Atheist looking for religious debate. Any religion. Let's see if I can be convinced.

[infrabenji]

Hello, I'm new to online forums. I chose this one specifically because I think it is very thought provoking. I love understanding and questioning different religious beliefs. I hope to have a debate that is robust, intriguing, and intellectually honest. I'm happy to debate anyone from any religious discipline and educational background. I currently do not have anyone to debate. I'll edit my title post, if possible, once the affirmative position has been occupied. Thanks in advance to anyone who will agree to debate. I'm ready to be convinced. Are you?

 

[Deeje]

Hello, I'm new to online forums. I chose this one specifically because I think it is very thought provoking. I love understanding and questioning different religious beliefs. I hope to have a debate that is robust, intriguing, and intellectually honest. I'm happy to debate anyone from any religious discipline and educational background. I currently do not have anyone to debate. I'll edit my title post, if possible, once the affirmative position has been occupied. Thanks in advance to anyone who will agree to debate. I'm ready to be convinced. Are you?

Hello and welcome.

A little background would be helpful to know where you have come from and what led you to atheism.....?

What are you wanting to be convinced of.....and what is the likelihood of anyone changing your mind?

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I'm a Left Hand Path Hindu person. If you debate me, my stance will be explaining that there's a vast world outside of the most popular religion, Christianity, and focus on thinking outside the box and kind of exploring that. On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being best, my current debate skill level is I'd say a 4.5, usually I'm not that serious on this forum - but I'll make an exception should we decide to talk.

 

[JoshuaTree]

Hello, I'm new to online forums. I chose this one specifically because I think it is very thought provoking. I love understanding and questioning different religious beliefs. I hope to have a debate that is robust, intriguing, and intellectually honest. I'm happy to debate anyone from any religious discipline and educational background. I currently do not have anyone to debate. I'll edit my title post, if possible, once the affirmative position has been occupied. Thanks in advance to anyone who will agree to debate. I'm ready to be convinced. Are you?

So what makes you think you are an atheist?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Hello, I'm new to online forums. I chose this one specifically because I think it is very thought provoking. I love understanding and questioning different religious beliefs. I hope to have a debate that is robust, intriguing, and intellectually honest. I'm happy to debate anyone from any religious discipline and educational background. I currently do not have anyone to debate. I'll edit my title post, if possible, once the affirmative position has been occupied. Thanks in advance to anyone who will agree to debate. I'm ready to be convinced. Are you?

Your in for an easy time. *grin*

Welcome to the rabble.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Hello, I'm new to online forums. I chose this one specifically because I think it is very thought provoking. I love understanding and questioning different religious beliefs. I hope to have a debate that is robust, intriguing, and intellectually honest. I'm happy to debate anyone from any religious discipline and educational background. I currently do not have anyone to debate. I'll edit my title post, if possible, once the affirmative position has been occupied. Thanks in advance to anyone who will agree to debate. I'm ready to be convinced. Are you?

I'ma try this a bit different. What are your core values you can't part with for anything and anyone in the world?

 

[sun rise]

Welcome to RF from this former atheist.

 

[stvdv]

I love understanding and questioning different religious beliefs. I hope to have a debate that is robust, intriguing, and intellectually honest

Welcome to RF @infrabenji

My spiritual path has no problem with Atheists or Theists. No need to change your (non)faith. So, I leave others to debate you.

Love, Peace and Blessings
Namaste

 

[infrabenji]

Hello and welcome.

A little background would be helpful to know where you have come from and what led you to atheism.....?

What are you wanting to be convinced of.....and what is the likelihood of anyone changing your mind?

Critical thinking and skepticism led me to Atheism. For a little background. I have an associates in religion, a bachelor's in theology, an associates in philosophy, and am a law student. I've always been fascinated by world religions and have continued my education on the subject in spite of my other studies. In answer to your question, " What am I willing to be convinced of"? I'm willing to be convinced of the truth. I want my model of reality to match actual reality as closely as possible. I find discourse to be one of the many tools we can use to root out fallacious beliefs that would misalign our model of reality with actual reality. I'm very open to changing my mind if the evidence warrants it. I like science am not static.

