Why do atheists haunt religious forums?

[Misty]

as explained before this is a Religious Education Forum, with forums and directories for both Christians and Satanists, Buddhists and Atheists, this is a site for believers of God, believers in the Norse gods, believers in the Egyptian gods, 'Satan worshippers', followers of the Dharma, and 'non believers' or atheists (oh no!), your problem lays in a simple confusion of what this forum is, or for whom it is intended, no where do we tell people that this forum is exclusively for the religious.

for more info on this misconception that some of our new users seem to have a problem swallowing, click this link:
http://www.religiousforums.com/foru...0286-atheists-so-why-we-really-religious.html

Why don't some Christians realise this forum is open to all? As this is a debating forum you have to expect your position on matters of faith to be challenged. If it makes you unhappy there are lots of Christian forums out there where you will be banned if you don't sing from the same hymn sheet.

 

[Big_TJ]

um...
I don't know about that.
I mean you got over 38,000 different sects of Christianity all claiming to follow the Bible.

Interesting that you said this . . . I took a look in the Same Faith forum and was almost sure that I was in some other forum. Seem "same faith" have little or no meaning after all, or is just a complete paradox

 

[Caladan]

Interesting that you said this . . . I took a look in the Same Faith forum and was almost sure that I was in some other forum. Seem "same faith" have little or no meaning after all, or is just a complete paradox

It depends on your analysis. 'same faith' means issues from ANY specific faith can be discussed in a specific thread.

 

[Autodidact]

I'm agnostic and like all atheists and everyone else am entitled to my opinion. There is no law stating than those that hate cooking can't join a cooking forum. However as welcome as you are I am entitled to think that it is bizarre...and I do. I'm looking for stats re atheists on religious forums vs theists on athiest forums. I wonder whom appears more needy?

I thought God believers were the minority. Apparently 92% of Americans believe in God. So I guess stating that believers in God are morons, stupid, uneducated etc is a dire condemnation on ones own society. More than half do not want an atheist in the White House.

In my previous post I titled the post "Atheists belong". You must belong because so many atheists love this site and get so bent at any suggestion that it is a little bizarre to some.. and I reiterate many people believe and have faith in myth, it's just not always called religion.

To those atheists that have invited me to go elsewhere...many atheists belittle theists in the most deragatory terms then get pretty bent out of shape when it's fired back. Poor possums! If you can't take it...don't dish it out.

You're missing the point. You should participate where you are comfortable. If you are not comfortable debating with atheists, then you will not be comfortable here, and may want to find a place where you will be more comfortable. Cuz it ain't gonna change.

 

[Magic Man]

I'm agnostic and like all atheists and everyone else am entitled to my opinion. There is no law stating than those that hate cooking can't join a cooking forum. However as welcome as you are I am entitled to think that it is bizarre...and I do. I'm looking for stats re atheists on religious forums vs theists on athiest forums. I wonder whom appears more needy?

Sure, you're entitled to think it's bizarre, and we're entitled to think you're not all there for asking the question, getting the answer, and then still thinking it's bizarre and making insinuations like atheists are more needy than theists. Also, you're assuming atheists all hate religion. That couldn't be farther from the truth. One more thing: it's "I wonder who appears more needy".

I thought God believers were the minority. Apparently 92% of Americans believe in God. So I guess stating that believers in God are morons, stupid, uneducated etc is a dire condemnation on ones own society. More than half do not want an atheist in the White House.

Who has stated that believers in God are morons, stupid, uneducated, etc.? Yes, most people don't want a non-Christian in the White House. I'm not sure what point you're trying to use that to support.

In my previous post I titled the post "Atheists belong". You must belong because so many atheists love this site and get so bent at any suggestion that it is a little bizarre to some..

It is a little annoying when people keep bringing this up because it's such an easy thing to figure out. That's why we might seem to "get so bent". It's only bizarre if you don't realize that religion is a fascinating subject. Once you realize that, if you still think it's bizarre, it's because you have a warped view of atheists.

To those atheists that have invited me to go elsewhere...many atheists belittle theists in the most deragatory terms then get pretty bent out of shape when it's fired back. Poor possums! If you can't take it...don't dish it out.

