For the atheists/other non-Christians

[oneofthem]

Hi everyone.

Firstly, i am definitely not trying to start a debate here. But i am curious as to why people of other faiths, and even atheists, frequent CF.

Are you searching? Are you stimulated by the discussions here? Do you like debating and asserting your own beliefs in the context of these discussions? Are you bored? Are you wanting to know more about Christianity?

Again, no debate intended, i'm just curious.

Cheers

Sarah

 

[sbvera13]

I was initially drawn because of the discussion board on Creation/Evolution, since studying the cultural conflict around that is a sort of hobby of mine. I have also found the other interfaith, philosophy, and ethics discussions to be fascinating. In addition, I have learned a lot about Christianity, which helps me understand friends of mine who are Christian.

 

[iano]

Though I'm not christian myself(atheist), I am aquainted with many different christians and their beliefs in itself does affect my life.

I'm not saying in a bad way, more or less it's in interesting ways.

 

[Tenka]

I was once interested in discussion but lately GA has been deserted by Christians, E&M is stuck in a gay rut, C&E is void of any worthwhile discussion and the News & CE section is overrun by anti-gay and climate change deniers who use it to spout endless propaganda exploiting the fact it can't be debated there.

Why do I still come? Probably out of habit after 5 years.

 

[Pseudonym]

Are you searching?

Not really anymore. I guess technically I'm always searching, but I'm quite happy with the ideas I have.

Are you stimulated by the discussions here?

I used to be. But I've quickly found that there's only so much all sides can say. Short of news and politics, there's not that much that's new here.

Do you like debating and asserting your own beliefs in the context of these discussions?

I used to. But I've quickly found that people don't really want to hear dissenting points of view.

Are you bored? Are you wanting to know more about Christianity?

Not really, I grew up as a Christian, so I know what that package is all about. If anything I'm interested in other religions.

 

[uberd00b]

Firstly to help.

Also there exists the possibility I might be wrong. I figure surrounding myself with those of differing beliefs is an ideal opportunity to check and learn.

 

[seed757]

^^^Yeah. What he said. ^^^

Also, I want to learn as much as I can about all different flavors of Christianity(or any other religion for that matter). I would hate to leave this world having being ignorant and unlearned about very important things, such as faith. That seems very unsettling to me.

And it's not just this forum either. I listen to Christian radio all day long. I'll read the Bible a lot and other Christian literature frequently. I also will attend church functions or interfaith gatherings from time to time.

I feel that the stakes are far too high to be wrong in the end, so I would never want to miss anything that may be of crucial consequence.

So that is where CF comes in. I use it as another tool to help enrich my life and well-being.

 

[Ramona]

Interesting thread. My "mission" has changed with my beliefs. I first signed up when I was relatively new in my faith, hoping for fellowship with other Christians (my neighborhood at the time was predominantly Jewish and Muslim). Over time, I grew more and more disheartened with the way that so many Christians here seemed to have thrown out the message of Christ's love in favor of the self righteousness of whatever church, and I started focusing more on trying to show people that not all Christians were like this. After my first couple of account suspensions, I devoted most of my energy to fighting the administration. When I realised that this was futile I tried to leave.

I'd been spending so much time here originally because my depression had spiraled out of control and I didn't want to leave my apartment, but now that I'm mostly better, I really don't know why I keep coming back here. I guess it's a combination of morbid curiousity, desire to spread enlightenment, my really weird work schedule, and most of all the love I've grown to feel for dozens of wonderful men and women here.

 

[anatolian]

My reasons are same as seed's reasons..I did know very little about non-muslim faiths and I thought that was a shame..I firstly went to yahoo islam and christians chat boards and later here I am.I firstly thought "what if they effect my belief?" but today really I understand islam 'better' than the times I was ignorant of christianity and judaism and other faiths.

 

[BeginnerOnAPath]

because I was a Christian then. Now I'm here to discuss religion, because it deals with the "big questions" (although it is not the only way to do so, it is one way). Interacting with religious people keeps me realistic about who they are and what they want, which is important when you live in a society that still takes supernaturalism seriously.

