What Have You Gained (or Lost) at RF?

[SalixIncendium]

I lost my wings of Chaos and was burnt to Ash.

What felt like aeons passed. The Ash came into contact with something which brought Order to it. The Ash was lifted from the desert sands and sculpted into what I am now.

I no longer miss those wings. I am freer without them.

Is that you, Icarus?

 

[Secret Chief]

You will never see one of those from me. I think it's a silly cry for attention to announce one is leaving a forum.

If you no longer see me here, at that point, it's safe to assume I've left.

Sorry, I was panicking

 

[sayak83]

I initially joined RF to learn more about others and what makes them tick regarding their religion and beliefs. I also historically like to say things that promote thought, not to change anyone's beliefs or lack thereof, but just to bring to light an alternate perspective that perhaps hadn't been considered.

I had fun here over the years learning about others and engaging others as such conversation.

While there are a few that appear to have similar purpose to being here, I find myself jaded by discourse from those with the "I'm right and you're wrong" mentality or approach. It may just be my own perception, so I'm creating this poll to sate my curiosity.

What have you gained or hope to gain from being a part of our community?

RF saves me from even more stupid threads in Facebook, whatsApp Or twitter.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Really, I like to engage in argument, so for me, this is pretty much entertainment. Of course, I prefer the sort of argument wherein people bring their best, but are also prepared to listen to the best of others.

I have changed my mind several times during debates that are not about religion, but I think we all have to be honest -- without the threat of burning at the stake, religious views just don't seem amenable to change. (And even the stake only changes the outward expression. People continue to believe what they did before, they just hide it under a bushel.)

Thus, I have learned this about humans: we do not bring an open mind to any debate where our religious beliefs are concerned.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think I gained stinkership and turned into a nefarious imp wearing jeans and sporting a huge brass square belt buckle. I'm just waiting for my ears to grow now to complete the transformation.

 

[Secret Chief]

I like to engage in argument, so for me, this is pretty much entertainment

Can I ask in what way/s is it entertainment for you?

Thus, I have learned this about humans: we do not bring an open mind to any debate where our religious beliefs are concerned.

I suppose they are part of what constitutes our sense of what we "are" ? Would you agree it is more generally true of those beliefs we hold most dearly, not just religious ones?

 

[robocop (actually)]

I initially joined RF to learn more about others and what makes them tick regarding their religion and beliefs. I also historically like to say things that promote thought, not to change anyone's beliefs or lack thereof, but just to bring to light an alternate perspective that perhaps hadn't been considered.

I had fun here over the years learning about others and engaging others as such conversation.

While there are a few that appear to have similar purpose to being here, I find myself jaded by discourse from those with the "I'm right and you're wrong" mentality or approach. It may just be my own perception, so I'm creating this poll to sate my curiosity.

What have you gained or hope to gain from being a part of our community?

I learned that some atheists and satanists really want to attack my religion.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I learned that some atheists and satanists really want to attack my religion.

How does this make your religion feel?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Can I ask in what way/s is it entertainment for you?

I use the word argument in the sense of debate, exchanging ideas, usually with the goal of persuading others to see the value of those ideas. I enjoy being intellectually stimulated, and making one's case on complex or difficult topics is certainly one way to exercise your mind.

I suppose they are part of what constitutes our sense of what we "are" ? Would you agree it is more generally true of those beliefs we hold most dearly, not just religious ones?

Well, that seems to be the case for many people. I suppose to some extent it may be true of me as well -- BUT, in general, I do not hold any beliefs "dearly" that I have not first persuaded myself are true, for reasons that I can articulate. I have never believed in deities, because I can't find any reaon to do so. But my journey to Humanism was quite long, involved a great deal of reading philosophy, and a lot of thought.

 

[JustGeorge]

I initially joined RF to learn more about others and what makes them tick regarding their religion and beliefs. I also historically like to say things that promote thought, not to change anyone's beliefs or lack thereof, but just to bring to light an alternate perspective that perhaps hadn't been considered.

I had fun here over the years learning about others and engaging others as such conversation.

While there are a few that appear to have similar purpose to being here, I find myself jaded by discourse from those with the "I'm right and you're wrong" mentality or approach. It may just be my own perception, so I'm creating this poll to sate my curiosity.

What have you gained or hope to gain from being a part of our community?

The main reason I came wasn't on there, and it is companionship.

We didn't have the internet up until Covid hit. Though I didn't have much social life before that, I was a gym member, so I got to mingle with people most days. That went away with he precautions, and I missed people. I came here looking for socialization, and maybe even make a friend or two(I know, I'm optimistic).

