Why are there so many threads/posts in the religion forum that trash/troll religion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't visit this sub-forum very often, but as a relative outsider here, I can't help notice how many threads, and posts within topic threads, that denigrate, belittle, or troll religion.

I don't understand this.

It's akin to people seeking out groups of people having conversations about sports, and constantly interjecting about the weather. I don't get it.


If the forum is devoted to conversations about various religions, then it stands to reason that that's the baseline for everyone involved. The assumption that everyone in the thread or forum is there because they are already a person of faith to begin with, and are there to discuss matters related to that. So I can't wrap my head around why there are posts on almost every thread calling religion nonsense, or denying the very existence of God.

I mean, if you feel that way, and religion isn't relevant to you, then why seek out a forum dedicated to the discussion of religion, by religious people, to pop into and argue the fundamental nature of the forum topic itself?

It's weird. I don't understand it.

a) what goes around comes around - religious people literally knock on my door all the time to insert themselves where they are not welcome
b) I'm ticked about the centuries of oppression

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because non-believers -- while the fastest growing religious category -- are still a minority fighting for rights and acceptance.

Because open forums are not meant to be echo chambers.

Because disagreement is not "trashing".

Could go on...

You don't have to "fight" for anything. You don't have fewer rights than people of faith. Religious people understand that there are people who are without faith. They accept that.

As for trashing... what else do you call it when, during a discussion thread between posters about _________ (fill in the blank with any religious matter of your choice, a poster pops in with "you DO realize there IS no God, and you people are all crazy, right?" Because that happens in almost every thread I read.


I have no interest in baking. And it would be a little screwy if I constantly chimed in on threads about baking, telling others how baking isn't real.

[Anonymous]

PP, what happens when you report those posts as off-topic to the thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, I live in the west.

This is, I think the second or third thread I've participated in here? If I've been obnoxious, your bar is quite low.

What does living in the west have to do with anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because non-believers -- while the fastest growing religious category -- are still a minority fighting for rights and acceptance.

Because open forums are not meant to be echo chambers.

Because disagreement is not "trashing".

Could go on...

You don't have to "fight" for anything. You don't have fewer rights than people of faith. Religious people understand that there are people who are without faith. They accept that.

As for trashing... what else do you call it when, during a discussion thread between posters about _________ (fill in the blank with any religious matter of your choice, a poster pops in with "you DO realize there IS no God, and you people are all crazy, right?" Because that happens in almost every thread I read.


I have no interest in baking. And it would be a little screwy if I constantly chimed in on threads about baking, telling others how baking isn't real.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't visit this sub-forum very often, but as a relative outsider here, I can't help notice how many threads, and posts within topic threads, that denigrate, belittle, or troll religion.

I don't understand this.

It's akin to people seeking out groups of people having conversations about sports, and constantly interjecting about the weather. I don't get it.


If the forum is devoted to conversations about various religions, then it stands to reason that that's the baseline for everyone involved. The assumption that everyone in the thread or forum is there because they are already a person of faith to begin with, and are there to discuss matters related to that. So I can't wrap my head around why there are posts on almost every thread calling religion nonsense, or denying the very existence of God.

I mean, if you feel that way, and religion isn't relevant to you, then why seek out a forum dedicated to the discussion of religion, by religious people, to pop into and argue the fundamental nature of the forum topic itself?

It's weird. I don't understand it.

a) what goes around comes around - religious people literally knock on my door all the time to insert themselves where they are not welcome
b) I'm ticked about the centuries of oppression

"all the time", huh? Interesting. So is that like hourly? Daily? Weekly? Once a month? How often are we talking about? Because I've lived in lots of places and can on one hand the number of times in my life someone has knocked on my door to share their faith with me.

Centuries of oppression? I didn't realize you were that old. Your style of writing makes you sound much younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, what happens when you report those posts as off-topic to the thread?

I don't report them. I just ignore them. What's to gain by reporting them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nice that there isn't an unspoken football fan requirement to be president of the US, or achieve other levels of office in many contexts. Not all, but many -- vocal believers in religion are overrepresented in political office.

