Religious people, why do you come to this forum?

[izzy88]

Is it to share your beliefs with others? Do you hope to convert people? Are you questioning your own religion? Are you just curious about what others believe?
Whatever your reason for coming here, are you finding what you were looking for? Do you feel this forum has had a positive effect on you? Why or why not?

 

[Rival]

I come here for the debates and making friends, discussing my religion with those of the same religion and to learn about others'.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I'm primarily interested in hearing peoples' experiences, more than in their beliefs. It has become a good place to discuss my beliefs and those of others, as well as engage is some entertaining interactions.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

I originally came here out of interest and in the hope that I might be able to answer some people's questions. But the tightening of the DIR rules meant that I could no longer talk to the nice people in Hinduism, while my fellow polytheists have mostly given up and left for reddit. It's a wilderness of monotheists and atheists trying to convert each other, and people who think they're witty and aren't. I left for a year; I came back — a triumph of hope over experience — but I spend very little time here.

 

[Vouthon]

To engage and broaden my intellectual horizons.

In all the time I've been here, I reckon I've used the Christian and Catholic DIRs....twice, maybe? Three times or so? I so seldom do it that I just can't recall. And I believe I posted my first actual thread in the Christian DIR last Easter Sunday (a milestone, yipee) or at least in a very long time.

Point being, I came here fundamentally to chat and dialogue with people who don't share my beliefs. Meeting fellow Catholics - and I've happened to encounter a really great bunch here, which was an unexpected boon - is very much an ancillary dimension of the experience.

Additionally - and a more personal level here - outside church (where most parishioners are not, shall we say, exactly 'theologians'), I know so few people who ever talk about religion. S̶c̶r̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶....I actually don't know anyone with whom I could have an extended conversation about a religious topic, from an informed perspective on both sides.

On RF, there's almost a limitless number of such people and from all points of view as well (from supportive to critical).

 

[Rival]

I originally came here out of interest and in the hope that I might be able to answer some people's questions. But the tightening of the DIR rules meant that I could no longer talk to the nice people in Hinduism, while my fellow polytheists have mostly given up and left for reddit. It's a wilderness of monotheists and atheists trying to convert each other, and people who think they're witty and aren't. I left for a year; I came back — a triumph of hope over experience — but I spend very little time here.

You can ask them questions in Interfaith and have discussions there.

 

[Shia Islam]

Is it to share your beliefs with others? Do you hope to convert people? Are you questioning your own religion? Are you just curious about what others believe?
Whatever your reason for coming here, are you finding what you were looking for? Do you feel this forum has had a positive effect on you? Why or why not?

Hi there,

I am a religious Shiite Muslim. I spent years of my life studying Shia Islam. I used to debate the Sunnis for years.

Then I moved to the UK for studying.

There I started debating the Christians.

When I was debating the Sunnis, I used to quote the Quran.

But, when I started debating the Christians, I found that they don’t look to the bible as we, Muslims look to the Quran.

Then I found that may be most of them are either non-religious or non-believers.


There, I started reading the literature of the atheists and also the bible.

It was like I was trying to establish a common ground with “them” to start from when debating them.

So from there I start to be engaged with RF before more than 10 years!

However, although some Sunnis and others have been influenced by me.

I almost concluded that people do not choose their religions for pure reasoning.

That is why I have almost stopped debating others, and stopped trying to change others.

I started trying to change myself to be a better person and a true example of how a Shia person Should be.


Our Shia Imam, Imam Sadiq said: call to us without speaking!

I thought may be more than once to leave the forum after this change.

However, I found that there are people who are benefiting of my presence, where I can give them the Shia stance regarding the different issues.

My God Help us to help ourselves and help the others

Al the best.

 

[The Hammer]

Is it to share your beliefs with others? Do you hope to convert people? Are you questioning your own religion? Are you just curious about what others believe?
Whatever your reason for coming here, are you finding what you were looking for? Do you feel this forum has had a positive effect on you? Why or why not?

I come here to learn about how, why and what others believe, both religiously and politically. I also share my experiences and views on my personal religious stance and journey when I am asked, but I don't actively discuss it. I also will reach out to the DIRs I am a part of for resources, if I am having trouble getting good info on my own. As of late, I have also tried to find time to post more hopeful and inspiring content as well for others to benefit from hopefully. I also come to the forums for community, and support.

Tl;Dr: I come here for many reasons. Not all of which are even related to religion.

 

[Treasure Hunter]

I almost concluded that people do not choose their religions for pure reasoning.

That is why I have almost stopped debating others, and stopped trying to change others.

I started trying to change myself to be a better person and a true example of how a Shia person Should be.

Good for you. We need more people to have the same realizations.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Is it to share your beliefs with others? Do you hope to convert people? Are you questioning your own religion? Are you just curious about what others believe?
Whatever your reason for coming here, are you finding what you were looking for? Do you feel this forum has had a positive effect on you? Why or why not?

