sighhswolf

I would not say that this forum has changed any of
my core beliefs.
I would however say that this site has allowed me to grow as an individual by giving me the opportunity to state my personal opinions
and have them ripped up and spit back at me so that I was forced to research and back my assertions with some verifiable documentation.
I have learned much from the people in this forum who are without doubt some of the most intelligent individuals I have encountered.
This site continues to validate my opinions and thoughts concerning organized religion and it's effects on the human mind, by providing and endless supply of differing christian/religious views and promoting knowledge over emotion.
There are many questions that find no resolution
within ourselves, those questions presented in a forum such as this one allows the questioner to
get outside help and opinions that serve to validate or invalidate answers already formed but
never spoken.
This forum and the people who are regular contributors provide an invaluable source of
information and a gathering place for unpopular non-mainstream views.
It also allows us the opportunity to gain insight into the mental contortions that usually result from the incompatability of rational thought and reasoning VS. indoctrination.
Wolf

southernhybrid

Indifference,
I'm half way throught with The Demon-Haunted World, just starting The Dragons of Eden, and plan to start Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. However I got sidetracked by a fun and interesting book called, Owner's Manual for The Brain, by Pierce Howard. As soon as I finish that, I'll get back to the CS books. Of course if I don't get off of this forum, I'll never finish any of them. ( sorry for taking this thread off topic a bit )

Jewel

southernhybrid,

Those are all excellent Sagan books. I'm reading DHW for about the 10th time. Yummy stuff.

Eudaimonist

I was an atheist when I first arrived here, and I'm still an atheist, so nothing has changed there.

However, my impression of Buddhism has improved a little.

[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: Eudaimonist ]</p>

NOGO

Hi Karen,

I know that I had an impact on some people (some on this site) but you must understand that changing such a fundamental view of the world requires time. I am talking years.

Everything that is communicated with logic, intelligence and respect stays with a person. This information may lie dormant for years and then it all starts to make sense.

I had one fellow tell me that his religious group meant more to him than is father and mother. I confronted him on this and told him he was dead wrong. He, of course, did not listen. Many years later I reminded him of that discussion and he then realized in what bad shape he was in, back then.

The point here is simple. If I had not confronted him he would never have remebered his stated of mind back then. I planted a stake in his mind from which he was able to compare and understand how religion warps your mind.

I believe that believers must be confronted and they must be allowed to verbalize their beliefs. In time when they are good and ready the conversion will come from within.

We can indicate the door but they must open it.

Marduk

When I came here a few years ago looking for material about the History of the Bible & Religion, etc. I was an agnostic with leanings toward Buddhism. Now I am an agnostic with leanings toward Buddhism.

Bree

Mad Kally converted me with these words:

"It's all in the labels."

I realised that I was an atheist in belief - just was too afraid to CALL myself an atheist (somehow "liberal Christian" was less frightening).

The crossover has given me much more confidence in many other departments.

BibleBelted

This site played a major role in my finally rejecting theism.
Before coming here I was a lukewarm xian, going to a fundy church out of a misguided sense of family responsibility.
Tried for years to intellectually reconcile xian beliefs with reality. It bothered me that it took advanced degrees in divinity to craft answers to questions any 8-year-old could ask.
Got to where I was listening to or watching (TV) the goofiest, most extreme fundies out there. Must be some masochistic streak because I never thought they were anything but goofy.
Finally decided to see what the other side had to say. Don't ask me why I waited so long.
The clarity of thought exhibited here as contrasted with the fog of xian apologetics was staggering to me.
Quite by chance I started reading Ingersoll's "The Truth about the Holy Bible" and I was firmly de-converted before I even finished it.

PS: My worldview has changed as a consequence of my finally rejecting the bible as any sort of guide. You might call me a "recovering republican."

[ April 29, 2002: Message edited by: BibleBelted ]</p>

irishajo

Not this site in particular, but other secular sites really helped cement for me what I believe (or don't believe).

I read the articles on here now to help remind myself why I made the decision to suspend belief. Sometimes I get a little waffly, being an emotional human and all.

PopeInTheWoods

Hello Karen M,

When I first came to this site I had already slowly (over 16 years) morphed from a devout Catholic to a fuzzy sort of deist/pantheist/agnostic. I thought there might be some sort of "higher power" in the universe, aspects of which could be viewed through the "lenses" of the various religions. I still bought the historicity of Jesus and many other of the Middle Eastern myths. Over the past 2+ years this site (especially the material on comparative religions and history) has contributed to my becoming a much firmer atheist and metaphysical naturalist.

Andy