 

[infrabenji]

So what makes you think you are an atheist?

Critical thinking and skepticism. I'm not afraid to say "I don't know" when sufficient evidence has not been furnished to warrant a belief. Also, I'm not afraid of being wrong. So I decided to go online and test the truth of my beliefs. I imagine there will be a lot of I don't knows on my part. I don't believe in absolute certainty so the sky's the limit. Looking forward to a debate. Thanks for the question. I hope I answered it sufficiently.

 

[Deeje]

Critical thinking and skepticism led me to Atheism. For a little background. I have an associates in religion, a bachelor's in theology, an associates in philosophy, and am a law student. I've always been fascinated by world religions and have continued my education on the subject in spite of my other studies. In answer to your question, " What am I willing to be convinced of"? I'm willing to be convinced of the truth. I want my model of reality to match actual reality as closely as possible. I find discourse to be one of the many tools we can use to root out fallacious beliefs that would misalign our model of reality with actual reality. I'm very open to changing my mind if the evidence warrants it. I like science am not static.

Well that gives me a bit of insight into your 'credentials' and that you have studied and graduated in "religion", "theology " and "philosophy" and presently studying "law".....

I have to ask what your study of "religion" gave you?....as well as how well your study of "theology" actually included the Bible....the whole Bible, not just the verses that seem to support a certain belief? And how philosophy and its influence entered into the picture.

Critical thinking and skepticism led me away from the churches....but not away from God or the Bible, both of which sit very comfortably with provable science, for me, but not necessarily with theoretical science, with which I have issues.

So let me ask you firstly what conclusions your studies in religion gave you? and work from there.....

 

[infrabenji]

I'm a Left Hand Path Hindu person. If you debate me, my stance will be explaining that there's a vast world outside of the most popular religion, Christianity, and focus on thinking outside the box and kind of exploring that. On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being best, my current debate skill level is I'd say a 4.5, usually I'm not that serious on this forum - but I'll make an exception should we decide to talk.

Thank you so much for your response. By far the most enticing so far. I might be a little beyond a 4.5. I honestly never thought of rating myself lol. I have a fairly decent education with several degrees on the subject of religion. I would be taking the negative chair in the debate. We would be testing the validity of each others statements to flush out the truth and whether, given the soundness of our statements, belief is actually warranted. All I would ask and I think you'll agree with me is that, if no argument is made that meets the criteria for soundness and validity, we will be intellectually honest and give the discussed beliefs pause to apply appropriate skepticism. Also, I love to think outside the box and would love to hear more about the world outside Christianity as well as your own beliefs. Thanks again. I hope you're having an awesome day!

 

[JoshuaTree]

Critical thinking and skepticism. I'm not afraid to say "I don't know" when sufficient evidence has not been furnished to warrant a belief. Also, I'm not afraid of being wrong. So I decided to go online and test the truth of my beliefs. I imagine there will be a lot of I don't knows on my part. I don't believe in absolute certainty so the sky's the limit. Looking forward to a debate. Thanks for the question. I hope I answered it sufficiently.

So you believe in things for which sufficient evidence has not been furnished? What things are those, can you provide an example?

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Thank you so much for your response. By far the most enticing so far. I might be a little beyond a 4.5. I honestly never thought of rating myself lol. I have a fairly decent education with several degrees on the subject of religion.

And I have more or less two years on this forum which has a diverse range of religious and nonreligious personalities. Guess we'll be testing book smarts vs. street smarts . I'm kidding! I find it respectable your background and education. I can see if I hold up.

