Why are topics on religion allowed on The Escapist?

[GiantRedButton]

No it isn't. Belief isn't a choice, anyone who thinks it is hasn't really thought about it.

Why? You should at least give an argument if you want to contradict a thesis, otherwise it´s just going to be a "Is! isn´t!" type of discussion.
Not that I wouldn´t appreciate your oppinion, i´d just like to know why you think that.

In a bunch of muslim country´s it´s believe or die ( only in very few of them though) but I have a western p.o.v. hear. One can propably tell by the "it´s your freedom..." kind of talking


Btt: If Religion wasn´t even discussable, why would it matter to our society anyway?
I think it´s not a wise idea to simply ignore religion as it´s still important to alot of people in the world even though it´s decreasing.
And if one´s believe is undefendable, one should reconsider what he believes in.
Thats why i think that everybody should be glad if he can post his oppinion and show why he choose it and thats also why i´m a bit confused that some people would actually like to limit their chances to do so.

Edit: to slow you already answered my question
I still think religion is a choice, because everybody can assume that there is a god ....or multiple ones if said everybody prefers
If (s)he like´s the idea or thinks it´s understandable or plausible is entierly up to him/her.
If a person likes rpgßs he can still try an fps, it´s still his choice if he likes the concept and takes the double amount of joy in voting for valve against turbine or sticks to his rpgs is his choice.
Just because he doesn´t appreciate the idea of shooters as much as the one´s wo like it, doesn´t mean that his opinion isn´t valid.

Back to Religion: There are alot of people who changed their beliefs, for example, a couple in the neighboorhood who decided to both become Muslims.

The point with the chemicals in ur Brain is absolutly taken though
In theory one should be able to calculate everythink that happens as a logical conclusion of everything that happend befor, so anything that happens HAD to happen anyway...
Thus, any type of discussion is irrelevant so why are you posting?
Oh, right chemicals and stuff, just pwnd myself X)

 

[cuddly_tomato]

No it isn't. Belief isn't a choice, anyone who thinks it is hasn't really thought about it.

Why? You should at least give an argument if you want to contradict a thesis, otherwise it´s just going to be a "Is! isn´t!" type of discussion.
Not that I wouldn´t appreciate your oppinion, i´d just like to know why you think that.

I did a little further down. =P

In a bunch of muslim country´s it´s believe or die ( only in very few of them though) but I have a western p.o.v. hear. One can propably tell by the "it´s your freedom..." kind of talking

One can claim belief, but that doesn't really mean one has belief. I'll bet there are 'Christians' everywhere who only claim to believe because their families pressure them. I'll bet there are 'atheists' about who will not admit to having beliefs because they don't want to look like a wuss or don't want to get flamed to bits here.

In any event, the problem isn't the topic of religion, the problem is that there are too many people here who will just attack and tear down religion then say it is their "right" to do so. If the topic could be discussed with civility, or if the moderators would ban those individuals, then I would say leave it as it is. As neither of these things seem likely to happen, I say ban the topic.

 

[Kazturkey]

Because religious extremists are generally terrible people. I have no problem with people worshipping whatever they want to but I draw the line at telling people to go murder someone because they don't agree on what the one true god's name is.

 

[Shapsters]

The Escapist is a place for all opinions, but that will inevitably mean that there will be places of religion discussion on it.

 

[Berithil]

Heres my view on religion threads. Whoever starts them is practiclly begging for a flame war. Until (at least) the majority of flamers are banned, it's going to continue this way. I'm going to start avoiding religion threads cause it always turns into a flame war.

 

[Lukeje]

Because banning topics about religion would mean that any topic would have to be stopped as soon as religion is mentioned (a sort of bastardised Godwin's Law). As nearly every topic comes round to religion eventually, there would be nothing left to talk about.

The thing is it is destroying the forum, or at the very best changing it from a gaming forum into an anti-religious hate forum. Look at this...

Spoiler

Those are from this month alone. The escapist, for some reason, doesn't want to deal with the problem in their own back yard. I guarantee this thread will be locked very soon without much in the way of explanation, but all of those hate threads will be left wide open.

Meh; that just looks like the 'Religion' fad from a few months ago. Don't worry, it'll blow over soon.

 

[Inarticulate_Underachiever]

Freedom of speech

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

No it isn't. Belief isn't a choice, anyone who thinks it is hasn't really thought about it.

In the politest possible way, could you please explain that to me?

As for the rest I have recently come to agree with you. I am an atheist and will defend my choice if confronted but beyond that I don't feel a need to 'convert' others, live and let live etc.

