Has the forum changed your ideas?

[Zzyzx]

In what ways has participation in the forum changed your ideas?

What presented on the forum has had significant influence upon your ideas?

[upallnite]

From June 2006

Where I am now: I call myself a Freethinker. I don't "belive" in any religion. As I see it, if a deity wanted me to acknowledge him then he should have done a better job of making himself evident. I enjoy a good debate. I have some funny ones saved.

I do not call myself a Freethinker anymore. I now feel like the term is not well known and requires additional explanation to represent my position. Atheist tends to be readily understood by everyone except the "former Atheists".

I think I lost my copy of a "debate" I had with a creationist at a local church. I should look for it, it was too funny to never see again.

I did not refer to my ability to express my view in June 2006. When I converse with friends relatives and co-workers I feel I am better equipped and more confident. I credit this to reading the debates here and using the style and evidence of some of the debaters here.

Thank you everyone. I may not use what I have learned when you can easily see it, but it is going to good use.

[Easyrider]

Jesus IS Lord!

And nothing I've seen from the skeptics has changed anything.

[McCulloch]

Jesus IS Lord!

And nothing I've seen from the skeptics has changed anything.

No surprises here.

Moved to discussion area. Not a debate, really.

[wrekk]

I believe it all gives us a place to sharpen our wits, polish our rebuttals, and analyze the way we think.

I have to say that I am truly thankful for this forum, and all the people involved.

[OpenedUp]

This forum ahs definantly helped me sharpen my beliefs.

I am thankful for everyone in this forum who talks and debates and discusses things with poise and rational. Everyone: theist and non-theist

(granted we all have our emotions on occasional )

[achilles12604]

Well my arguments haven't changed a bit. They were perfect when I got here, and they are still perfect now.


I voted in the middle btw.

[Greatest I Am]

In what ways has participation in the forum changed your ideas?

What presented on the forum has had significant influence upon your ideas?

If anything those who have tried to convince me that God is not Perfect have failled to make their case.

Christian's in particular insist that God has screwed up and must return to fix what ain't broke.

Go figure, their God must be imperfect to do what they want. Strange.

Regards
DL

[cnorman18]

I find that my beliefs have been refined and clarified, and that I have taken a stand on some matters where before I was sitting on the fence.

I have abandoned the remaining bits of literalism that were still hanging around my brain. There weren't many or especially significant anyway--I've always thought "Creationism" was a crock--but now I find that I am very comfortable with considering the Bible to be entirely the work of men. I believe God was active in its formation as He still is in the continuing development of Jewish law and tradition today; that is, through the minds and thoughts of ordinary people.

I find I am more concerned with that tradition and body of teaching than with the Bible or even with God Himself. That tradition is where God and humans meet.

I have learned that both atheists and fundamentalists make the same mistakes; not necessarily in their conclusions--for all I know, they might be right--but in presenting their cases and in arguing for them. I've started a thread on that, but so far no one seems interested. That's okay; I am.

I've learned that good will, the ability to listen and consider, honesty, a sense of humor, and above all, respect, are more important, and more determinative of character, than what one believes.

Wait, I knew that before; oh, well--that's been confirmed, anyway.

[Furrowed Brow]

Well my arguments haven't changed a bit. They were perfect when I got here, and they are still perfect now.

And they are getting better by the day.

In what ways has participation in the forum changed your ideas?

A few weeks ago I’d have said I’ve not changed at all. However I seem to be turning into a grumpy old man. I’ve really taking a dislike to typing God with a capital G, and have been making more of an effort to find alternatives.

I think this is because of a growing realisation that those who control language already contour the implicit premises and cultural assumptions of the debate. This morning I turned on the TV. Being Sunday there is usually a religious themed programme on. But being the UK and being the BBC the presentation is usually very inclusive: there will be a host plus three people discussing the week, one an atheist of some description, there will be a Christian and maybe a Muslim or a Hindu as well. This morning because it was Winterval there was a programme for Christians discussing the authenticity of the gospels. Though the views ranged from evangelical literalism to liberal this was the first purely Christian programme I’ve encountered in years. And I find myself getting really irritated and thinking to myself this has to stop, we’ve got to stop giving these people airtime.

Tomorrow evening I shall be stealing children’s’ presents from under trees. And replacing them with militant atheist propaganda.

What presented on the forum has had significant influence upon your ideas?

No one in particular. Though I guess I’ve learnt most from scientists like QED and Jose. On the negative side I’m experiencing an encroaching dismay brought on by the same old tired attempts to escape evolution and old earth science. It is only guys like Achilles and Micatala who give me hope.