Religion now allowed!

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Well. You have a politics section. This is only natural. How can you debate a political topic if the admin has banned a counter argument? It's just counter intuitive.

Makes sense. Thanks for your comments. ^^

I've seen religious debates done properly and improperly. The problem comes when someone from either side decides to go and flame the other side out of rage or anger. I've seen it from both the religious and the nonreligious. Quite frankly, I don't enjoy participating in it, but hey, who does?

I've always seen Off Topix as a pretty relaxing community that isn't as uptight as other communities about the atmosphere in general. That's something that I've definitely liked about this place, even as more of a lurker than a heavily-posting member. All things considered, I'm very glad to hear that Off Topix is opening the doors to deeper religious discussions, and I'm interested in seeing how everything goes.

Thanks Darth.

I can't help but feel that Nebulous, you are in a no win situation here aye.

People will get upset if they are unable, or prevented, from expressing their honest opinions, others will get upset or distressed by what they read.

Damned if you do .. damned if you don't aye.

If we can all act and respond like adults, and leave the childish name calling, and finger pointing out of things .. this decision to allow these kinda discussions, could prove to be an asset to Off Topix.

I can't help but feel that Nebulous, you are in a no win situation here aye.

People will get upset if they are unable, or prevented, from expressing their honest opinions, others will get upset or distressed by what they read.

Damned if you do .. damned if you don't aye.

If we can all act and respond like adults, and leave the childish name calling, and finger pointing out of things .. this decision to allow these kinda discussions, could prove to be an asset to Off Topix.

Very true Khalessi. I agree 100%

Those that do really love and appreciate Off Topix, will at least endeavor to keep comments and opinions at least somewhat decent.

Absolutely there should be at least some boundaries though aye?

I mean straight out name calling, especially so in a religious topic, just should not be acceptable, or tolerated. No need for it at all.

Might be worth thinking about a work around.

Maybe those that cannot seem to contain themselves and refrain from name calling, or forget to use common decency .. after one warning, if they persist, perhaps they might be excluded from further religious discussions, or be placed on mod preview for a set period of time?

This way .. the whole board doesn't have to suffer for one lone persons actions?

Thanks for your concern. We try to let people speak their mind (good or bad) and post up counter arguments without fear of being scolded, but there is a limit to everything. If things get out of hand, we will do our best to handle the situation appropriately. We can put limitations on a problem member's account (like moderator queue/approval of posts, removing access to the debate forum or even a ban) ...if it ever gets to that point.

So far, I am rather pleased with the discussions.

There has been some flaming of Christians by those who cannot separate the larger topic from their own personal experience, but, perhaps, it is a teaching opportunity.

At least, it could be.

We shall see if some of the rest of us are up to the challenge.

Glad it's working out!

 

[Atrox]

Sounds good, but I do hope that us atheists get the respect of religious members too.

 

[Kirito]

Sounds good, but I do hope that us atheists get the respect of religious members too.

Haven't had any disrespect here no matter the subject. I'm also atheist.

 

[Ellie1142545]

i hope that works the other way?

that us athiests will also be granted respect and tolerance by the 'believers'?

Not to worry.....I'm the type of person, who shows respect to everybody....Including Atheist, non-believers, and those who believes differently than I do.....

 

[Ellie1142545]

For as intense, hot-headed, confrontational, argumentative and just plain old mean that I can be, religious topics are one area where I won't be debating or arguing with anyone. A man's (or woman's) walk with God is a personal one. No person can tell another what is the correct or proper way to worship. I don't subscribe to any organized religion and no one here would be able to change my mind on that. I am perfectly secure in my own relationship with God and I don't feel the need to explain myself to anyone. God understands me and He's the only one who matters in this topic.

I agree with you....Trouble is, there are those Christians, who will try to, tell us how we should be walking in our Faith....

The truth of the matter, we all believe differently, and we believe the way we do, because it's how we're led to believe by the Holy Spirit.....

 

[DrLeftover]

amen

 

[Ellie1142545]

what about new Religion Discussion Section ?

The debate forum will do.

And....How do we get to the debate forum? Looking for it, but can't find....

 

[Evil Eye]

Using propositional logic on that image I conclude that either God believes in atheists or the statement is false

((¬B→¬A)∧A)=((B∨¬A)∧A)→B∧A

 

[+paradox]

Using propositional logic on that image I conclude that either God believes in atheists or the statement is false

((¬B→¬A)∧A)=((B∨¬A)∧A)→B∧A

there's the double e that i remember...

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

what about new Religion Discussion Section ?

The debate forum will do.

And....How do we get to the debate forum? Looking for it, but can't find....

Link to Debate Room (forum): http://offtopix.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=24

 

[DrLeftover]

I still find it odd that it is only modern "civilized" man that has decided that 'god' does not exist.

Every ancient peoples on every continent had a Creator.

 

[Dee]

I still find it odd that it is only modern "civilized" man that has decided that 'god' does not exist.

Every ancient peoples on every continent had a Creator.

