Question to Atheists

[Genersis]

...
I believe Atheists posting on Christian forums has changed the attitudes Christians have towards Atheists to a large extent. I’ve joined several forums over the years, and these forums usually have a religious section which is also visited by Atheists, and when I compare what Christians were saying about Atheists 8-10 years ago compared to what they say on forums today there is a big difference; more Christians acknowledge atheists can be moral and decent people, that we are not just angry at God or just looking to get a rise out of people, and even though they disagree with our POV they seem to give us a little more respect than they did 10 years ago.
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I believe there has been a change in the way Christians view Atheists over the years and I believe Atheists debating Christians on internet forums has been a significant part of that change
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Thank goodness for that!
I was wondering if there had been much change in perceptions over the years, and if i'm actually contributing to anything significant.

 

[Ken-1122]

Ken-1122

I think that was a great response and I think you are right. I also think the dilution of the "hardcore" christian community due to Christian's abandoning the faith, and those people's stories, testimonies, thoughts, etc... change the atmosphere over time. They influence their friends and loved ones.

It's similar to parents or people becoming sympathetic toward homosexuals for the single reason that they discovered their children or friends to be that, it's harder to oppose something that is someone you understand and appreciate.

I agree! and thank-you

K

 

[Ken-1122]

Awesome post! And to think I've lived long enough to see these changes. I hope I've contributed in at least some modest way to them. That's certainly the result I was hoping for.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Yeah; I think all of our contributions have made a difference. Thanks

Ken

 

[Ken-1122]

Thank goodness for that!
I was wondering if there had been much change in perceptions over the years, and if i'm actually contributing to anything significant.

I agree! Things have changed.

K

 

[TerranceL]

It's a small, small world. We need to avoid avoiding each other.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Isn't it interesting that our technology that has supposedly connected us so well is also such and effective tool as allowing us to avoid each other?

"Heck you have an idea I don't like? That's fine, instead of actively confronting your idea and discussing it with you I'll go to another forum where my views are regurgitated back at me."

It seems somewhat dangerous.

 

[Wayte]

It's more interesting dealing with people I don't agree with. Simple as that.

 

[razeontherock]

It's more interesting dealing with people I don't agree with. Simple as that.

Don't become an Episcopalian then. No matter what you believe, you'll find one of them that will agree with you.

 

[Jade Margery]

Isn't it interesting that our technology that has supposedly connected us so well is also such and effective tool as allowing us to avoid each other?

"Heck you have an idea I don't like? That's fine, instead of actively confronting your idea and discussing it with you I'll go to another forum where my views are regurgitated back at me."

It seems somewhat dangerous.

No more so than saying, 'Instead of actively confronting your idea and discussing it with you, I'll go to my church where my views are regurgitated back at me.'

And on the internet, anyone can read it. That alone makes it a more public and connected sphere.

 

[razeontherock]

No more so than saying, 'Instead of actively confronting your idea and discussing it with you, I'll go to my church where my views are regurgitated back at me.'

Obviously you've never been an active part of a Church.

And on the internet, anyone can read it. That alone makes it a more public and connected sphere.

More public, yes; more connected? NO.

 

[Jade Margery]

Obviously you've never been an active part of a Church.

Yes, obviously, you can derive that clearly true fact from one statement I made which did not apply to all churches ever, but rather those that do not welcome outside views, of which there are indeed many. Congratulations on your flawless logic and faultless assessment of my past experiences with organized religion.

More public, yes; more connected? NO.

Define 'connected'. I first found this forum because someone had posted a lot of quotes taken from the christian-only parts of the forum on a different site and I was curious about where they had gotten them from. Reading what other people have written creates a communication connection between you--perhaps only a one-way connection, but a connection nonetheless.

 

[razeontherock]

Yes, obviously, you can derive that clearly true fact from one statement I made which did not apply to all churches ever, but rather those that do not welcome outside views, of which there are indeed many. Congratulations on your flawless logic and faultless assessment of my past experiences with organized religion.

What you describe is not being an active part of a Church. Now it is possible that the only churches you've ever been to, had no active parts.

Define 'connected'.

Connected as in being one active part, among many other active parts, that function as a healthy organism. In other words, the Church. THAT is being connected! (With Christ as the head, of course)

Reading what other people have written creates a communication connection between you--perhaps only a one-way connection, but a connection nonetheless.

That's not being connected, within Christianity. It is something, though.

 

[Jade Margery]

What you describe is not being an active part of a Church. Now it is possible that the only churches you've ever been to, had no active parts.



Connected as in being one active part, among many other active parts, that function as a healthy organism. In other words, the Church. THAT is being connected! (With Christ as the head, of course)



That's not being connected, within Christianity. It is something, though.

Oh, right, you're doing that thing where you're building your argument on your own personal definitions of commonly used words and then acting like everyone should have known what it meant in the first place. I forgot you do that.

Nvm then.

 

[RoadWarrior]

But anyways, back to my original question, why are you guys here?

Probably for the same reason I've been on atheist or secular forums; because it is more interesting to me to discuss issues with people with whom I disagree rather than one where everyone is in agreement.

It's akin to the business maxim that "if business partners are always in agreement, then they have one business partner too many".

Unfortunately, unlike this forum, the last two atheist (secular) forums I was on were mostly name-calling and personal attacks. If a "theist" posted anything with which the resident atheists disagreed, the verbal abuse was often epic and either tacitly or expressly supported by the moderators. The moderation on this forum is very just from what I've seen so far. It's stricter than the last two secular forums, but it's fairer.

 

[razeontherock]

Oh, right, you're doing that thing where you're building your argument on your own personal definitions of commonly used words and then acting like everyone should have known what it meant in the first place. I forgot you do that.

Nvm then.

Nope. It's how the Church functions, and has for a couple millennia now.

 

[RoadWarrior]

"the Church"? Are you an orthodox Catholic?

 

[razeontherock]

Non sequitur (There is only one Church)

 

[Jade Margery]

Non sequitur (There is only one Church)

See what I mean?

 

[razeontherock]

See what I mean?

Sorry Jade, you can't pin any of this on me. I know the Bible, and did not write it. It was written long before I was born, or so they tell me. There is one Church, the Bride of Christ.

 

[jpcedotal]

Can't cha see?
Woooaaaah, can't cha see?
What that woman's...
Been doing to me?

 

[candle glow]

sup 'yall?

Sorry, I didn't read the op or the previous pages; I just kinda wanna jump in anywhere (hope that's okay).

So what's happening with atheists and Christians these days?