Do you think religious forums are the best way to turn people into atheists?

Answer 1

We're only spreading the word through love and as a charity service for our fellow man.

Answer 2

I am sure that this is literally untrue. Figuratively, it may appear this way, especially in this type of unmoderated forum where all sorts of persons are free to hide behind anonymity and act out. The question could be reversed to include the opposite side of the issue just as easily.

I have taken a position that if a question is explicitly targeting "atheists", "non-believers" or something similar, that I will not answer (but may read for my own edification) the question since I obviously do not fit these labels.

Likewise, if a question is labeled "believers", "theists", “Moslems”, “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, etc., it would be polite if those not fitting the label would not respond unless the question specifically fits. I also ignore questions that obviously violate the new community guidelines posted at http://answers.yahoo.com/info/community_guidelines.php, and especially those that are flippant, hate-mongering, vapid preaching, or are just chatty.

It seems to me that only if a question is non-specific should responses be expected from any and all persons.

We all learned this behavior in kindergarten but seem to have forgotten how to play nice with one another. We were taught to not speak unless spoken to, answer the question asked, and be polite. We also have learned, as George Elliot noted, "Blessed is the person who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us worthy evidence of the fact."

Why is it that when some are older they feel they can reject all semblances of politeness with shallow and strained arguments for free speech, just having fun, etc? In truth, these are not the salient issues, but only excuses for bad behavior.

The real issue is what enables these forums? The answer should be clear--it is the questioner. The questioner is the driving force in these forums and should be able to designate a specific population for the responses they are seeking. For if there are no questions, there is no reason for a Q&A type of forum. Thus, my focus on my response is what the asker thinks of my question, not any other answerers who may also respond. If the asker doesn’t like my answer I usually hear about it and learn from them. That said, I write cogent responses that I hope are useful to others who may take the time to read them.

I create my answers from an academic theologian’s perspective, as this is my “day job”. Yes, my answers are often wordy, but I honor the questioner with enough details to help them learn more. I believe that what a person sets into writing is a greater act of consciousness than what a person speaks from their mouths. So, when a person writes some of the vitriol that we see in this Forum, especially from self-professed believers, this person is giving deeper evidence of the state of their faith to others. In short, some may know the Word of the Lord, but they demonstrate by their actions that they do not know the Lord of the Word.

If we respect the questioner’s desires for specificity, this forum will be something worth spending our precious time in.

Answer 3

Actually, on one forum I watched two people turn away from Christianity, due to the inexcusably nasty behavior of the Christians there. I don't think they settled on a new faith by the time I left, but were certainly agnostic at least. The Christians turned out to be their own worst enemies.

Meanwhile, no non-Christians turned Christian, in spite of being threatened with hell, told how rotten we all are, and being bombarded with Christian websites and myths on every topic from Mary sightings to ID.

So the current forum score in my experience is Nonchristians 2, Christians 0.

Answer 4

If someone is going to be an athiest, they will be an athiest, regardless of a forum or anything else.
This is the age for choice, and each person will make theirs. you should not want to find a "best" way to turn anybody into anything other than what is that persons true destiny, which will and should be found by them without the help of some pro-athiest agenda.

Answer 5

Not uniquely. The forum is just a delivery system. Fundementalists are also needed. True believers are often inspiring but the fundies just make so many of us sick - including the true believers I would wager.

Why would anyone continue to 'spread the word' when it is completely obvious to anyone with half a brain that we hear it constantly and are sick to the teeth of hearing it?

How can anyone who has the tinest shred of humanity or thought in them actually believe that telling people they are 'going to hell' would pull in anyone who didn't already believe that?

Answer 6

If I wasn't one when I started I would be now just to not associate myself with some of these people

Answer 7

I think they can be helpful, but ultimately what turns people into atheists is critical thinking and introspection.

Answer 8

Because soo many very foolish fundamentalists will come here.

Answer 9

It worked for me.

Answer 10

No, but education is.