My computer is a potato. That is mostly why I am here. My computer can only run a certain number of games, so RF is one of my main videogames.

Its true I don't want an apple, but I also don't want a potato.

 

[rosends]

Is it to share your beliefs with others? Do you hope to convert people? Are you questioning your own religion? Are you just curious about what others believe?
Whatever your reason for coming here, are you finding what you were looking for? Do you feel this forum has had a positive effect on you? Why or why not?

There are things that I know that maybe others don't, and things that others know that I'm sure I don't. So I explain what people might not know and ask what I need to find out.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

You can ask them questions in Interfaith and have discussions there.

That's not the same thing.

It's so inconsistent: I could have a discussion in the Shinto DIR — if there was anyone there — but not in the Hindu one. OMG — you'll probably change that! At reddit you can post in any subreddit — so long as you obey the rules. If a Christian or an atheist comes to r/pagan, they're welcome — but if they make a hostile remark or try to convert anyone, then they're kicked out. Simple.

 

[SalixIncendium]

That's not the same thing.

It's so inconsistent: I could have a discussion in the Shinto DIR — if there was anyone there — but not in the Hindu one. OMG — you'll probably change that! At reddit you can post in any subreddit — so long as you obey the rules. If a Christian or an atheist comes to r/pagan, they're welcome — but if they make a hostile remark or try to convert anyone, then they're kicked out. Simple.

The DIRs are exclusively for people who identify with a the DIRs religion to have discussions amongst themselves. If they wanted input or discussion from those of other worldviews, they would create a thread in one of the Religious Topics forums.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

The DIRs are exclusively for people who identify with a the DIRs religion to have discussions amongst themselves. If they wanted input or discussion from those of other worldviews, they would create a thread in one of the Religious Topics forums.

I'm probably inviting a ban or deletion here, but that's not how it works.

I can post in Left Hand Path, Neopagan, and Non-revealed, but not in Pantheism or New religious movements. But most of those of those who are Pantheists or Thelemites (NRM) would identify as Neopagan, and Thelema is widely considered to be LHP. Conversely, incompatible world views are often in the same DIR — I can post on Wicca, but I don't believe in it, while Sikhs could post in Hinduism, although they don't believe in it. It's not just that the DIR system is being as a substitute for moderation, but that the people who designed it were not very well informed.

On the subject of my old posts in Hinduism, so far from objecting, the residents often gave me frubals — until a certain USian convert started reporting me.

Parting shot — as Hindu, how much of a world view do you think Aupmanyav shares with a Lingayat?

 

[SalixIncendium]

I'm probably inviting a ban or deletion here, but that's not how it works.

I can post in Left Hand Path, Neopagan, and Non-revealed, but not in Pantheism or New religious movements. But most of those of those who are Pantheists or Thelemites (NRM) would identify as Neopagan, and Thelema is widely considered to be LHP. Conversely, incompatible world views are often in the same DIR — I can post on Wicca, but I don't believe in it, while Sikhs could post in Hinduism, although they don't believe in it. It's not just that the DIR system is being as a substitute for moderation, but that the people who designed it were not very well informed.

On the subject of my old posts in Hinduism, so far from objecting, the residents often gave me frubals — until a certain USian convert started reporting me.

Parting shot — as Hindu, how much of a world view do you think Aupmanyav shares with a Lingayat?

You confuse the verbs ‘can’ and ‘may.’

Do yourself a favor and read Rule 10. If you have any questions, I’ll be here.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm probably inviting a ban or deletion here, but that's not how it works.

I can post in Left Hand Path, Neopagan, and Non-revealed, but not in Pantheism or New religious movements. But most of those of those who are Pantheists or Thelemites (NRM) would identify as Neopagan, and Thelema is widely considered to be LHP. Conversely, incompatible world views are often in the same DIR — I can post on Wicca, but I don't believe in it, while Sikhs could post in Hinduism, although they don't believe in it. It's not just that the DIR system is being as a substitute for moderation, but that the people who designed it were not very well informed.

On the subject of my old posts in Hinduism, so far from objecting, the residents often gave me frubals — until a certain USian convert started reporting me.

Parting shot — as Hindu, how much of a world view do you think Aupmanyav shares with a Lingayat?

It's been said that access to restricted forums is tribal.
Of course, I'd never say such a thing.

 

[Left Coast]

It's been said that access to restricted forums is tribal.
Of course, I'd never say such a thing.

 

[MNoBody]

if there be any benefit from contemplating matters religious ["spiritual/mystical"-Meta-physical]
then I won't find out how that affects people by hanging out in the bar.

 

[Twilight Hue]

My computer is a potato. That is mostly why I am here. My computer can only run a certain number of games, so RF is one of my main videogames.

Its true I don't want an apple, but I also don't want a potato.

So. Your the the one that has GlaDos as your constant companion. It could very well explain a few things that I have been wondering about..

 

[Sp0ckrates]

To find wisdom that I lack.