Comment by Suzanne Olson-Hyde on November 24, 2011 at 3:42am

This is a very interesting blog. I am fairly new to TA, and this is the first site I really analyzed. I found the majority of people who make comments are better educated than I, and far more articulate than I could ever hope to be. This site has been a real education for me, with the likes of Heather Spoonheim especially. 

When Heather gets into a 'discussion' it is a real treat. I just wish I was as articulate, and funny, but I just blurt, and get emotional.

I think a lot of 'rural low income populations' around the world are religious, simply because it is a support for their plight, and religion gives them hope.

For the average xian, I feel sorry for them, that they live in fear.

I really think, and hope Atheists know this. I don't judge people from where 'they live', or their education status. And I think they have been indoctrinated and brain washed from a very early age, plus the religious community they live in, makes it very difficult if not impossible to 'get out from under'.

But I don't think these people are on the internet, or go into Atheist sites to debate.

I found that the xians that come here, are just proselytizing and they really think they can change an Atheist's mind, and go into diatribes pages long. The mistake that these people make, is that the Atheists who do comment know the bible. That is one of the main reasons people see 'the light'.

 

I think generally, that xians that do come onto this site are treated with great respect, until they start getting patronizing, and superior. Atheists know the injustice in the world, much more than the average xian. Just read what some of the Atheists in this forum had to go through, and are still going through, when they even suggest to family or friends, that they are Atheist. Truly horrifying.

 

This is a huge site with many different groups to cater for all. Discussion and videos are really inspiring, and the videos of xians are truly abhorrent, and can be very depressing. Lets see how you feel after you have watched what Westboro are getting up to next,, about the 80ft critters taking over, and the 'piece de resistance of frigging 'How to be a Man' and 'Acquire the Fire' where teenagers are tortured into "believing".

 

I did see one bloke get attacked because of his spelling etc. English was his second language, and I thought he did really well, and I wanted to ask the bloke who did the attacking how many languages did he speak?????

 

Other than that one, it is very civilized, or at least, I have found.

 

I was having a 'discussion, with a xian. The aliens were taking over. He really believed that. I was very civilized. He would in NO way listen. He didn't know the bible, and it went on for days. When a xian believes god buried dinosaur bones to 'test' people, what does one say?

Xians push so hard, it is really hard NOT to degenerate into a bit of a slanging match. :) 

But I did pinch a saying from Heather :););), which was a classic.

But, if the xian stays civilized, most Atheists do too. Next xian that comes aboard for a 'discussion' I would like to see how you handle it.

I agree with Gregor, it's not about intelligence snobbery, but I investigated-and you didn't snobbery. If it was all about intelligence, I wouldn't be allowed on this site. lol.

 

It is totally different from face to face discussion.

 

Comment by Godless Conservative on January 15, 2012 at 6:02pm

Eh...we don't have to make friends to get converts.  We only need to get them to think and to start asking questions.

I get where you are coming from, but really that's how the religious win people over.  Ridicule is often effective at getting people to think, and if we do that we don't have to guide them.

Comment by Brian Kinsella on January 23, 2012 at 8:23pm

I definitely agree with your point, but I don't see this nearly as often as it seems you have.  You're going to meet jerks and sweethearts on both sides of the fence if you are looking at comments on Youtube or message boards, but as far as stumbling upon many sites that are openly attacking theists with insults, I can't recall a time I've seen it. 

When conversing with a theist, I make it a point to realize that at one time, I, (a person I feel who is of at least average intelligence), used to believe the same absurdities, and it's not that theists are stupid, but rather, they are being duped.

Comment by Diane on September 29, 2012 at 7:57am

I am perfectly fine with being civil and non-pompous with theists, and I have even been complimented on my ability to do so.  However, I don't want to be a doormat.  I do not try to de-convert them, but instead try to increase their understanding that my existence as an atheist is just as valid as theirs.  Several theists with whom I have had lengthy discussions must at least understand a little bit more that atheists can be caring, thoughtful, real people who simply don't believe in a deity,

On that note, I sometimes listen to Christian radio just to try to understand them better, and for a strange form of amusement.  I recently realized more about how incredibly organized and powerful evangelical Christianity has become.  If there is a rural farm girl in Indiana who hasn't heard the Word, they are trying to reach her in many ways.  I sometimes think that I aggravate myself too much by talking to theists like I do, and it's a drop in the bucket, but at least I'm being true to myself and, I hope, enabling some theists to have less disdain for and fear of atheism. 

I must also admit that sometimes, although it has become less and less I hope, I become totally disgusted and get snarky at theists.  I do not do this to people who are just asking questions reasonably and seem to really want to know, but to people who are on the offensive, trying to push me into a corner.  I will fight back.

Comment by SteveInCO on September 29, 2012 at 10:03am

The grammar complaint is ofttimes legitimate.  My personal policy is to ignore the occasional mistake (except when made by someone being a grammar Nazi themselves, or trying to puff themselves up).  It's the people whose grammar is so bad as to render themselves incoherent, or who I *know* are native English speakers and make the same basic errors over and over again, who THEN try to tell me I am stupid, that I will try to hit with a broadside.  (A non native speaker oftentimes will appreciate a polite correction; unfortunately there's no way to do so privately without "friending" them.)

We had a guy come on here a couple of weeks ago with questions on evolution, and I seemed to be the last person here to decide he wasn't sincerely curious.

Comment by Marc on September 29, 2012 at 1:35pm

Interesting comparison to delusional disorder. It makes you wonder what would happen if all theists were prescribed Risperdal....

Comment by James Cox on September 29, 2012 at 4:01pm

"..many christians are instead ridiculed and berated by athiests—eventually causing many of them to leave these debates feeling “non-bielevers” are rude, hostile, and arrogant.."

Well gosh, I feel the same way, but from them. I have spent most of my life trying to grow a good mind, but then theists or trolls, spend their time spouting crap, that I have sometimes tried to wade through to make sense out of it.

With my wife and her newage stuff, our daughter with her indulgent attitude with air travel-antirecycling-but pro-ecology, to family extreamist politics, and the growing sense of cultural radicalization, it is enough to wear me out trying to make sense out of anything! Is it possible that WE ARE NUTS? Consider this as an open question!    

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