Personal opinion is that they should stay on their own forums or join forums created in which believers and nonbelievers can discuss things.
I did not join this site to have to worry about believers coming on here and antagonizing those of us who want civil discourse with those of like mind.
Just my opinion.

it's up to them

In answer to your question, I am so far past religion, I don't care about theists. If no thinking person answers them, they will get tired and go away. If they don't "get tired", it will mean nothing to me, because I am not looking for them.

To each their own. as long as we can keep discussions and debates meaningful and respectful, I won't recoil. there was once a time when tribes followed whatever they wanted and did not try to convert anyone to their own faith. I think as agnostics or free thinkers, we can be better than the others, and try to find balance and understanding. let the religious websites be exclusive, we can be inclusive, share our knowledge and refrain from bigotry here. I do know what you mean though, I think most of us here did not join this site with the intention of being born again lol.

I don't mind debate. But I thought this place wasn't for debate.

Oh hell no..Fb is overwhelmed with them..can't an atheist get safe place?..after they have their Churches..

I've recently noticed some posts by people who don't meet the criteria of agnostic or atheists saying god loves you so much and crap like that. If that is going to be accepted on here I 'm just going to find another group. I just read some posts by rickarto. He must think he's on here to convert people or something. I enjoyed the site for the 2 weeks or so I was here but I'm just going to leave.

Hang believers... Burn them at the stake!

I too have retired from the argumentative life. A good two sided sharing of the facts and a friendly we agree to disagree is fine with me. Anyone is welcome, just be civil, respectful of each other's thinking and don't take themselves to seriously. It does take all kinds to make a world with the emphasis on kind.

Everyone is entitled to their views....and as we’re all intelligent human beings....some people’s views might give one a slightly different view....I personally don’t believe in god....but I’m always interested in other people’s beliefs and y they believe....

as long as they know what they're getting into.

As a person who prefers to be inclusive rather than exclusive, I think anyone should be able to access any & all information. That said, tolerance can lead to submission. Let anyone in & the waters get muddy. I fully encourage anyone who is questioning the world in which they live to reach out, be curious, ask questions but for the love of Pete, keep the judgements to yourselves.

I am a new member. It took me a while to actually sign up because I have joined "atheist" groups before to chat and meet new people only to have the groups trolled by "believers" and fake atheists who just ruin the community for everyone. I am also looking for a non-combative place to relax and enjoy the world around me and the people in it. I don't enjoy bashing anyone for their beliefs and I don't expect anyone to bash me. I was a little put off when the sign-up process included the 'spiritual' and 'religious' options but I decided to give it a chance.

I too am too old to argue. I have no patience for religious rhetoric. If someone is taking a tally; I vote no.

They are already on Quora asking annoying questions to atheists trying to troll, they have also hijacked NASA's Facebook comments section, they are really annoying and there must be atleast one forum without them purely for atheists.

Just one guy's opinion here Draco, but I think we have to at least listen to 'believers' as there are one heck of a lot of them out there. But yeah - if their goal is to do missionary work or something in attempt to bring us back into the fold, then that is going to be problematic, and quickly.

It's something that I hope not to see here.

Although most theists drive me insane, I believe it is wrong to deny them the right to be here. I feel that, as members, if our feathers are so easily ruffled that we cannot be open to honest, logical discourse regarding our beliefs, then clearly we must not put a lot of stock in what we believe. It helps to give you a healthy practice of understanding your belief system and learning how to better defend it. To me, that only serves to make My beliefs even stronger and more steadfast.

From everybody's comments I think the answer most of us could agree to is" as long as you keep it to yourself and don't bring it up in conversation". Now weather or not they could actually do that is a entirely different story.

They haven't bothered me yet. Maybe they want to secretly explore the real world.

Why would they want join, unless it was to point out the error of our ways. This should be a safe place for us

Althought I would think they would not wish to be here simply because we wouldn't be their cup o' tea, to put it gingerly, in all honesty, if we cannot stand up to their arguments, what good are our beliefs (or lack thereof) to begin with?

For the record, Draco, as a Christian, I'm here to learn from you, not convert. I joined because I recently read an article about the discrimination atheists have experienced over the years, which is wrong, considering we're supposedly living in a country valuing freedom of (or from) religion. I realized after reading this article that I probably have said something to offend atheists in the past due to my own ignorance and stupidity and I want to change that. I don't think one needs to be religious to be moral, as one of the most moral people I know is an atheist friend of my husband's. I expect to be met with suspicion here, that's only normal after the crap most of you must abide. People on this board have already given me food for thought and I appreciate it. I believe its very unhealthy if we don't evaluate our beliefs regularly. I feel that if we respect each other, don't try to change each other, and try to understand different points of view without judgement (which I'm sure you've had often enough), we can learn from each other. I don't discuss a lot of my beliefs even with my Xtian friends, either. Some would even call me a heretic! (Besides, I've also been known to enjoy a sacrilegious joke every now and then with the best of them! I'm not afraid to poke fun at myself.) The truth is, believers have been lied to, conned, and brainwashed by religious leaders, even had the Bible changed, re-worded, edited to suit them to manipulate/control us more... How can there NOT be non-believers? But even so, you have a RIGHT to believe or disbelieve whatever you wish without owing anyone any explanations. However, if the administrators think I should go, I'll go graciously, without hard feelings and will still wish you all the best. As you deserve. Peace.

I got a believer asking me questions I suspect were a lead-in to talking about religion on my second post. Like, I literally said that coming out of religion felt like coming out of darkness and they wanted me to defend myself. Theor profile listed them as a believer.

Look, not only am I a new atheist so not up for debate yet, but I live in Texas. If I want to talk to a believer, I can literally go outside, talk to a random person, and find a believer in seconds. I came here to be around non-believers. I think believers here are out for conversion and that, in this environment, is predatory and disrespectful.

I'm not sure if I'm asking for a safe place or just for simple basic respect but, either way, I don't think practicing theists without doubt or skepticism belong on this website.

Well, my co-workers signed me up here to eliminate having to wade through possible matches on other sites to find a non-believer, so if the search function is improved enough that it can not even put percentages by faces of believers the way they don't for dudes, then sure, but I don't know what they'd want here.

A strong or hard atheist is a believer. believes that god/gods do not exist. of course as agnostics we know that such things cannot be known. so sure, let everybody in. we'll show them what they don't know. simple really unless you think about it.

I joined this site so that I could have a safe space and find community with like-minded individuals. If Religious people are looking for a place to debate, then they should go someplace else. Or start a site for the purpose of Ecumenical Debate.

Just as they would not tolerate us intruding into "their space" I would not tolerate them coming here looking for a fight.