Who has changed their minds about religion on this forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like recent religious pp is an example of someone who is changing their mind about religion on this forum - kicking and screaming to be sure, but changing their mind nonetheless.

They're aware that their arguments supporting religious belief are not very good, and are also becoming aware that that's all there is.

I'm one of the religious PPs. I have changed my mind in the past about religion (went from what I grew up in to agnostic to a different religion), but those changes came from real life interactions, well before I knew this forum existed. This forum too often devolves into stereotyping and over-simplifications of others to be effective in changing my mind.

I haven't tried to make an argument supporting religion, because I don't really care what you all believe. My religious beliefs work for me and I don't get brownie points for convincing anyone else, nor do I worry about your souls if we differ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like recent religious pp is an example of someone who is changing their mind about religion on this forum - kicking and screaming to be sure, but changing their mind nonetheless.

They're aware that their arguments supporting religious belief are not very good, and are also becoming aware that that's all there is.

I'm one of the religious PPs. I have changed my mind in the past about religion (went from what I grew up in to agnostic to a different religion), but those changes came from real life interactions, well before I knew this forum existed. This forum too often devolves into stereotyping and over-simplifications of others to be effective in changing my mind.

I haven't tried to make an argument supporting religion, because I don't really care what you all believe. My religious beliefs work for me and I don't get brownie points for convincing anyone else, nor do I worry about your souls if we differ.

Seems like you DO care actually, or else why post?

My guess is you don't post why you believe for obvious reasons. I don't blame you. And yes, you are completely entitled, legally and socially, to believe what you wish for any reason you wish. But I am not sure why you would want to engage on this subject unless you wanted to convince someone, or maybe just convince yourself? Just speculating...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like recent religious pp is an example of someone who is changing their mind about religion on this forum - kicking and screaming to be sure, but changing their mind nonetheless.

They're aware that their arguments supporting religious belief are not very good, and are also becoming aware that that's all there is.

I'm one of the religious PPs. I have changed my mind in the past about religion (went from what I grew up in to agnostic to a different religion), but those changes came from real life interactions, well before I knew this forum existed. This forum too often devolves into stereotyping and over-simplifications of others to be effective in changing my mind.

I haven't tried to make an argument supporting religion, because I don't really care what you all believe. My religious beliefs work for me and I don't get brownie points for convincing anyone else, nor do I worry about your souls if we differ.

Seems like you DO care actually, or else why post?

My guess is you don't post why you believe for obvious reasons. I don't blame you. And yes, you are completely entitled, legally and socially, to believe what you wish for any reason you wish. But I am not sure why you would want to engage on this subject unless you wanted to convince someone, or maybe just convince yourself? Just speculating...

Meanwhile, I take religious pp at their word. It sounds like, whatever their religion is, they're not interested in proselytizing, just responding to the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like recent religious pp is an example of someone who is changing their mind about religion on this forum - kicking and screaming to be sure, but changing their mind nonetheless.

They're aware that their arguments supporting religious belief are not very good, and are also becoming aware that that's all there is.

I'm one of the religious PPs. I have changed my mind in the past about religion (went from what I grew up in to agnostic to a different religion), but those changes came from real life interactions, well before I knew this forum existed. This forum too often devolves into stereotyping and over-simplifications of others to be effective in changing my mind.

I haven't tried to make an argument supporting religion, because I don't really care what you all believe. My religious beliefs work for me and I don't get brownie points for convincing anyone else, nor do I worry about your souls if we differ.

Seems like you DO care actually, or else why post?

My guess is you don't post why you believe for obvious reasons. I don't blame you. And yes, you are completely entitled, legally and socially, to believe what you wish for any reason you wish. But I am not sure why you would want to engage on this subject unless you wanted to convince someone, or maybe just convince yourself? Just speculating...

Meanwhile, I take religious pp at their word. It sounds like, whatever their religion is, they're not interested in proselytizing, just responding to the question.

Not interested in responding, but doing so anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

Please tell us the sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death. I'm not familiar with any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

Please tell us the sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death. I'm not familiar with any.

DP, but PP said "religious" not "Christian." You literally just made PP's point - that posters on this forum (IMHO the atheists specifically are the big offenders here) seem obsessed with equating "religion" with "Christianity."

I'd argue that many eastern religious don't have a concept of life after death. Reincarnation != eternal life exactly, and certainly the merging of your life force with the universe is different than having a distinct soul forever and ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

Please tell us the sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death. I'm not familiar with any.

DP, but PP said "religious" not "Christian." You literally just made PP's point - that posters on this forum (IMHO the atheists specifically are the big offenders here) seem obsessed with equating "religion" with "Christianity."

