Why religious forums ?

[chinu]

There are many interesting NON-RELIGIOUS-FORUMS out there on internet. Atheists come on RF to:

• To teach theists ?
• Or, they have room for the existence of God somewhere in their heart ?

 

[sun rise]

You're asking two questions. Who knows how many forums there are on the internet. I don't.

Atheists will have to answer why they're here.

 

[Sunstone]

Why do non-politicians watch politics? Why are non-scientists interested in science? Why do non-players watch sports?

The question has been asked many times before. Were you copying?

 

[Father Heathen]

Religion is fascinating, and it also influences culture, politics, etc. There is a myriad of reasons to take interest in religion without belonging to one.

 

[Altfish]

When the most important election on the planet is heavily influenced by whether or not you believe in a god (in particular the Christian one) it is important that non-believers understand religions and their followers.

 

[Roguish]

There are many interesting NON-RELIGIOUS-FORUMS out there on internet. Atheists come on RF to:

• To teach theists ?
• Or, they have room for the existence of God somewhere in their heart ?

Great question, but no, the answers aren't as pretty as the two you suggest. The truthful answer is that atheism is inherently "aggressive", so atheists look for a battle field where they may attack believers. Atheists cannot live without believers, for the attack on belief and believers is the assertive act that gives them their sense of existence. It is unavoidable therefore, that they come to places where believers congregate, such as a religious forum.

The converse is, of course, not true at all: believers can exist fine without atheists because they don't have the slightest need of atheists to define themselves. This isn't just a behavioral observation; it goes all the way down to the ontological difference between belief and atheism. Belief (in the religious sense) is a cognitive mode, while atheism is a thought construct. The mistake that atheists make is to assume that belief is a thought construct as well, and that therefore atheism can be pitched against belief, and possibly emerge victorious. But atheism cannot battle belief, in the same way that sound cannot drown out color. The two lie in different domains.

Of course atheists will not (and cannot) recognize their own aggressiveness. Since they are alienated from the cognitive mode that is belief, they live out of thought constructs only. In that unintuitive, overly mental world, artifical notions such as "civility", "reasonableness", and "scientificness" become the standards for "kindness". And thus the atheist obtains his excuse: "I am not aggressive at all, I have a right to be here (i.e. on the religious platform) because I am civil and reasonable."

The more puzzling thing is this: Why do believers feel that must tolerate atheists among themselves? If someone who disliked tennis joined a tennis club and started holding forth about his dislike, he'd be removed from the club. No debates, no violence, no big scenes, just excluded. But strangely believers can't seem to find the courage to do this. Or as an alternative explanation, perhaps we should wonder if the ones who run these "religious forums" are themselves not believers?

 

[Gargovic Malkav]

Great question, but no, the answers aren't as pretty as the two you suggest. The truthful answer is that atheism is inherently "aggressive", so atheists look for a battle field where they may attack believers. Atheists cannot live without believers, for the attack on belief and believers is the assertive act that gives them their sense of existence. It is unavoidable therefore, that they come to places where believers congregate, such as a religious forum.

The converse is, of course, not true at all: believers can exist fine without atheists because they don't have the slightest need of atheists to define themselves. This isn't just a behavioral observation; it goes all the way down to the ontological difference between belief and atheism. Belief (in the religious sense) is a cognitive mode, while atheism is a thought construct. The mistake that atheists make is to assume that belief is a thought construct as well, and that therefore atheism can be pitched against belief, and possibly emerge victorious. But atheism cannot battle belief, in the same way that sound cannot drown out color. The two lie in different domains.

Of course atheists will not (and cannot) recognize their own aggressiveness. Since they are alienated from the cognitive mode that is belief, they live out of thought constructs only. In that unintuitive, overly mental world, artifical notions such as "civility", "reasonableness", and "scientificness" become the standards for "kindness". And thus the atheist obtains his excuse: "I am not aggressive at all, I have a right to be here (i.e. on the religious platform) because I am civil and reasonable."

The more puzzling thing is this: Why do believers feel that must tolerate atheists among themselves? If someone who disliked tennis joined a tennis club and started holding forth about his dislike, he'd be removed from the club. No debates, no violence, no big scenes, just excluded. But strangely believers can't seem to find the courage to do this. Or as an alternative explanation, perhaps we should wonder if the ones who run these "religious forums" are themselves not believers?

If religious people never would have tolerated me back when I was an atheist, I might have gotten such a bad impression of religion that I never cared to study the scriptures with an open mind and eventually become a believer myself... However, it is partly because of the proud and aggressive behavior of many atheists, that I grew curious and began to study the scriptures. The religious people I personally knew, were not at all like the stereotypes that such atheists depicted.

 

[SalixIncendium]

There are many interesting NON-RELIGIOUS-FORUMS out there on internet. Atheists come on RF to:

• To teach theists ?
• Or, they have room for the existence of God somewhere in their heart ?

Or to learn what makes theists tick?

 

[SalixIncendium]

When the most important election on the planet is heavily influenced by whether or not you believe in a god (in particular the Christian one) it is important that non-believers understand religions and their followers.

So for you, your motives are purely poltical?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Great question, but no, the answers aren't as pretty as the two you suggest. The truthful answer is that atheism is inherently "aggressive", so atheists look for a battle field where they may attack believers. Atheists cannot live without believers, for the attack on belief and believers is the assertive act that gives them their sense of existence. It is unavoidable therefore, that they come to places where believers congregate, such as a religious forum.

The converse is, of course, not true at all: believers can exist fine without atheists because they don't have the slightest need of atheists to define themselves. This isn't just a behavioral observation; it goes all the way down to the ontological difference between belief and atheism. Belief (in the religious sense) is a cognitive mode, while atheism is a thought construct. The mistake that atheists make is to assume that belief is a thought construct as well, and that therefore atheism can be pitched against belief, and possibly emerge victorious. But atheism cannot battle belief, in the same way that sound cannot drown out color. The two lie in different domains.

