beyelzu

I think the last few posts really demonstrate the difference between the atheist and the theist mind.


Both Muffinstuffer and assorted atheists agree that the xian god can not be completely reconciled with logic, facts or the natural world.

Muffinstuffer chooses faith to fill in the holes and sweep the contradictions to the back of his mind.

Those of us that are strong atheists/ metaphysical naturalists point to this and proclaim,"Aha, there can be no god."


This might also be the point where frustration sets in. Agreement on facts and disagreement on interpetation?



and ronin I resent you comparing the great mother, or Mrs. Goose, to the bible. Her tales are well grounded in fact when compared to burning bushes, and intagible omnipresent, omnipoitent omniscient gods.

Muffinstuffer

Sure you are. I never said people couldn't get upset. The entire point of my first post was not that people should NOT get upset...it was more along the lines of understanding that people who do try to witness might be doing so with genuine concern and care, and not a spirit of "Heheh, another victim."

Besides, from what I have seen, a) my frustrations don't get quite as violent as some I have seen on the IIDB, and b) even when I wasn't 'saved' I didn't get witnessed to anywhere near as much as people here discuss religion with me.

Muffinstuffer

I believe there is a difference between an entire refutation of the Bible/Christian dogma/etc., and asking questions of a Christian until he can't answer them all. I hardly think you've refuted the ENTIRE Christian Bible/dogma, being as quite a lot of it is grounded in fact.

I will, and it does.

Muffinstuffer

Really? I hadn't been aware of that.

So, in other words, no matter what subject is brought up, I must accept the repeated cries of "Your religion is ludicrous" and "It's a bunch of fairy tales" over and over?

Once again, my problem is not with accepting atheist views on religion and the like. Countless other atheists here (Rhea is one that comes to mind) have managed to express almost the exact same opinion as others, yet do so in a more respectful manner. Yet, when I express displeasure at some of the more vehement posts here, I'm essentially told "Hey, you posted here about this subject, you asked questions, deal with it."

NonHomogenized

So, let's say I walk into a bible study group, and do what you do here. I have people tell me my ideas are preposterous, and that they make no sense, and that I'm going to hell for saying those things. Would you agree or disagree that it's my fault for going to a group of christians (who are together *because* of their christianity), and talking about my beliefs (assuming I was aware in advance that they were all familiar with secular humanism, atheism, and so forth), and that therefore any complaining I do about the treatment I recieved is akin to complaining about being burned, after touching a red-hot stove to see if it's warm?

Rational BAC

I have tried to tell Muffin this before. This is an atheist board. Theists have a relatively easy time of it on this particular part of the forum because of its title.

But, I think any theist must realize that this is an atheist forum. We are in strange territory here. Have to have a pretty thick skin or you shouldn't come here.

Comes with the territory.

Laugh it off or make fun back

(of course in a very nice way---nothing unsettles atheists I think more than a "nice" Christian. )

And go on.

Don't expect to be treated completely fairly here. Do you think an atheist would not be ganged up on and dumped on very emotionally on a Christian forum? Of course they would. I have been to some of those Christian forums. They are not particularly nice to "outsiders" either.

All in all, I think this forum tries to be pretty even-handed. But cannot expect perfection in that way.

Muffinstuffer

I would expect them to tell you their opinion, true, BUT I would also expect them to tell you their opinion in a respectful manner.

Let me make this easy for y'all. Just do whatever you feel like. If you're being disrespectful or rude, I'll just ignore that particular post. I can see this is not going to go anywhere.

Muffinstuffer

You are correct. I can say that I truly am making an effort to laugh stuff off or make fun back. And I can DEFINITELY say that not all of the Christian forums are even handed either. (Although I will say that just about every week, someone pipes up and says "Uh, guys, how about 1 Corinthians 13?" or something.)

Starboy

Hello! Anybody home? Many atheists do not accept Christianity because they think it is ludicrous. Write that down some place and commit it to memory. If you want a frank and open discussion then you will hear that from atheists. On an atheist board chock full of atheists you will hear it often. Shocking isn't it. <flame deleted - liv>
Look Muffy, you don't have to accept anything. But if you want to know what atheists think and how they feel about the subject of Christianity then ask question, read and try to understand that on the one subject that appears to represent the core of your life many of us think it is bogus. Many of us have suffered at the hands of Christians and hold no love or respect for them. Now if you can't handle this you should not be posting here. Just like people everywhere, you will not get the respect you think you deserve until you accept us on our own terms.

I will also point out to you one more time, that if frank and open discussion about your religion is uncomfortable for you and you still insist on posting here then why don't you pick a topic that atheists and you might have in common. If you don't like divisiveness then don't pick divisive topics.

Starboy

Rational BAC

You are going to make me actually look something up in a Bible aren't you Muffin?

Don't have one nearby though.

What is contained in 1 Corinthians 13?