith.

And that is a good thing. It has always been my opinion that any Christian who shuts down his rational mind and stops questioning his Christian beliefs is at best ---a very shallow Christian.

Well said. I agree totally.

I as a Christian have always found it very difficult to find anything of any real importance or any kind of veracity about Christianity from the usual sources. You either get the fundy stuff or pretty much nothing at all.

I have thought many times--"I wish I knew more about Christianity. I wish I knew its background and its historical perspective. so I can more clearly and legitimately define my faith" Very hard to find that anywhere.

Have you ever read Joseph Campbell? If not, I think you might find some of his books most enlightening and challenging. I'd particularly suggest An Open Life as an introduction and, for a more detailed analysis of the Judeo-Christian mythology, Thou Art That. Campbell truly changed my perspective on Christianity and religions in general. His books are a challenge for theists and non-theists alike.

Rational BAC

I agree with you completely. If a Christian wants to learn about Christianity---a theology web is the worst place in the world to do that. It is a craphole.

If a continuing-questioning and perenially sceptical Christian (the best kind) really wants to learn about Christianity then-----

-----Hey--dis is da place.

------No better place in the world. But when you think about it---that is such a "strange thing". ---- That it is possible for a Christian to become a much better and more honest Christian by joining this forum------

-----n'est-ce pas?

HelenM

I thought you wrote/meant that your faith had been strengthened but evidently not - so I'll change my question...

Ok then - what specifically have you learned about Christianity from this forum?

Helen

Jinto

It's no surprise that you have learned more about Christianity from this forum than from so-called Christian forums. After all, we are your strongest opponents.

"To know thyself, ask thy enemy" - unknown.

keyser_soze

This forum is generally, amongst most other forums, gained the reputation of being the "highest" level of POPULAR debate. There are other areas to get into very detailed subject matter, but they are usually lists. If you wish to debate religion from the "Pro" side, you had better be good here. Sure there are some pretty lousy debaters(magus, etc...) but they are given very little attention, and we really only use them to sharpen our sarcasm claws and to remind ourselves why we left religion in the first place. But there are topics here that are top notch. You'll find the likes of Peter, vorkosigan, yuri....etc. These are the topics that get WAY into the details, including all of the other sources that people outside of biblical scholarship rarely hear about. You see discussions debating the literary content of the original languages meaning.

The short of it? Higher caliber theologists and skeptics in the good threads. A higher level of discussion in general, but there are low points as with every public site. If you are looking for serious information, I don't think you can go wrong with this area no matter what you are looking for. Especially if you are honest with yourself.

Rational BAC

Helen -------

--------not to seem to be putting you off. ---- But I can't really answer that yet and still be honest and accurate about this subject. I don't like half-baked pies---so I am not going to make one. I am still learning. Give me a year or two.

I have the time (God willing). And I am sure you do too.

HelenM

I don't understand why you need a year or two to say what you've learned specifically, since you already said:

If you'd said "I expect to learn a lot here" or "I'm sure I will learn a lot here" then I would understand. But how can you say you have already learned a lot, yet not be able to tell me specifically what you've learned

Helen

PopeInTheWoods

Interesting observations, .07 .

It's really not that strange, especially if you think about it. In many of the fora here, atheists argue (mostly) rationally and intelligently about many issues. Intelligent people can disagree about the wisdom of the Iraqi War, the interpretation of works of literature, and the future of human evolution, among other things. Why can't they disagree on religious issues, especially given the vastly different backgrounds represented among the members here? All that is required in these discussions is logic and evidence, after that there are many interpretations of both.

Andy

p.s. Doh! And after the compliments on your spelling! It's "perennially skeptical".

Aradia

Perhaps because he is still in the process of learning. It may not be as simple as facts and figures. It may be more than just "I've learned that Jesus wasn't really crucified in AD33". And if it *isn't* just tidbits of academic knowledge, it may be presumptuous to talk about what one has learned if one still hasn't finished digesting the information.

I've learned quite a bit about my own beliefs, from visiting both atheist and christian forums. But I haven't learned any academic knowledge because most people don't know anything about buddhism. Learning can be a time-consuming process.

Aradia

In 10+ years of being online, I think you're the first american I've seen who knew how to spell "n'est-ce pas". That alone wins lots of points.