Ok you're an Atheist

Hoagy wrote:

This forum has its uses, though.

What are they? Genuine question.

TBH there's a mixture good debate but there are users who use it as a launching pad to slag anyone who believes in a religion IMO.

I'd accept a forum that related to people who questioned their faith or those with an agenda to move past all religion, both are genuine positions. As would a genuine dislike of all religion. Selective dislike of religions would be impossible to mod as you'd have all sorts going on.

But that's not really here though, some good stuff, but a good bit of smug content too where posters run the same lines about santy and the tooth fairy etc, low hanging fruit, circle jerk stuff.

IMO it's not a place to post if you are in anyway religious. You are just setting yourself up to be laughed at.

The above sounds like a complaint, but I genuinely see people posting here about religion, and others thinking that having no faith equates to being in mensa taking the piss out of them.
It's a very simple argument there is little proof of anything that's the concept of faith.

I understand that some religions require members to recruit and converted but an atheist has no such obligation.
Therefore some might be drawn to the forum to attempt to convert people.

A honey trap!

Stoner wrote: »

What are they? Genuine question.

TBH there's a mixture good debate but there are users who use it as a launching pad to slag anyone who believes in a religion IMO.

I'd accept a forum that related to people who questioned their faith or those with an agenda to move past all religion, both are genuine positions. As would a genuine dislike of all religion. Selective dislike of religions would be impossible to mod as you'd have all sorts going on.

But that's not really here though, some good stuff, but a good bit of smug content too where posters run the same lines about santy and the tooth fairy etc, low hanging fruit, circle jerk stuff.

IMO it's not a place to post if you are in anyway religious. You are just setting yourself up to be laughed at.

The above sounds like a complaint, but I genuinely see people posting here about religion, and others thinking that having no faith equates to being in mensa taking the piss out of them.
It's a very simple argument there is little proof of anything that's the concept of faith.

I understand that some religions require members to recruit and converted but an atheist has no such obligation.
Therefore some might be drawn to the forum to attempt to convert people.

A honey trap!

Well, yes...

We could ask why religious people keep coming here complaining about the lack of belief? Its a bit like Jehovah's Witnesses coming uninvited to my door, have I some sort of obligation to stand and listen to them and debate their beliefs?

If you come in here we will debate your beliefs but it is not going to be a debate where we say - you are right, I am converted, I will believe! You enter the lion's den and you stand a good chance of getting your head bitten off.

Mod: Beefburrito, it really does not look as though you have anything useful to say. Your nonsense responses are getting very close to trolling. I very much doubt you really have a point to make, but consider this a warning that you have now used all your 'cool, smart and edgy' quota; the end (of you in this forum) is very nigh.

Je_suis_Jean wrote: »

Well if as an Atheist you believe all religions subjugate society you might therefore feel it is your civic duty to reduce religions influence and one way to do that would be to rescue or "convert" people from the religion they've been indoctrinated into to Atheism.

Most atheists leave people to their own beliefs unless they come looking for an argument.

looksee wrote:

This is Atheism and Agnosticism. If you want to have a cosy, agreeable discussion about belief the Christianity forum is thataway >>>>

I never mentioned Christianity. Nor did I ask for a cosy agreeable discussion.

Why would I go to a Christianity forum to discuss if an atheist has an obligation to dissuade people from believing in a religion when there's a Atheism and Agnosticism forum?

I'm following up on a post I saw was trending about this forum and offered an opinion/asked questions.

I assume the lack of necessity to aim for a cosy discussion works both ways. The tone is set, and fairness has it's usually part to play here.

IMO there is nothing disagreeable about the positions held by an Atheist or Agnostic person.

There is nothing here to suggest that coming to a forum relating to these positions should be likened to entering a Lion's Den. That imo is not a reasonable position to take.

Lion's Den is the nickname Millwall FC's fans use for their football ground. However I think that was more of a flippant comment.

Again I'll offer that equating something that you know people hold dearly to a child's tail could be considered insulting, IMO a person would understand that when posting.

But again I'm not questioning direct insulting, it's more that it's too easy, how can anyone prove that a god exists?

What's to be gained or achieved, what's the motivation to do it? Again I offer that potentially it's to appear superior in some way. However thinking about it now I'd fully understand that a resentment towards being preached to could build in anyone raised in Ireland.

I agree that there's an element of what I'm saying that can be applied to any forum here and that there's a consistency shared on boards.ie.
For example I post on the GAA pages a lot. I try to discuss issues around the team that is the subject of the thread. I've overstepped the mark a few times and take the position of the county I support.

However when comparing this to a soccer, GAA or the motoring forum there is no soccer team here to support, or county to be from or mode of transport to prefer. To the best of my knowledge there's no obligation for atheists to convert people or change their mind on faith related issues. So what is the motivation to throw in references to fairy tails in or around subjects that are proven to cause significant known issues.

Again arguments around having no religion in the world and what that would do for humanity are all positions that stand up imo, these issues are the ones that I have enjoyed reading, logical and arguably progressive.
There are some excellent subjects and arguments to champion the case for having no religion in the world. However we'd still fight about race, skin colour and most of all resources imo.

Stoner wrote: »

I never mentioned Christianity..... However we'd still fight about race, skin colour and most of all resources imo.

I have re-read both your first post and the one that starts and ends as above, and I cannot figure out what point you are trying to make.

You seem to be objecting to A&A criticising religion. Yes, we do that. If you can produce a reasonable argument that removes the urge to criticise it, we will listen - we will still argue with you but it might be an argument with a bit more meat.

Why do you think we want to sound superior? Superior to what?

Some people choose to adopt/believe in one particular god out of all the other gods that are and have been believed in, then expect other people to respect that choice to the extent that they accept all the rules and regulations that have been created to 'appease' that god. Why? Let people do all the believing they wish, but leave me and my children out of it.

To someone who does not believe in the god in question, how are the stories in his book any different to fairy stories? I enjoy fantasy books, if I chose to believe that the characters in these books, and their magic, were true would you be willing to respect that belief and to organise your life to accommodate my belief?

Am I being 'superior' in making these arguments? Should I just humbly nod and say 'I am sure you are all correct, I will abide by your beliefs'?

Stoner wrote: »

Yet you saw fit to show me the door following the first post.

Did I? Well you seem to be still here. Do you want to engage with the discussion?