Great question!

Like you I was hoping for a place to get away from believers for a while. But when I noticed that believers can join I thought that maybe this site could help some believers come to terms with their doubts. I agree that there is a risk of conversations getting out of control, but I think that's an acceptable risk.

As long as a majority of our member's are non-believers and everyone tries to stay respectful, I have no problem with it.

I just joined, but I joined so I could socialize with other Atheists, Agnostics, et. al. in a somewhat restricted forum. Most of my friends and associates are either Christian or Pagan, and I really want to kick it with people with whom I share a common non-religious view and shed some of the irritability that accumulates from dealing with religious people wherever I turn.

I don't care, as long as they are respectful I will be in return

I just joined the site today so I'll have to see how it plays out, but I'll probably just ignore those trolling for a fight. Most of the people in my life are theists or believers, everything from fundamentalist Christian to nebulous spiritualists. I can get along with pretty much anyone who maintains a respectful tone.

I would think most are here for trolling versus enlightenment. Hopefully it won’t be too much of a problem.

If a believer wanted to join I would want to know why? If they want to join because they are searching for how non-believers think on various topics, I would have no problem; however, if the person is wanting to join so that he/she can try to convert via argument, biblical/Koran or other religious reference, or was not just wanting to learn how we think, then I would hope that the person would discouraged to not join.

I have met many people that were religious that have legitimate questions and need to feel that there is a supporting community of people that have made the same journey before them. I support and welcome those people, no matter where their journey eventually ends. Hopefully anyone coming here to troll will quickly get kicked to the curb.

I haven't found any believers trolling this site. Its a nice relief and testament to the admins who obviously do a great job of keeping them out. Personally I don't mind the trolls as I have Facebooked for long enough to have a thick skin about anything that happens on the internet. Especially after living through the last election, fake news, et al,. a bit of trolling actually seems pretty amusing most of the time. Religious people who actually have real questions or want to express real doubts are always more than welcome in my opinion.

I love debate but I will tend to be rude to those who will try to convert me. I am smart enough to know my own mind.

I think this site is a cool idea and a nice respite for me personally from the ideology bullies on FB. Old school message board. I miss those

Conceptually, I'm in favour of permitting people of Faith into a place like this, if for no other reason than because I've found very little galvanises beliefs like respectful confrontation. While I do believe that at it core, skepticism, etc. is the way to live my life, I also recognise that many of the statements commonly touted by non-believers are poorly thought-out, poorly structured, or outright irrelevant. Respectful discourse can be one of the best tools for weeding out weak or ill-conceived arguments and beliefs, and as such, I welcome it wherever it might be.

I am also concerned by the common trend I've seen online for any area that is created for a collective who are joined by one common belief (or is co-opted by such a group) to become an echo-chamber where disagreement is met with open hostility or outright banning. I do not want this to become such a place, as, while I personally am of the belief that Faith is broadly counter-productive or even outright harmful to society, I am far more strongly opposed to divisive tribalism.

I feel that they should be able to join (maybe seeing reason in great quantities will change their outlook?). However, like an Atheist taking the pulpit in a church, they should be respectful and shouldn't try to incite a riot. Just let them be. If they start proselytizing or causing issues, toss the bastards out.

I think it would attract trolls...

Depends why they are here. I just read a comment by a "christian member" who has some great reasons to learn why the rest of us are here.

Don't mind as long as they don't start preaching it's a real turn off for me.
I'm lightly to say I see you have a view, but quite honestly I have no interest in religion.

The simple answer is "Nope." The long answer is too long to write here. Just enough to say that believers who join agnostic/atheist groups just want to convert the non-believers.

Great way to turn the site toxic.

If you want to engage with believers there are plenty of other sites you can do that on.

Why not? They may discover they have the wrong idea about Atheism.

I find myself sympathizing with your desire not to have to engage with clumsy attempts to lure you back to the ranks of the believers, but I'm not comfortable either with the notion of this as an "exclusive club". If a mainstream believer of any denomination wishes to engage in a respectful dialogue with me, I'd like to think I would be open to it. While people are often praised for having "the courage of their convictions", it can also be a useful exercise to challenge one's own convictions on occasion, and hearing the argument from "the other side" can do that. Some comments or arguments from particularly unsophisticated believers are obviously not going to be worth responding to, and that is the tactic that should be employed in response. There is no need to sink to the level of name-calling or "flame-out wars", as you said.

If they annoy you, call them out for what they are: trolls.

I'd like to know how other agnostics feel about my participation on this site. I think I believe a bit at times but I do not "know". Another user posted about the difference between believing 2+2=4 and believing that Jesus turned water into wine. I resonate with that.

As long as they don't give foolish arguments we've heard a million times. I have offered BuyBull studies to many groups, but none of them has taken me up on my offers yet. Good sincere arguments or discussions are a plus on any thread .

I think if religious people were allowed, it would let people join with the intent to convert us to their religion. I get enough of that from my family.

Its a free world and their entitled to their opinion however wrong it may be...lol

Well this is a site for agnostics and atheists. A Christian has a ton of websites that they can join. I see their attempt to join a group of agnostics and atheists negatively. They either want to troll or "witness".