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To the Christians here...

ned flandas

Thinker
N
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
215
Just out of interest, why are you here?

Do you beleive that God has called you here to witness to skeptical people?

Do you just enjoy the banter?

Do you learn from debating with non-Christians?


all the best

ned
 
ned flandas said:
Just out of interest, why are you here?

Do you beleive that God has called you here to witness to skeptical people?

Do you just enjoy the banter?

Do you learn from debating with non-Christians?


all the best

ned
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You missed a group, there are a number of Christians here because they believe in what the JREF is doing and don't find their faith to be in conflict with the goals of the "skeptical movement".
 
God is hope, that is, people hope it exists.

Skepticism doens't equal atheism, but theism lacks skepticism about, at least, one god.
 
ned flandas said:
Just out of interest, why are you here?

Do you beleive that God has called you here to witness to skeptical people?

Do you just enjoy the banter?

Do you learn from debating with non-Christians?


all the best

ned
Click to expand...

How one dimensional can you get?
 
Moochie said:
Yes, skepticism doesn't equal atheism. But it sure helps. :)

M.
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There are very few people who are sceptical about everything; in fact I would contend that no one is equally sceptical about every subject. ("Darling, I love you" "Evidence?" :p )
Many of the Christians who are here accept scepticism for those areas which make testable claims, but have faith in God because they know they are not making a testable claim. On the other hand "fundamentalist" or literalist Christianity (or any other religion) doesn’t sit well with scepticism at all.
 
Martin Gardner, a founder member of CSICOP and, through his writings, in many ways a standard bearer of modern scepticism, is a theist.

His defence for his belief in god? "Because it comforts me."

Such a defence completely skirts the epistemological issues surrounding god's existence, and instead applies a utilitarian motivation. Such is, I think, the most rational approach.

'Luthon64
 
rocketdodger said:
Don't you mean the only rational approach?
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Well, we may never exhaust the supply of possible approaches in this context, and there may be among them one of greater rational appeal that hasn't yet surfaced. Short of that, and given the ones that have hitherto been offered, I am strongly inclined to agree with you.

'Luthon64
 
ned flandas said:
Just out of interest, why are you here?
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As an atheist, I can't answer for Christians (even though I was one once), but from a reverse perspective, I can answer similar questions as to why I posted (call it trolling if you must) on some Christian boards. (Edits in red.)

ned flandas said:
Do you beleive that duty has called you here to witness to Christian people?
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One purpose in going to those boards was to demonstrate the beliefs and behavior of an actual atheist. Most of them have never had a polite conversation with one and seen how much they might have in common. Another purpose was to learn what they thought so that I might avoid making strawmen of Christians.

ned flandas said:
Do you just enjoy the banter?
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Sometimes it was good, although it was quite repetitive. But for the rare times when I found a truly bright and original thinker, it was worth it.

ned flandas said:
Do you learn from debating with Christians?
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A very great deal, mostly about people.
 
Tricky said:
As an atheist, I can't answer for Christians (even though I was one once), but from a reverse perspective, I can answer similar questions as to why I posted (call it trolling if you must) on some Christian boards. (Edits in red.)


One purpose in going to those boards was to demonstrate the beliefs and behavior of an actual atheist. Most of them have never had a polite conversation with one and seen how much they might have in common. Another purpose was to learn what they thought so that I might avoid making strawmen of Christians.


Sometimes it was good, although it was quite repetitive. But for the rare times when I found a truly bright and original thinker, it was worth it.

A very great deal, mostly about people.
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Hi Tricky

I have to say that I don't come on here very often as some people seem far too agressive about bashing Christians.

The agression doesnt bother me, but as we all have limited time here on this earth (whatever you beleive in) I'd rather be debating with people where we can learn from each other.

I wish there were more people here like yourself (and there probably is but i've missed them) that make this place an enjoyable and educational place too.
 
ned flandas said:
Hi Tricky

I have to say that I don't come on here very often as some people seem far too agressive about bashing Christians.

The agression doesnt bother me, but as we all have limited time here on this earth (whatever you beleive in) I'd rather be debating with people where we can learn from each other.

I wish there were more people here like yourself (and there probably is but i've missed them) that make this place an enjoyable and educational place too.
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Weird. So you're saying you don't come here because you don't like people who bash other people's opinions, and you make your point by bashing other people's opinions? You might wanna work on that hypocrisy a little.

You seem to be saying that:

1) This is not an 'enjoyable' or 'educational' place

- Well, why are you here then?

2) That you don't believe you can learn anything from the people here, or they from you.

- Well, why are you here then?

I have another few questions.

Can you provide links to posts or threads in this forum that you think constitute "bashing" of Christians?

And

Why are you specifically offended by Christian* bashing and not, say Homeopath bashing, Psychic bashing, Modern Art bashing or Hammegk bashing?

Many thanks.




*I resisted the urge to put "Bishop bashing" instead
 
Tricky said:
Another purpose was to learn what they thought so that I might avoid making strawmen of Christians.
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I agree and will take the thought one step further. I sometimes wander over to Rapture Ready, in part to observer and learn, but also to see what kind of arguments are well received and what are not. (As in, "to put forth an argument", I don't go there just to argue with them.)
 
I have spent no small amount of time on religious forums and chat groups. Usually I feel like the interloper wandering into territory controlled by those who see themselves as my opposition.

Usually I am not the only one but I am often the most moderate of the non-theist group.

I consider myself an agnostic however, rather than an atheist. The differences are largely semantic but the statement of ignorance of a divine being sits easier with me than the statement of disbelief or doubt in it.

I would say I go there mainly to learn. In most forums the religion section is the one with the most interesting debates and discussions and can range from the highly scientific to the purely theoretical. Mindlessly tedious banter and posturing seem to take a back seat to thought provoking discourse and that appeals greatly to me.

Furthermore I am always interested in learning a new perspective on the subject.

I suspect that reasons Christians have for coming here are very similar.
 
tkingdoll said:
Why are you specifically offended by Christian* bashing and not, say Homeopath bashing, Psychic bashing, Modern Art bashing or Hammegk bashing?
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I'm not offended by any kind of bashing, its just that there seems to be a lot of mindless insults which is a bit of a waste of time.

If someone wants to bash my faith in order to make me rethink what I beleive then thats absolutely fine. I think its healthy to do that and many Christians should do or otherwise they are brainwashed and that is when the problems occur.
 
ned flandas said:
Hi Tricky

I have to say that I don't come on here very often as some people seem far too agressive about bashing Christians.

The agression doesnt bother me, but as we all have limited time here on this earth (whatever you beleive in) I'd rather be debating with people where we can learn from each other.

I wish there were more people here like yourself (and there probably is but i've missed them) that make this place an enjoyable and educational place too.
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I know what you mean, Ned. I met incredible hostility on some of the Christian boards because I pulled no punches and said exactly what I felt. I do understand how many feel here because we atheists are persecuted too. That shouldn't excuse bad manners though. However, I find you make a lot of headway on any hostile board using one simple phrase:

"I could be wrong."

Here's one question I had to answer a lot, and I did the best job I could. "What would it take to convince you that you were wrong."

May I pose that question to you?
 
Off the top of my head, I suppose I would have to be convinced that the God I pray to does not exist.
 
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