This is likely contentious, but it needs to be asked. As this is a site "...promoting universal truths and peaceful life without religion" how do you feel about people of faith joining here?
I'm no shrinking violet and I don't need the sort of safe space that so many people believe they do now, but I also don't want to have to engage with people who have been inculcated into some form of unscientific, simple-minded view of the natural world.
I joined in the belief (cough) that this was an exclusive club where I could escape from these folk - but now I find they are joining - with a view to what, I don't know although my hackles are raised.
Not only is this sort of thing wasteful of resources, but if they are here to try to convert or preach at us, that's likely to result in a dissemination to all-out flame wars in a post or two.
I didn't think this was a site to convert people from one way of thinking to another (that sort of thing is nigh-on impossible by the time we're in our 20s anyway.)
I ask because I'm interested what my fellow angostic/athiests think.
I've noted that "theists" tend to butt in to these conversations with their ignorance and that's what I came here to avoid.
I'm getting too old to argue.
if believers join, then its fine but don't call this agnostic.com call it people.com
If they join, they should be made to wear the mark of the cross on their foreheads, so they can easily be identified (and ridiculed).
I've only been a member for a few hours. If I was accosted by a believer, I have some tactics that I use to dampen their ardor. Sometimes I say to a fundamentalist trying to get me to accept Christ in my heart, "I believe in evidence; when you ask me to have faith, I will tell you that I have faith in science based evidence that can be proven via visual and auditory perception". I am also comfortable saying that per such evidence, no one has ever proven or disproven the existence of an omnipotent entity who created our universe, solar system, and Planet Earth merely out of its own free will. I also believe that any entity that creates a race of beings, gives that race free will, then punishes those whose exercise of free will does not follow some arbitrary religious commandments, is a psychopath.
If a religious person joins and is respectful to others here then I'm okay with it. I would enjoy discussing religion with a religious person as long as they are rational and polite about it. Anyone who comes here trying to start trouble or spread religion should be banned.
Also, there's absolutely nothing that a religious person could say to sway me to their religion. Nothing short of empirical evidence could do that and no one has submitted any real evidence of the existence of any gods.
Mmm; I hear/read what you're stating, and hope/trust that not too many "vocal but not thoughtful" theists will over-post here; but.... Am fine with folks as long as they are civil and earnest in witnessing for what they believe in. In fact, am hopeful that religious individuals might learn from participating... even if they at times proselytize occasionally. Am happy to try proffering my views in return; hoping to sway believers to rationality.
I contributed to this thread before but I cannot see my post, which is odd. So I will keep it brief and add my support to the general view here that there are other places for believers and non believers to engage. This should be for non believers only to share and debate. Getting into debates with religionists is easy, online and in the real world. What's hard is connecting to other non religionists. This is a great place for that.
Yeah, I’m not big in letting religious people as well. I joined the group to meet people that are of similar thinking. That being said, I think we already have a enough diversity with the different types of people here: atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, etc..
You can't be annoyed if you don't participate with their challenges. Personally, I like a little challenge because it makes me think and sharpens my reasoning. Too often though their cognitive dissonance gets boring and I simply end the discussion, because it is pointless to argue about the color of the teapot in orbit around the Earth.
My first reaction was to say, "hell no" but then, I realize perhaps that is hasty. I think it may be beneficial for those who are considering why they believe. They may learn to open their minds and recognize it is okay to take the driver's seat, heal cognitive dissonance, or,whatever! I know I didn't suddenly decide I know longer had beliefs in Christianity. It was a process. As for those who may come here to "preach".... lol, I think they will be weeded out swiftly. Also, I would give them kudos for trying. I am not vulnerable to them.
as a not atheist, I would assume that any dogmatic certainty based person would be a huge bummer here.
I joined because I have my own spiritual reality but I fucking hate classical theism and the anti science bullshit of most of America. but I assume my oprahesque woo woo will be tolerated with derision and I am fine with that. but an actual believer? fuck them. they have like a million places to be.
catbyrd is right. fuck certainty. I just want to think well and love well before I die and no longer exist.
I have not had the chance to encounter a "believer" on this site (thank 'god', but I'm inclined to believe that those who are joining are simply trolls, trying to convert... the completely unprepared since most of the people here know more about the bible than they do.
I'm often told that "the reason you don't believe in God is that you haven't read the bible."
I respond by saying, "No! The reason you believe in God is that YOU haven't read the bible."
If a believer joined, it would only be for contentious reasons and I'd think the suffering party would be laughed right out of here.
Not one to shy from debate or discussion, however, I welcome any and all to tap at my door on a weekend morning, hangover be damned, or an inbox exchange where one desperately wishes to save my soul.
Bring. It.
I would welcome them with open arms. We do have a good thing going here and it is awesome to have a intelligent group of people who are mostly on the same page as I am to discuss things with but I think that it would be a good thing for theist to join in and possibly see for themselves that we aren't evil terrible people who ought to be burned for our beliefs.
Also, I sometimes feel as though I am , pardon the expression, preaching to the choir. For the most part, we agree about stuff so debates would be more interesting if those who think differently were included.
I believe in the primacy of free speech and that includes the right of a believer to enter a domain populated by non-believers and advance, in a respectful manner, an argument. If we insulate ourselves, as believers do, we become hypocrites.
I joined this site to get away from the religious mumbo-jumbo found on other sites. I have joined many online dating sites where this nonsense takes place all the time. I found this site to be a refreshing delight. No, the religious do not belong here.
I don't think the faithful should be admitted. If they still consider themselves so, then chances are they just want to spread what they believe and convert people, just as they've been programmed to.
However, there should be a "questioning" or "investigating" option for those who are dipping their toes in the water to see if it's safe.
Some people are only "religious" because of peer pressure and the expectations of their community.
But definitely don't admit the faithful. Their tiny egos will not be able to endure here.
I don't mind occasionally engaging with a believer who is respectful, thoughtful, and who is willing to acknowledge when the value of what's being exchanged has been exhausted. This describes a minority of my interactions online in most places, but the number of such exchanged I've had is greater than zero.
There are already plenty of other places where that sort of thing can happen.
My understanding of this forum is it's a place for non-believers to meet one another to form friendships or possibly romantic relationships with one another.
Put another way, you won't find my profile at ChristianMingle.com.