Poll: Religious Discussion on the Escapist - your thoughts!

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Giovanto

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Apparently I didn't make this obvious before and I'd like to clarify something. I speak in reference more to INTENT to alienate, or just things that are outright no good. As mentioned at the end of my OP, this is a direct response to the Virgin Mary thread then anything else. Though I do also speak in reference to the many, many Religion threads, the whole point I tried to make was to not intentionally insult others. Like I said, this includes all sides, not just mine.
 

cuddly_tomato

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JMeganSnow said:
Giovanto said:
So here is my question to you my friends - what do you think of the constant Religious discussion? Though I am on and off here I almost always see one, and they often alienate certain Religions, particularly my own: Christianity.
Any religious discussion of any kind whatsoever is going to alienate SOMEONE. If you feel alienated, this is YOUR problem, not the COMMUNITY'S problem.
Wrong. If someone is unable to express their views in such a way that they do not offend other people then that is their problem, not the problem of others.

"I feel that there is no god because, for me, there is simply not enough evidence for me to believe in such a thing", does not alienate anyone or antagonize those who are religious.

"If you could reason with religious people there wouldn't be any religious people by definition. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.105312?page=2#1691376]", are the words of a bigoted moron who really shouldn't be posting in such issues.

It is not difficult for those with simple social skills to discuss such a thing without insulting or belittling others. All it takes is a little respect and courtesy.

JMeganSnow said:
Being the Religious person that I am I don't feel that it is right for those who wish to discuss to, in the process, alienate, insult, or otherwise offend those like myself. I for one think that Religious discussion on the Escapist, with its adult Community, is more then capable of remaining friendly.
If you can remain *friendly* while discussing fundamental issues of life or death with people who hold completely opposed views, there is something wrong with you. There's a difference between being friendly and being civil. I would insist that people remain CIVIL while still encouraging them to express their views without restraint. Thus if you think Christianity is evil, say so. The other forum members can decide on their own whether they think your criticisms have value or can simply be dismissed.
No, being able to cope with the differing views of another while remaining completely friendly with them is completely normal. If you can't be friendly with someone who holds different views then there is something very obviously wrong with you. What you are describing is social retardation (and I use the word "retardation" in its proper form). It is easy to associate and to like people who are 'your kind of person'. But people who aren't, people who are different and like different things, it is obviously harder. But this is exactly what social skills are. The ability to form bonds and friendships with different people. I don't find it impossible, not at all. In fact I find it difficult to dislike someone for having views different to mine. I find it easy to dislike intolerance, bigotry, or hatred. But differences of views? Hell, my girlfriend is a Buddhist and holds beliefs vastly different to my own, but I love her just as much as I would if she were a Christian, atheist, or whatever else.
 

ExaltedK9

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Apr 23, 2009
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Ignignoct said:
What kills me is that there's no actual debate to be had in the first place.

As bad as it is to generalize, I can't ignore how many of these OPs remind me of children who seek to downplay other beliefs as a social coming-of-age and hunger for validation of their own disbelief.

Meh.

You're not going to get any Christian here to debate anything new, original, or profound.

SEGREGATION THEN, SEGREGATION NOW, SEGREGATION FOREVER!
Ok is it originallity we are going for? It would be nice to have an actual discussion rather than having someone jump down my throat, or put "exhibit A" or "exhibit B" under my posts. I'm a christian, and I can accept other people's beleifs and opinions. I would like to read one religious discussion thread that was civil, and one without hearing the term: hardcore religious nut.
 

ExodusinFlames

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Apr 19, 2009
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I have no opposition to the notion of "Faith". Orgranized religion, however, has caused so much pain and death and destruction. The whole, "My God is better than your God, mine is the true god, and therefore you dirty heretics need to die" archetype, is exceptionally troublesome.

Organized religions have been negatively affecting points of view for a long time, because different people will ALWAYS think differently. Blindly following a doctrine for no better reason than "I was raised with it" is quite closed minded and unenlightened.

That being said, not everything about religion is bad. The sense of friendship and community that people get every Sunday (or whichever Sabbath) is wonderful, but why is it that people need to go there, practice outdated and man made rites, to feel that good. Why can't it be done from the comfort of ones own home, or in the workplace?

