Hey everyone, yes I'm a Christian but I actually really like the values of AR - freedom of thinking, against oppression and suffering, working towards peace and unity, I like how you look out for each other. Just wondering if it might be ok for me to join in the discussions sometimes? I think we're actually on the same page on some things, and I can definitely learn from people with different perspectives to me. You can all feel free to shoot me down whenever you like, because it's your website and all.
Subscription Note:
Choosing to subscribe to this topic will automatically register you for email notifications for comments and updates on this thread.
Email notifications will be sent out daily by default unless specified otherwise on your account which you can edit by going to your userpage here and clicking on the subscriptions tab.
All religions are welcome indeed encouraged in the debate forum. We have a seperate forum thats just for atheists called the atheist hub.
Hey gregpek look at the time stamp on your post and mine.
Although it is an atheist forum, i would leave intantly if it had any kind of bias towards atheists or theists when it comes to freedom of expression.
So you you got to say your piece and learn from the replies too, just ike everybody else on this forum.
The problem with most theists is that, they say that they want to discuss but usually they don't answer simple and direct questions or just change subject every time.
That is where the discussion usually ends.
Hope you show more honesty in your discussions then them.
Although it is an atheist forum, i would leave intantly if it had any kind of bias towards atheists or theists when it comes to freedom of expression.
So you you got to say your piece and learn from the replies too, just ike everybody else on this forum.
The problem with most theists is that, they say that they want to discuss but usually they don't answer simple and direct questions or just change subject every time.
That is where the discussion usually ends.
Hope you show more honesty in your discussions then them.
Welcome to the message boards,
I would have just welcomed you but since you asked if a Christian can join in the discussions:
Yes we have had plenty of theist Christian and otherwise join the discussions in the past, some have fit in and had fine discussions, others well... not so much. Some actually I can say I have enjoyed discussing things with quite much. I can't vouch that everyone will be warm and welcoming but I can say the site is very lenient and though sadly it has happened in the past when a certain theist went way to far with the offensiveness, it is quite unusual to get censored or banned, you have to be a real jerk to do so. Just remember where you are,and your talking to.
We have had theist come and go, the ones who were here to debate and rationally discuss things rather than convert us, insult us, tell us were going to hell, ignore our questions, use the site as a soap box to preach at us, or otherwise spam or troll the site are more than welcome so long as they keep an open mind and actually interact with those posting here in a coherent cordial manner.
Tips for fitting in:
Interact with others here.
Be polite.
Remember not all of us are the same and Atheism is not a belief system the word atheist simply means we are not theist.
Along those lines don't think just because one of us insult you we all have.
Don't tell us we are going to hell.
Don't try to use the bible as evidence to prove your gods existence we don't view any bible as a reliable source.
Don't try to use the survival or your religion as proof either.
Don't only respond in topics started by you.
If you see an atheist having a problem like try to help them, for example say they were looking for advise on how to come out to their parents perhaps you could offer advise from your theist point of view.
Don't close your mind down to us, keep it open.
Don't get offended by evidence or questions we feel question the validity of your god.
Don't disrespect our community, like for example before you post something think if an atheist came into your church or was on your churches message board and said something similar from the other side of the argument would we allow them to continue or would we ask them to leave. Really this just boils down to respecting where you are.
Remember, this message board is primarily for atheist for better or for worse this is a place for atheist to go and we don't choose the atheist who join, all are accepted equally.
Follow the forum guidelines. They can be found in the side bar located to the right if you scroll down for future refference. but here they are for you to read now:
No trolling
No spamming
No unrelated topics
No scams
No racism
No homophobic, or sexist comments
No non-English posts
No links to gory pictures or harmful websites
No threats of harm
No advertising or self-promotion
You may notice some jokes posted from time to time seem to bend these rules, the site moderators have a fair amount of understanding and do not rule these board like extremist but if you go to far expect to be censored or booted.
A few more things to know:
There is an area at the bottom of the forums to report spammers or other site problems,
Once you post a comment you can't delete it!
Once a comment is posted it can't be edited either.
You will likely run into a few atheist who are rather extreme and may even be against religion not just don't believe in it but no atheist speaks for us all.
Well said and come to think of it ive never seen the theist suggestions on how to get theist parents etc to accept the child's atheism im intrigued.
Yeah great question. Has anyone else got kids who've chosen to believe something different to you? I'd love to hear what your thoughts are. Eg what if your daughter decided to be a Muslim?
Zaphod
Don't only respond in topics started by you.
I think you had a mistake there.
If not, I disagree, everybody can discuss in any topic he likes and when he likes, is bases of the freedom of speech.
So if I want to reply only to topics I start, I am free to do so.
I did't do that personal, but to force people to reply to topics not started by them is tyrannical to say the least.
If I'm not interested in other's topics and just want to learn things from my specific topics, I don't see why I should be forced to reply to other topics.
That was listed in my suggestions on how can help themselves fit in or get along with others better, It not a rule the only rules stated were in the bit about the forum guidelines.
I have been posting on here a while and I have noticed that when certain theist have come on and only payed attention to their threads they seemingly did not get along with others as well as theist who commented or discussed issues on threads started by others. In no way was anything I said meant to be a rule to follow except the forum guidelines, these were just suggestions. Nobody is forcing anybody to to post in topics started by others.
you are right you did say
'Tips for fitting in:' at the top
My bad, it just appeared so, next time make it more clear though.
If I misunderstood, so could a theist.
Would an atheist be welcomed into a Christian discussion forum? Not usually, but we welcome all here. They even let me in!
Thanks all. Just remembered I asked this. Is there a way to get some kind of notification when people reply to a discussion?
I'm quite new here, but it shows when a topic has been replied to, it says "new" in the middle.
When viewing all the topics from the main page.
Love to hear new posts from you. This forum will not be interesting without members of different beliefs.