I find it odd that every ancient civilization believed in a super duper powerful being floating around in the sky, and/or of supreme beings who knocked each other up regardless of who you were. *cough* I'm lookin' at you, Zeus.

 

[Ellie1142545]

I've seen religious debates done properly and improperly. The problem comes when someone from either side decides to go and flame the other side out of rage or anger. I've seen it from both the religious and the nonreligious. Quite frankly, I don't enjoy participating in it, but hey, who does?

I've always seen Off Topix as a pretty relaxing community that isn't as uptight as other communities about the atmosphere in general. That's something that I've definitely liked about this place, even as more of a lurker than a heavily-posting member. All things considered, I'm very glad to hear that Off Topix is opening the doors to deeper religious discussions, and I'm interested in seeing how everything goes.

I know exactly where you're coming from....I've seen it myself....As a matter of fact, I'm on Blogster.com....Has anyone been on there? Because, until recently, I was being attacked and was told who, I can, or cannot have, for friends, and oops!! even blocked because of friends I do have....All Christians by the way.....

And, there are going to be disagreements among the Christians....Why? Because we don't believe exactly the same way.....And that's sad.....Of course we don't believe exactly the same way!! if we did, we'd be living in a very boring world....Our beliefs are what we have been given, not by what man says, but by what the Lord has lead us to......

Respect, kindness, and consideration....If more of this were shown, there would be far less bickering and more worthy debating.....

 

[DrLeftover]

I still find it odd that it is only modern "civilized" man that has decided that 'god' does not exist.

Every ancient peoples on every continent had a Creator.

I find it odd that every ancient civilization believed in a super duper powerful being floating around in the sky, and/or of supreme beings who knocked each other up regardless of who you were. *cough* I'm lookin' at you, Zeus.

Zeus was a very good bad example of what a god should NOT be or do.

And, sorry about this, but in Greek Mythology, Ol' Z was a relative newcomer, and an usurper of the throne. ALL of Everything emerged from Chaos, their primordial god of creation.


While we're at it, of the cultures I had in mind, the Greeks themselves were the new kids on the block. yes, I'm looking at you, Sumeria.

Sumer, or the ‘land of civilized kings’, flourished in Mesopotamia, now modern-day Iraq, around 4500 BC. Sumerians created an advanced civilization with its own system of elaborate language and writing, architecture and arts, astronomy and mathematics. Their religious system was a complex one comprised of hundreds of gods, rites and cosmology. According to the ancient texts, each Sumerian city was guarded by its own god; and while humans and gods used to live together, the humans were servants to the gods.

The Sumerian creation myth can be found on a tablet in Nippur, an ancient Mesopotamian city founded in approximately 5000 BC.

http://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-folklore/origins-human-beings-according-ancient-sumerian-texts-0065

 

[Bluezone777]

I still find it odd that it is only modern "civilized" man that has decided that 'god' does not exist.

Every ancient peoples on every continent had a Creator.

I suppose that would be people proving prophecy true even though these people likely don't know what they are doing w hen they scoff at the existence of God. I would also say those people are so full of pride that they can't stand to entertain the thought God exists much less believe anything he said as truth. What a sad place for anyone to be found.

2 Peter 3:2-4

2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

 

[Sinon]

I still find it odd that it is only modern "civilized" man that has decided that 'god' does not exist.

Every ancient peoples on every continent had a Creator.

I think it's because nowadays, science can prove things that in those days, nobody could. What is that big yellow thing in the sky? Why do old people stop breathing? etc.

Now of course, we know the answers to questions like that, but back then they had to rely on something else. So they invented a higher power, because it was a simple and easy method of explaining the unknown. What is that big yellow thing in the sky? God made it. Why do old people stop breathing? God took them.

Now people are less fearful of the unknown, and have less desire for answers, so religion is on the decline.

And the key question to me, is that as you say, people on separate continents had different gods/goddesses. Some had a single god, some had a pantheon. Which is true? We don't know. We can claim to know, but it's not something we're able to prove without a doubt.

I also wonder how long it will be before the present religions go the same way Greek, Egyptian, and other gods/goddesses went. Now, they're mythology. I don't really get why. They have the same, and in some cases arguably more merit than current religions do.

 

[seasidemike]

Control religion, control the people.

Religion is not going to go away in the near future, in fact I believe it will get more radicalised and stronger.

Religion fills gaps where there is disenfranchisement in society. People do not like to connect separate issues together, but they are in fact linked.

The world’s overall situation is that where more and more wealth is being distributed less and less, current reports show that over the past year the super-rich have acquired higher levels of wealth than ever before, placing 50% of the world’s wealth in the hands of 1% of the world’s population.

The middle classes are shrinking and there is disillusionment, and when this happens people tend to turn to faith. However, over the past decades faith has eroded with both scandal and corruption being exposed in religious organizations and with the glorification of consumerism and consumption it has left a gap in people’s spirituality.

Therefore it is no surprise to see an uprising of radical religious groups attracting poor and disenfranchised people to blind and stupid causes, but for these people, it is better to believe is something extreme than it is to believe in nothing at all as the way society has evolved, many have been left with nothing.