If people here have invited you to go elsewhere, it's probably said as "If you don't like conversing with atheists, maybe a different forum would suit you better", not as "You should leave; we don't want you here". Many atheists do not belittle theists in the most derogatory terms. There are probably a few that do, but the majority are polite and reasonable. You're not talking to anyone here who does that. So the people you're accusing of getting bent out of shape are not the ones who do that to believers. It's not surprising, though, that you seem unaffected by the replies of atheists here. You're obviously set in your prejudiced view of atheists, so don't let us stand in your way.

 

[newhope101]

Quote: It is a little annoying when people keep bringing this up because it's such an easy thing to figure out. That's why we might seem to "get so bent". It's only bizarre if you don't realize that religion is a fascinating subject. Once you realize that, if you still think it's bizarre, it's because you have a warped view of atheists.

I started this thread to give believers and or creationists another venue to debrief in. It has turned into a thread where atheists defend themselves. This is truly unnecessary. I understand from some sensible replies that RF is a great place to pick up a debate and debating amongst other atheists is not going to be nearly as interesting as debating here on RF...and yes..religion is facinating. That's just a couple of great reasons and there are plenty more.

There is no problem with atheists as far as I am concerned. I take the anti ToA and sometimes creationist stance because that is the more challenging path. It's just to easy to rip belief systems to shreds. This being a religious forum I would not have the front to belittle any faith or belief in establishing if one has more or less reason to believe theirs is the more valid.

I am surprised that atheists would be on RF and find it interesting. That's not the same as saying I have a problem with atheists in general.

There are other similar threads here on RF and other religious forums. So I am not the first to have wondered what the attraction was.

Forum members tend to start their own thread when they want to voice an opinion, so this thread has not gone as planned....and that's oK. This is my first forum outside of hobby forums, and the first forum I'll have entered into a debate. I'm still learning what works, how to debate (and keep it respectful) as well as getting educated re ToE and abiogenics so I can debate from some sort of educated stance.

I'm sure no one has lost any sleep over this thread. However, please do not be offended. Atheists, at times, come down pretty hard on believers in God and even more so on creationists. I just wanted a thread appropriate for having a little go back. But it has not worked out. I'm agnostic. As such have no problems at all with atheist beliefs.

Failures teach us something so I will be more carefull in starting any new threads.

 

[Michigan Atheist]

isn't this a religious education forum?

it is apropos that the christians seem to think their point of view is the only point of view... hence this thread

Wouldn't a sane person want to strengthen his/her faith or position by knowing what all of the other positions are about? For me, this is how I grow, by learning as much about how others think, thereby understanding my own position on issues by either having them validated or challenged. If that makes sense.

 

[Magic Man]

I started this thread to give believers and or creationists another venue to debrief in.

First, I'm not sure debrief is the word you're looking for. Vent might be a better alternative.

Second, what's the point of that? Why discuss with other non-atheists why atheists come to a forum like this? Why not just ask atheists to clear up your confusion?

This being a religious forum I would not have the front to belittle any faith or belief in establishing if one has more or less reason to believe theirs is the more valid.

I'm sorry, could you rephrase? I don't understand this sentence.

I am surprised that atheists would be on RF and find it interesting.

At this point you should neither be surprised, nor find it especially interesting. We've been over the reasons why we're here.

There are other similar threads here on RF and other religious forums. So I am not the first to have wondered what the attraction was.

That's why I said in the part that you quoted at the beginning of this post that it gets tiring explaining this to people every so often. If it was asked honestly, it would be one thing, but most of the time, it's asked sort of like "What are you guys doing here? Do you have a secret desire to be religious, or do you just like to belittle believers?". It's not asked just to find out an answer; it's asked to make accusations. That's especially true when someone starts a thread about it directed not at atheists, but at other Christians.

Forum members tend to start their own thread when they want to voice an opinion, so this thread has not gone as planned....and that's oK. This is my first forum outside of hobby forums, and the first forum I'll have entered into a debate. I'm still learning what works, how to debate (and keep it respectful) as well as getting educated re ToE and abiogenics so I can debate from some sort of educated stance.