 

[Cygnus]

I joined CF when I was a Christian. I've lost faith now but stuck around...partly to learn but also because I've yet to find another forum that I can make my "home".

 

[Arthra]

I frequent CF because occasionally questions came up about Baha'i Faith and I would like to answer those questions...also I enjoy meeting friendly people and sharing my Faith as well as participating in discussions.

- Art

 

[vajradhara]

Namaste Sarah,

thank you for the post.

Hi everyone.

Firstly, i am definitely not trying to start a debate here. But i am curious as to why people of other faiths, and even atheists, frequent CF.

Are you searching?

no, that part of my journey is complete. now i am in the practicing phase

Are you stimulated by the discussions here?

some of them, yes. many of them are sophmoric and innane, so i try to avoid those

Do you like debating and asserting your own beliefs in the context of these discussions?

to a certain extent i do enjoy discussing the Buddha Dharma.. that said, it is only for the purpose of correcting the many false and misleading ideas that many beings seem to have of the Buddha Dharma that i post here.

Are you wanting to know more about Christianity?

not inparticular.. i know all i need to of your tradition. there are, of course, schools of Christian practice which are interesting to me as they are somewhat unknown.. but that is more of an academic interest than anything else.

metta,

~v

 

[Gardenia]

I first came to CF to learn more about Christianity. Part of me may have been "seeking", I'd been Christian before, and was not toally turned off to the idea of going back in that direction. My spirituality has always been pretty fluid..
However, after the way I was treated here, and the way I saw Christians treating eachother, it pushed me pretty far away from any ideas I had about being a Christian again. Still, I did learn quite a lot about Christianity. I find it amusing/depressing that I now know more about the religion than the majority of people who attempt to convert me do.. :/

I stay for two reasons. First, I am able to clear up many misconceptions about paganism. Second, because I continue to learn a lot about the religions here, and people in general.. I am interested in some of the discussions around here, though I come less and less, because there is less discussion and more flaming than anything else..

 

[Pangaea]

Being the minority in any discussion provides more opportunity for new knowledge.

 

[sur]

Hi everyone.

Firstly, i am definitely not trying to start a debate here. But i am curious as to why people of other faiths, and even atheists, frequent CF.

Are you searching? Are you stimulated by the discussions here? Do you like debating and asserting your own beliefs in the context of these discussions? Are you bored? Are you wanting to know more about Christianity?

Again, no debate intended, i'm just curious.

Cheers

Sarah

CF has section for non-christians .... so CF wanted us here i think !!!

 

[sur]

I joined CF when I was a Christian. I've lost faith now but stuck around...partly to learn but also because I've yet to find another forum that I can make my "home".

why u lost faith please give some detail & what direction r u going now???

 

[oneofthem]

Hi all.

Thanks for your responses so far.

For those who avoid some of the discussion boards here for fear of flaming etc, come visit the regional Aus/NZ board. That's where i usually post. It's not devoid of conflict but for the most part it's pretty cool. If you want.

I'm a Christian as you can see, and i get curious sometimes about non-Christians who come here, and i find it helpful talking to them because i find out if/why they don't believe or if/why they are hostile to our beliefs.

 

[Cygnus]

why u lost faith please give some detail & what direction r u going now???

Around 18 months ago I eventually found I could no longer ignore the issues I had with the hell doctrine and began questioning that and other things which I'd previously just accepted. At first, I remained Christian but became more liberal but after some time I found myself wondering if there even was a god at all. I looked at the arguments for and against. The past year has been almost like a grieving process as I try to accept the loss of my faith and there has been many times when I've tried to turn back and try to find a kind of Christianity I can accept. Now I'm an atheist. I stick around here as I know people here and in order to keep learning.

 

[kit]

I was invited by a someone who used to go to another chat board that was sponsored by a church. She had left that church and didn't want to spend as much time there and invited me here. She was hoping I think to have someone familiar to interact with.

I am not searching. I sometimes and interested in various discussions. I actually like having the opportunity to interact with the other non-Christians. This is where I can ask practicing members questions about Hinduism, Islam, Bahai, Sihkism, Wicca, Druidism, and Judaism.