I'd argue that many eastern religious don't have a concept of life after death. Reincarnation != eternal life exactly, and certainly the merging of your life force with the universe is different than having a distinct soul forever and ever.

Actually you are incorrect. PP said "...the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying." So I asked for the "sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death." Personally, I do not know of any and I do know that Roman Catholics and Episcopalians, and Lutherans and Presbyterians believe in life after death. Do you know of any Christian sects that don't believe in life after death? If so, please advise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

If the majority of believers in this country are christian, what did you expect? Also, in general, the loudest and most outspoken believers tend to be the evangelicals, thus they are truly the annoying ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

Please tell us the sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death. I'm not familiar with any.

DP, but PP said "religious" not "Christian." You literally just made PP's point - that posters on this forum (IMHO the atheists specifically are the big offenders here) seem obsessed with equating "religion" with "Christianity."

I'd argue that many eastern religious don't have a concept of life after death. Reincarnation != eternal life exactly, and certainly the merging of your life force with the universe is different than having a distinct soul forever and ever.

Reincarnation only applies until one reaches nirvana, while not the same as the western idea of heaven, one could make an argument that it is a form of a heaven.

[Anonymous]

I've never seen an argument here, from any side in any debate that was new to me. There's no basis for changing my mind, because it's all stuff I've thought about before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

Please tell us the sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death. I'm not familiar with any.

DP, but PP said "religious" not "Christian." You literally just made PP's point - that posters on this forum (IMHO the atheists specifically are the big offenders here) seem obsessed with equating "religion" with "Christianity."

I'd argue that many eastern religious don't have a concept of life after death. Reincarnation != eternal life exactly, and certainly the merging of your life force with the universe is different than having a distinct soul forever and ever.

Actually you are incorrect. PP said "...the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying." So I asked for the "sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death." Personally, I do not know of any and I do know that Roman Catholics and Episcopalians, and Lutherans and Presbyterians believe in life after death. Do you know of any Christian sects that don't believe in life after death? If so, please advise.

PP here. My point was actually that religious =/= Christian. I specified evangelical Christianity, because beyond just citing Christianity, posters here often specifically cite evangelical theology, probably because it's the loudest. But, no, I wasn't distinguishing mainstream Christianity from evangelical. I was distinguishing other religions from Christianity, which this forum never seems to do. Maybe this rephrasing will make it clearer: "the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all [other religions] on this forum is annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's affirmed my Christianity many times. I realize the people trying to talk me out of my relationship with God are from the other evil side and I'm not interested in that side at all.

I am an atheist. I am not evil and I am not trying to talk you out of your relationship with God any more than I'm trying to talk you out of your relationship with the tooth fairy, if you still believe in it.

I do think it's silly for an adult to believe in anything supernatural and will continue to say so. You might be very intelligent in other ways, but still believe in God. Many intelligent people do. I once believed in God and I'm intelligent. I'm no longer believe inGod, but I''m still just as intelligent. I'm more informed now. I've accepted my life as being finite and have given up childish ideas about living forever[u].

Wait until technology makes it possible to live potentially forever. What would that do to peoples' belief systems?

Hopefully, it will mean that people discard their religious beliefs, because technology, i.e., science, is the reason it's possible to live forever. Not religion. Advancements in science have made life easier and longer. Religion never has.

Religion only allows for everlasting life in a fantasy land called heaven. And you have to die before you can get there and you only get there if you believe in God and have died in good standing in whatever of the many earthly religions you belonged to while alive.

Plenty of people are religious without the idea that it means you will live forever. Seriously, the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying.

Please tell us the sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death. I'm not familiar with any.

DP, but PP said "religious" not "Christian." You literally just made PP's point - that posters on this forum (IMHO the atheists specifically are the big offenders here) seem obsessed with equating "religion" with "Christianity."

I'd argue that many eastern religious don't have a concept of life after death. Reincarnation != eternal life exactly, and certainly the merging of your life force with the universe is different than having a distinct soul forever and ever.

Actually you are incorrect. PP said "...the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all else on this forum is annoying." So I asked for the "sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death." Personally, I do not know of any and I do know that Roman Catholics and Episcopalians, and Lutherans and Presbyterians believe in life after death. Do you know of any Christian sects that don't believe in life after death? If so, please advise.

PP here. My point was actually that religious =/= Christian. I specified evangelical Christianity, because beyond just citing Christianity, posters here often specifically cite evangelical theology, probably because it's the loudest. But, no, I wasn't distinguishing mainstream Christianity from evangelical. I was distinguishing other religions from Christianity, which this forum never seems to do. Maybe this rephrasing will make it clearer: "the bias toward evangelical Christianity to the exclusion of all [other religions] on this forum is annoying.

Understood. Now, could you address the issue of: "sects of Christianity that do not believe in life after death." Thanks