 

[TwistedEllipses]

Most of those sorts of topics end up locked anyway, but it's nice to discuss other things than 'what's you favourite cereal'...

 

[Lazzi]

Its simple, in theory we should all have the maturity to discuss all of this properly and openly with decending into full force extremist banter.

But alas, we arnt.

That and the fact that it is a persona right to do so.

 

[funksobeefy]

oh the irony! a anti religious thread turned into a religious thread

Just dont post in them, people like to argue over the internet because there are no repercussions, in real life they would get there gaming ass handed to them by the first religious person they spoke to.

I still dont see why forums allow off topic discussions like that. This is a gaming forum, i come here to listen to wannabe prophets and all their religious opinions

 

[cuddly_tomato]

No it isn't. Belief isn't a choice, anyone who thinks it is hasn't really thought about it.

In the politest possible way, could you please explain that to me?

Fairly self explanatory. You can't choose what you believe, any more than you can choose what music you *like*, choose what food you *like*, choose what art you *like*, or choose what TV you *like*. You can choose what to listen too, what to eat, and what to watch, but you can't be forced to like such things even if you may grow to appreciate or like them.

Belief is the same. It is easy to test... try it yourself. Change your entire belief system for a day. Don't just think you believe or say you believe. Actually change your beliefs totally, and see if you can do it.

 

[Ancientgamer]

Most forums do ban religious discussion actually.

Most forums are alot more peaceful that the escapist too.

 

[new_age_reject]

I find it ironic how this topic will end up debating belief itself.

 

[profit0004]

I believe in God.
I also believe I can only barely even understand a being so powerfull it can live outside the influences of space and time.. A being with no beginning, no starting point, just is. How can I hope to fathom the motivations for a being like that?

I cannot comprehend. I just know he is there.
I hope when I die, I really do meet him and he brings knowledge and understanding to my admittedly ignorant mind...

I also believe he would be displeased if I started forcing my opinions of him onto his other creations... So... I hope you feel his presence sometime, but if you don't, I believe he made you as well, so he must want you to feel that way for a reason.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

No it isn't. Belief isn't a choice, anyone who thinks it is hasn't really thought about it.

In the politest possible way, could you please explain that to me?

Fairly self explanatory. You can't choose what you believe, any more than you can choose what music you *like*, choose what food you *like*, choose what art you *like*, or choose what TV you *like*. You can choose what to listen too, what to eat, and what to watch, but you can't be forced to like such things even if you may grow to appreciate or like them.

Belief is the same. It is easy to test... try it yourself. Change your entire belief system for a day. Don't just think you believe or say you believe. Actually change your beliefs totally, and see if you can do it.

I hadn't really thought about the nature of belief like that before, when you spell it out like that it does kind of seem to be a piece of a priori knowledge. Interesting, it raises questions about why we come to believe something in the first place. In the case of my own views you could say I have had a certain upbringing and experiences and now just choose to pay attention to information that backs that up. I guess the majority do this. I should probably stop this train of thought before it all starts getting a bit metaphysical.

 

[Berithil]

I have been visiting the escapist for a long time, but do not post often. I am usually content just reading the articles, and occasionally checking the forums. I will post if I have strong enough view of something, but one topic I avoid is anything that is based on religion.
Any other forum I go to has rules against threads on politics and religion. I can understand the escapist being okay with politics, its a thread based on a large industry and politics are bound to get involved.
But religion topics? Really? They do nothing but descend into flamewars, or provoke large arguments that leaves everyone in the same position, but slightly more angry at each other. Chances are, if someone believes in a religion, a simple forum post is not going to change their minds, and vice versa is you don't believe in them.
I also believe that having topics that degenerate religion or its people is much the same as racism. Its a persons way of life and who they are,their are entire communities and even countries where they all believe in a religion, so one comment against that group of people would hurt them all.
I have nothing against any group of religious or NON religous people, I just wish that they did not fight over their views. I understand that that is next to impossible to ask of the world, but knowing that religion topics are only going to start fights, why is it allowed on the Escapist?

Wow. I agree with everything you just said
Why does there have to be religion topics here? It's never a discussion of religion (which I'm fine with), it's always atheists wanting to tell thesists that they are stupid and idiots. I'm really tired of them

 

[Johnn Johnston]

Because we live in hope that one day, a thread on religion will not descend into a flame war or a series of poorly-worded rants. We all know that day will never come, or will not come in our lifetimes, but... *wipes tear* ... dammit, we can hope.