Being an agnostic with conviction, I believe in a higher power. Why is it that people can't be inspired by the world around us, without saying You're bad because you worship something thats different from what I worship. And c'mon, do you really think that a universe creating being is that insecure that they'll destroy everything to get at a few nonbelievers?

/rant
 

Ignignoct

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ExaltedK9 said:
Ignignoct said:
What kills me is that there's no actual debate to be had in the first place.

As bad as it is to generalize, I can't ignore how many of these OPs remind me of children who seek to downplay other beliefs as a social coming-of-age and hunger for validation of their own disbelief.

Meh.

You're not going to get any Christian here to debate anything new, original, or profound.

SEGREGATION THEN, SEGREGATION NOW, SEGREGATION FOREVER!
Ok is it originallity we are going for? It would be nice to have an actual discussion rather than having someone jump down my throat, or put "exhibit A" or "exhibit B" under my posts. I'm a christian, and I can accept other people's beleifs and opinions. I would like to read one religious discussion thread that was civil, and one without hearing the term: hardcore religious nut.
Any time you're ready, bro. We were talkin' 'bout the homos before, not religion, and I didn't say anything untrue.

I haven't said it, but when you hear someone call all religious people nuts, just relax. It's foolish, naive, and you're only hurting yourself to care about it.

TL;DR Put on your big-boy pants.
 

Fairee

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Mar 25, 2009
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Personally, I wish all the people on the Escapist could be mature enough to discuss religion without it ending up as flame wars. Yes, people have strong opinions, but they should be able to accept that other people think differently.

But then again, I tend to keep quiet about religion anyway. It's a bit of a touchy topic with me.
 

Ignignoct

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Geek@Heart said:
Personally, I wish all the people on the Escapist could be mature enough to discuss religion without it ending up as flame wars. Yes, people have strong opinions, but they should be able to accept that other people think differently.

But then again, I tend to keep quiet about religion anyway. It's a bit of a touchy topic with me.
YOU'RE AN IDIOTS I CANNOT BELAIVE U THINK YOU CAN JUST STAY QUITE ABOUT RELIGION B/C ITS A HUGE ISSUE WHAT ARE U 5????????

/hug
 

ExaltedK9

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Apr 23, 2009
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Ignignoct said:
ExaltedK9 said:
Ignignoct said:
What kills me is that there's no actual debate to be had in the first place.

As bad as it is to generalize, I can't ignore how many of these OPs remind me of children who seek to downplay other beliefs as a social coming-of-age and hunger for validation of their own disbelief.

Meh.

You're not going to get any Christian here to debate anything new, original, or profound.

SEGREGATION THEN, SEGREGATION NOW, SEGREGATION FOREVER!
Ok is it originallity we are going for? It would be nice to have an actual discussion rather than having someone jump down my throat, or put "exhibit A" or "exhibit B" under my posts. I'm a christian, and I can accept other people's beleifs and opinions. I would like to read one religious discussion thread that was civil, and one without hearing the term: hardcore religious nut.
Any time you're ready, bro. We were talkin' 'bout the homos before, not religion, and I didn't say anything untrue.

I haven't said it, but when you hear someone call all religious people nuts, just relax. It's foolish, naive, and you're only hurting yourself to care about it.

TL;DR Put on your big-boy pants.
Yea I know anybody who says it hold no credibility on the matter but...Okay, If someone told you John Wayne wasn't that good an actor (even though you know it's not true it would bother you. (provided you like John Wayne movies) Same principle.
 

dizzytired

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Oct 22, 2008
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Hello all, first time post here. I read a few of the religious topic posts on the forum, but yes most degenerate (or begin as) flame wars, internet equivalent of the loud angry couple at the table behind you at the restaurant.

I graduated as a religious studies major, and I consider it a meta-field of study (for lack of a better word), because it encompasses almost every aspect of life. Including gaming; Assassin's Creed, Star Wars, hell Diablo, why not?

So as a valid topic, well, why not? Many people have empirical "knowledge" of different religions upon which they base their claims, I think the problem we're actually talking about is apologetics, without the pejorative connotations. People trying to defend or attack faith based on reason.
 

Fairee

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Ignignoct said:
Geek@Heart said:
Personally, I wish all the people on the Escapist could be mature enough to discuss religion without it ending up as flame wars. Yes, people have strong opinions, but they should be able to accept that other people think differently.