It took me a little while to figure out what I wanted wasn't in the debate section. I don't like arguing; if I want to argue, I can ask my oldest son to scoop the cat boxes, or my middle son to do his math work, so I got plenty of that already. But, once I found where to go, and where not to go, its been a suitable platform for my needs most days.

I sure don't get any exercise out of it, though.

 

[Secret Chief]

Thank you for the reply.

I use the word argument in the sense of debate, exchanging ideas, usually with the goal of persuading others to see the value of those ideas. I enjoy being intellectually stimulated, and making one's case on complex or difficult topics is certainly one way to exercise your mind.

I appreciate you meant debate. I'm curious I suppose because your motivation seems so different than mine. I see very little persuasion, maybe it occurs occasionally, maybe in the privacy of offline? Typically with religious debates on here, what I see is a theist believing x, an atheist believing y and then 17,873 posts later the theist believes x and the atheist believes y.

Well, that seems to be the case for many people. I suppose to some extent it may be true of me as well -- BUT, in general, I do not hold any beliefs "dearly" that I have not first persuaded myself are true, for reasons that I can articulate. I have never believed in deities, because I can't find any reaon to do so. But my journey to Humanism was quite long, involved a great deal of reading philosophy, and a lot of thought.

Perhaps you're a (relatively) old fart like me (?!)....my beliefs have developed/firmed up/solidified over decades. I'm not sure some posts on the internet are going to have much impact on them (for better or worse). I'm sure if I was here as an 18 year old it would be a very different proposition.

Just some thoughts. Just.

 

[Secret Chief]

The main reason I came wasn't on there, and it is companionship.

We didn't have the internet up until Covid hit. Though I didn't have much social life before that, I was a gym member, so I got to mingle with people most days. That went away with he precautions, and I missed people. I came here looking for socialization, and maybe even make a friend or two(I know, I'm optimistic).

It took me a little while to figure out what I wanted wasn't in the debate section. I don't like arguing; if I want to argue, I can ask my oldest son to scoop the cat boxes, or my middle son to do his math work, so I got plenty of that already. But, once I found where to go, and where not to go, its been a suitable platform for my needs most days.

I sure don't get any exercise out of it, though.

So when you can go back to the gym you'll just drop RF like a hot potato huh? Fair weather friends!

 

[JustGeorge]

So when you can go back to the gym you'll just drop RF like a hot potato huh? Fair weather friends!

In the place I live, there are mandates against mask mandates.

I don't go anywhere public besides stores, and then its get in, get out.

I think its safe to say you're stuck with me for awhile.

 

[Secret Chief]

In the place I live, there are mandates against mask mandates.

I don't go anywhere public besides stores, and then its get in, get out.

I think its safe to say you're stuck with me for awhile.

Huzzah!

 

[robocop (actually)]

How does this make your religion feel?

If you're seriously asking,

I don't think people are wicked, but it makes me think Satan is spreading all matter of lies through them to misguide and destroy humanity.

 

[osgart]

I've learned that everyone has axiomatic assumptions in regards to their worldviews.

I learned about naturalism as well.

I was fishing for good arguments for theism.

I was also fishing for better religions than the ones I'm used to.

I learned that life marches on and that I've been here for 5 years, and not one sniff of bacon.

 

[firedragon]

I initially joined RF to learn more about others and what makes them tick regarding their religion and beliefs. I also historically like to say things that promote thought, not to change anyone's beliefs or lack thereof, but just to bring to light an alternate perspective that perhaps hadn't been considered.

I had fun here over the years learning about others and engaging others as such conversation.

While there are a few that appear to have similar purpose to being here, I find myself jaded by discourse from those with the "I'm right and you're wrong" mentality or approach. It may just be my own perception, so I'm creating this poll to sate my curiosity.

What have you gained or hope to gain from being a part of our community?

I do not like to talk about myself.

But, I can tell you, without quoting names that at least one person pursued his Phd based on one single and simple proposition by an absolute layman.

Maybe this is irrelevant to your post so I apologise if that is the case.

 

[Sirona]

I was very much surprised to find that this "religious forum(s)" mostly or to a large part seems to provide a "safe haven" for atheists. Of all places, I wouldn't have expected you here.

I learned that RF is something like an "exception" and seemingly does not reflect the current "religious climate" in the U. S., which is somewhat important to me given the fact that many religious movements sweeping the world had their origin or characteristic formation in the United States.

 

[The Hammer]

I lost my sanity thanks to RF.

 

[SomeRandom]