I would be taking the negative chair in the debate. We would be testing the validity of each others statements to flush out the truth and whether, given the soundness of our statements, belief is actually warranted. All I would ask and I think you'll agree with me is that, if no argument is made that meets the criteria for soundness and validity, we will be intellectually honest and give the discussed beliefs pause to apply appropriate skepticism. Thanks again. I hope you're having an awesome day!

I agree to these terms with one request - that you create the opening post and give it a bit of length, maybe half a page or one page or if necessary, two pages. Even if your post ends up listing a lot of "I don't believe _______."'s. It will still give me something to work with.

I am having a pretty good day. I look forward to a one on one.

 

[infrabenji]

So what makes you think you are an atheist?

I think I'm an atheist because there isn't another word that I feel accurately describes my position on the claim that there is a supernatural or a god or gods of any kind. I typically stick to the simple definition as someone who has rejected the claim that a god or gods of any kind exist due to a lack of evidence. I simply say "I don't know" in the absence of evidence. I don't believe in absolute certainty. I'm always prepared to be wrong. If you have evidence, present it.

 

[JoshuaTree]

I think I'm an atheist because there isn't another word that I feel accurately describes my position on the claim that there is a supernatural or a god or gods of any kind. I typically stick to the simple definition as someone who has rejected the claim that a god or gods of any kind exist due to a lack of evidence. I simply say "I don't know" in the absence of evidence. I don't believe in absolute certainty. I'm always prepared to be wrong. If you have evidence, present it.

So you you are an atheist due to lack of evidence of (a) God? Couldn't you have just as easily been a believer (call it what you like) due to lack of evidence these is no God? Do you think your decision to be atheist was deliberate, random, or fated?

 

[infrabenji]

Well that gives me a bit of insight into your 'credentials' and that you have studied and graduated in "religion", "theology " and "philosophy" and presently studying "law".....

I have to ask what your study of "religion" gave you?....as well as how well your study of "theology" actually included the Bible....the whole Bible, not just the verses that seem to support a certain belief? And how philosophy and its influence entered into the picture.

Critical thinking and skepticism led me away from the churches....but not away from God or the Bible, both of which sit very comfortably with provable science, for me, but not necessarily with theoretical science, with which I have issues.

So let me ask you firstly what conclusions your studies in religion gave you? and work from there.....

Honestly, my studies in religion have led me to lean more towards religion being a man made construct. Just the quality of evidence alone for any god or gods to exist should give anyone pause. Pause and then robust but thoughtful debate to test and test again the validity of the information new and old.

 

[infrabenji]

And I have more or less two years on this forum which has a diverse range of religious and nonreligious personalities. Guess we'll be testing book smarts vs. street smarts . I'm kidding! I find it respectable your background and education. I can see if I hold up.



I agree to these terms with one request - that you create the opening post and give it a bit of length, maybe half a page or one page or if necessary, two pages. Even if your post ends up listing a lot of "I don't believe _______."'s. It will still give me something to work with.

I am having a pretty good day. I look forward to a one on one.

Sorry, I'm new here. How do I open a page or two?

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Sorry, I'm new here. How do I open a page or two?

I was just saying that you could start a thread in the One on One forum and in the opening post, meaning the first post, write some of your thoughts to begin things. Begin the debate.

But I forgot for a second you were new. If it would be easier for me to start the thread, and begin the discussion/debate, let me know. I can do it.

 

[infrabenji]

So you you are an atheist due to lack of evidence of (a) God? Couldn't you have just as easily been a believer (call it what you like) due to lack of evidence these is no God? Do you think your decision to be atheist was deliberate, random, or fated?

It was deliberate. The burden of proof lies with the one making the claim. I think people do believe because their isn't evidence against that they can find. But that is fallacious reasoning and should be avoided. I stand unconvinced, simply. I'll leave it up to the people making the claim to provide sufficient evidence if that is their prerogative. My studies have lead me to a place where I can open mindedly respect the beliefs of others without adopting them in the absence of proof.