Of course atheists will not (and cannot) recognize their own aggressiveness. Since they are alienated from the cognitive mode that is belief, they live out of thought constructs only. In that unintuitive, overly mental world, artifical notions such as "civility", "reasonableness", and "scientificness" become the standards for "kindness". And thus the atheist obtains his excuse: "I am not aggressive at all, I have a right to be here (i.e. on the religious platform) because I am civil and reasonable."

While such atheists do exist, in my experience, it is more the exception than the rule. The same could also be said for theists and their aggressiveness.

The more puzzling thing is this: Why do believers feel that must tolerate atheists among themselves? If someone who disliked tennis joined a tennis club and started holding forth about his dislike, he'd be removed from the club. No debates, no violence, no big scenes, just excluded. But strangely believers can't seem to find the courage to do this. Or as an alternative explanation, perhaps we should wonder if the ones who run these "religious forums" are themselves not believers?

Spoken with true passive aggression.

Oh, and for the record, I'm not an atheist.

 

[Roguish]

If religious people never would have tolerated me back when I was an atheist, I might have gotten such a bad impression of religion that I never cared to study the scriptures with an open mind and eventually become a believer myself.

That's a fair response. Of course an atheist who genuinely takes an interest in religion should be encouraged, not turned away. But in my view he's not really an atheist in the strong sense of the word. In my experience, when someone signs up for a religious forum and announces that he's an "atheist", he means he's an anti-religionist. He (or she) doesn't come to learn about religion, but to dispute its value. If he'd come to learn, he likely would have described himself as "agnostic" or "undecided".

 

[Roguish]

While such atheists do exist, it is more the exception than the rule.

If that's so, it should be easy to name some self-proclaimed atheists who are not anti-religionists. Can you name some?

Spoken with true passive aggression.

No, I speak with resentment, not passive aggression. There's a big difference. If I was signing up to atheist forums to denounce their views there, that'd be aggressive.

Oh, and for the record, I'm not an atheist.

Perhaps you think you're not an atheist, while actually you are one. That wouldn't be exceptional.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If that's so, it should be easy to name some self-proclaimed atheists who are not anti-religionists. Can you name some?

Are you seriously asking me to call out individual members here? Sorry, but I won't be putting anyone here on the spot. These members can speak for themselves if they wish.

No, I speak with resentment, not passive aggression. There's a big difference. If I was signing up to atheist forums to denounce their views there, that'd be aggressive.

If you think atheists are exclusively here to denounce theistic views, their posts should be easy to pick out and should outnumber the posts that do not denounce theistic views. Can you list them and give us a tally?

Perhaps you think you're not an atheist, while actually you are one. That wouldn't be exceptional.

Neither would someone who runs out of logical arguments stating mistruths about someone they know absolutely nothing about. *shrugs*

 

[syo]

To teach theists ?

Yup. They want to spread their theories. Some come to make fun of theistic theories.

 

[syo]

Religion is fascinating, and it also influences culture, politics, etc.

No. Politics and religion are not compatible.

 

[Roguish]

Neither would someone who runs out of logical arguments stating mistruths about someone they know absolutely nothing about. *shrugs*

I accept defeat in this debate. (And that's not sarcasm.)

 

[ChristineM]

There are many interesting NON-RELIGIOUS-FORUMS out there on internet. Atheists come on RF to:

• To teach theists ?
• Or, they have room for the existence of God somewhere in their heart ?

You miss out several valid reasons because you are closing your mind to the scope of atheism. I come to RF because

To learn about other cultures, subjects and beliefs.
To expand on subjects that i already know quite a lot about
There is a lot of varied knowledge here making the forum more cerebral than most general forums?l
To try to understand why some hold an unshakable belief in a bronze age myth.
To converse with different people across the world
To get and offer advice where needed
To have fun
RF has a pretty good interface and is generally well managed.

 

[shunyadragon]

There are many interesting NON-RELIGIOUS-FORUMS out there on internet.

So what? For constructive dialogue ALL the diverse beliefs need to be welcome to dialogue and debate.

Atheists come on RF to:

• To teach theists ?

Like the many diverse belief systems people come to forum for different reasons. In general to debate their perspective. and some to learn about other beleifs.. Actually theists are more agressive to teach non-believers.

• Or, they have room for the existence of God somewhere in their heart ?

Religous assumptions indeterminate.

 

[ChristineM]

The truthful answer is that atheism is inherently "aggressive", so atheists look for a battle field where they may attack believers. Atheists cannot live without believers, for the attack on belief and believers is the assertive act that gives them their sense of existence. It is unavoidable therefore, that they come to places where believers congregate, such as a religious forum.

Says the one who aggressively misrepresents atheism.
Says the one who attacked my avatar (then politely suggested you were not attacking my avatar)

While there may be some few aggressive atheists here they tend to not last very long.

On the other hand look at the number of threads written by religious posters attacking atheists and atheism. Usually by using misrepresentation and/or misunderstanding of atheism because they are deliberately clueless about what atheism is.

 

[chinu]

Why do non-politicians watch politics? Why are non-scientists interested in science? Why do non-players watch sports?

They do because they need NOT any evidence-of-existence to take interest in them.

NO evidence of God's existence has ever been provided to any atheist. But, still they enjoy taking interest in religious talks.

The question has been asked many times before. Were you copying?

Perhaps someone might have asked this before. But, this doesn't mean I MUST search the whole forum before posting any question.

Or, you are pointing this out because you are a "Staff member" ?