But then again, I tend to keep quiet about religion anyway. It's a bit of a touchy topic with me.
YOU'RE AN IDIOTS I CANNOT BELAIVE U THINK YOU CAN JUST STAY QUITE ABOUT RELIGION B/C ITS A HUGE ISSUE WHAT ARE U 5????????

/hug
Erm, what the....? Religion is something I'm not happy to talk about. Partly because of how immature people are, and partly because I still get confused about my own beliefs.

So it's easier to avoid all the, "OMG, you think that? That's so dumb, cos there's all the proof you're wrong" etc etc.
 

bad rider

The prodigal son of a goat boy
Dec 23, 2007
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Depends what the OP is about, aka what religion are you, or why do you believe can be okay. However Christianity is wrong, not so much.
 

Kirra

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Apr 14, 2009
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I don't really mind any religious discussion, as long as the fanatics don't start telling everyone that they are going to hell.
 

DisturbiaWolf13

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The_Oracle said:
I think that religious discussion should be permitted on these boards, perhaps as part of a subsection of the Off-topic boards, as long as everyone keeps two things in mind. Firstly, all discussion or lack thereof of religious matters is to be handled in a calm, mature, and professional fashion, with everyone refraining from ad hominem attacks, defaming of other religions, and basically saying "NO U" as an argument. Follow the code of conduct that this forum employs and let's discuss this as rational human beings.

Secondly, if you are going to discuss other religions, there's no need to make fifty million threads about every single religion. There's no need for "Religion X- Do you like it, why/why not' threads cluttering up the forums. Make a few threads about religion and post mainly in them. When posting in religious threads, refrain from spamming and flaming other users and defaming other religions. There's no need to get threads unnecessarily locked.

That should be good enough; what do you think?
this guy has the right idea!
 

cuddly_tomato

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Kirra said:
I don't really mind any religious discussion, as long as the fanatics don't start telling everyone that they are going to hell.
Or the fanatics from the other side don't start telling everyone that there is no god and that people who do not share that belief are stupid and are wasting their lives. The fundamental problem is one extreme (the anti-religious extreme) is accepted while the other is not. Neither side should be tolerated.
 

Sparrow

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Feb 22, 2009
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People on here are too childish most of the time. Most grown-up discussions usually revolve around childish things like... ponies, which is awesome.

Apparently all the morons partake in the serious discussion though, and make the rest of us look like dickheads.

cuddly_tomato said:
Kirra said:
I don't really mind any religious discussion, as long as the fanatics don't start telling everyone that they are going to hell.
Or the fanatics from the other side don't start telling everyone that there is no god and that people who do not share that belief are stupid and are wasting their lives. The fundamental problem is one extreme (the anti-religious extreme) is accepted while the other is not. Neither side should be tolerated.
And this.
 

Kirra

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Apr 14, 2009
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cuddly_tomato said:
Or the fanatics from the other side don't start telling everyone that there is no god and that people who do not share that belief are stupid and are wasting their lives. The fundamental problem is one extreme (the anti-religious extreme) is accepted while the other is not. Neither side should be tolerated.
Yea, i was just too lazy to type it out. But if they can base everything with facts and keep it civil i don't mind.
 

PedroSteckecilo

Mexican Fugitive
Feb 7, 2008
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I just love having a chance to use my degree...
It has no applicability in real life so I've paid $20,000 to yell at people on the internet and I am going to do just that.
 

Graveking

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Mar 19, 2009
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I find it absolutely outrages that religion goes to unrelated topics. Now i believe in god I also believe in evolution my thoughts on Jesus are mixed but Ive NEVER gone to church Ive been a Buddhist and am i oracle of a fake religion for tax breaks (I'm the prophet :D) I'm OK with Abortion , OK with same sex whatever And OK with masturbating Ive been doing it since i was 10
i wanted to say all that before any one calls me out.

What the hell is with random people judging other people for not doing what they believe i don't believe i have encountered it here but its widely on the internet religion should be YOUR personal belief YOUR personal Choice and YOUR personal opinion When the 3 personal's get violated It goes into abortion clinics getting blown up, suicide bombing buildings and 6 million people dieing i read in article saying that some religions book burners of the 50's
had a need to bully people.

That article was a little odd about the book burners peer pressure probably played a part in it but all I'm saying is the reason P.E.T.A Throws blood at people with fur coats instead of people wearing leather is because its easier to Harass old lady's then it is to Harass Bikers.