Well, good on you. I hope your learning process goes well. Just remember to keep an open mind and don't accuse people of things based on preconceived notions of their group.

I'm sure no one has lost any sleep over this thread. However, please do not be offended. Atheists, at times, come down pretty hard on believers in God and even more so on creationists. I just wanted a thread appropriate for having a little go back. But it has not worked out. I'm agnostic. As such have no problems at all with atheist beliefs.

Failures teach us something so I will be more carefull in starting any new threads.

Just remember that believers come down pretty hard on atheists just as much as vice versa.

I look forward to your future offerings, and hope they can generate some good discussions.

 

[Michigan Atheist]

Is cooking influencing the politics of our societies? does cooking influence international politics? does cooking influence same sex marriage, abortion, or sectarian violence?
it doesn't?
perhaps this is why you WONT find people who hate cooking join a cooking forum.

as explained before this is a Religious Education Forum, with forums and directories for both Christians and Satanists, Buddhists and Atheists, this is a site for believers of God, believers in the Norse gods, believers in the Egyptian gods, 'Satan worshippers', followers of the Dharma, and 'non believers' or atheists (oh no!), your problem lays in a simple confusion of what this forum is, or for whom it is intended, no where do we tell people that this forum is exclusively for the religious.

for more info on this misconception that some of our new users seem to have a problem swallowing, click this link:
http://www.religiousforums.com/foru...0286-atheists-so-why-we-really-religious.html

Darn good reply, wish I had made it... I like the way it simply makes sense. I was going to say something about the social aspects of religion, particularly in the US, where religion is going to play a huge role in the next Presidential Race in 2012. The "Tea Party" is made up mostly of Right Winged Christians who have as part of their agenda this notion of a Christian Nation, which is absurd and potentially harmful to millions of Americans if this notion somehow becomes more than just a FAR Right notion.

90% of Americans may claim to have a belief in god, but I think that number is inflated because of the social stigma against atheism. I believe that there is a growing number of "closet" atheists, probably made up of the younger, educated class. One of the reasons for Atheist going out and talking about atheism is to encourage those who are Atheist or very Agnostic to accept it and to embrace what or who they are. I am convinced that a unified Atheist movement could make a LOT of noise in the government, and that noise could help to ensure certain rights, rights for gays, aliens, and women (particularly where women's health issues are concerned.) This group can also help to ensure that education remains secular, especially in the sciences, and that the dogma of religion stays out of the workings and decisions of the State. Just my humble opinion, once again.

 

[linwood]

No, agnosticism means uncertainty or indifference toward the possibility of god's existence. The name literally means "without knowledge".

Which necessitates a lack of belief.

Belief is an active positive action.

I do not "believe" one can be described accurately as "agnostic".

Some sort of modifier is always necessary for understanding.

"Agnostic-Atheist" or "Agnostic-Theist"

 

[logician]

"Why do atheists haunt religious forums? "

This makes us sound like supposed ghosts.

 

[Kerr]

Kerr, Caladan, Luis, before I go on with this thread, I would like clarify that, the last part that says love thy enemy, quoting Jesus, was put their because the question, made me feel as if she wrote it bothered, I didnt think she is enemy with athiests, but if Jesus says love thy enemy, its everyone, even the ones you dont agree with, even the ones that answer to bother you etc. but thank you for referring to it, it does give that impression, and I am glad I can explain.

may you find yourselves in a blessed position

Ok, I think I may have misunderstood then. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[linwood]

"Why do atheists haunt religious forums? "

This makes us sound like supposed ghosts.

I have been told we don`t really exist.
:sarcastic

 

[Smoke]

I'm still learning what works, how to debate (and keep it respectful)

Seriously.

 

[newhope101]

Originally Posted by newhope101
I'm still learning what works, how to debate (and keep it respectful)
Seriously.
__________________
Yes, you should you try it. ...nevertheless, I'm also happy to give a serve back. The good thing about being agnostic is open mindedness.

Linwood...yes 'haunt' was way too derogatory. I was angry when I posted. But then again a little attitude gets more responses than meek and mild.....maybe I should meditate more......