Religious beliefs and judgments based on whether you avow them or not are pervasive in US culture, in ways that sports are not.

Don’t worry I didn’t miss the fact that you’re one of the obnoxious atheists around here.

And furthermore, you can drop it, we have all been exposed to every argument, angle, and gloss on this subject thanks to the very vocal atheists like you that find their way to every corner of the internet. Truly there is nothing you can add that I haven’t already heard. Rest east.

I suspect bad jokes aren't any more popular here than anywhere else, but this is why I commented on the west.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because non-believers -- while the fastest growing religious category -- are still a minority fighting for rights and acceptance.

Because open forums are not meant to be echo chambers.

Because disagreement is not "trashing".

Could go on...

You don't have to "fight" for anything. You don't have fewer rights than people of faith. Religious people understand that there are people who are without faith. They accept that.

As for trashing... what else do you call it when, during a discussion thread between posters about _________ (fill in the blank with any religious matter of your choice, a poster pops in with "you DO realize there IS no God, and you people are all crazy, right?" Because that happens in almost every thread I read.


I have no interest in baking. And it would be a little screwy if I constantly chimed in on threads about baking, telling others how baking isn't real.

Np to this post. That is completely false - I grew up Muslim and am an atheist now - I think your attitude that religion doesn't affect the non-religious is a highly privileged one from you very likely being of a Christian background. The experiences of minority religions have and continue to be affected by dominant groups. And the experience of the non-religions/atheist continues to be affected by dominant groups. The separation of church and state in this country is such a false thing in practice, that I'd MUCH rather churches and other religious organizations be fully taxed, and also be fully open about their meddling in politics.

And your baking analogy doesn't hold. I may not eat or like the bread you personally make, but I'm interested in the source and processing of the ingredients, because it affects our entire food system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, what happens when you report those posts as off-topic to the thread?

I don't report them. I just ignore them. What's to gain by reporting them?

Ah. You may not have yet had time to read Jeff's reply.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/802575.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't visit this sub-forum very often, but as a relative outsider here, I can't help notice how many threads, and posts within topic threads, that denigrate, belittle, or troll religion.

I don't understand this.

It's akin to people seeking out groups of people having conversations about sports, and constantly interjecting about the weather. I don't get it.


If the forum is devoted to conversations about various religions, then it stands to reason that that's the baseline for everyone involved. The assumption that everyone in the thread or forum is there because they are already a person of faith to begin with, and are there to discuss matters related to that. So I can't wrap my head around why there are posts on almost every thread calling religion nonsense, or denying the very existence of God.

I mean, if you feel that way, and religion isn't relevant to you, then why seek out a forum dedicated to the discussion of religion, by religious people, to pop into and argue the fundamental nature of the forum topic itself?

It's weird. I don't understand it.

Is it OK for atheists to respond to this thread, or was it meant strictly for religious people to complain about atheists without atheist input?

[Anonymous]

For the same reason the religious posted in the Atheist threads, when they were clearly asked not to.

ps I think they should be allowed to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the same reason the religious posted in the Atheist threads, when they were clearly asked not to.

ps I think they should be allowed to

Not being an Atheist, I wouldn't post anything in their thread, since 1) I don't know anything about them, 2) since I'm not one, my thoughts or opinion is irrelevant to them, and 3) it would disrupt them from whatever they were discussing if I were to interject with something like "find God, save your immortal soul".

So there's no reason I'd ever be posting in an Aethism thread/forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the same reason the religious posted in the Atheist threads, when they were clearly asked not to.

ps I think they should be allowed to

Not being an Atheist, I wouldn't post anything in their thread, since 1) I don't know anything about them, 2) since I'm not one, my thoughts or opinion is irrelevant to them, and 3) it would disrupt them from whatever they were discussing if I were to interject with something like "find God, save your immortal soul".

So there's no reason I'd ever be posting in an Aethism thread/forum.

You may not be able to understand it, but if you were to object to or be disturbed by atheists posting in this forum, then it is probably not the right site for you.

If not, then cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because non-believers -- while the fastest growing religious category -- are still a minority fighting for rights and acceptance.

Because open forums are not meant to be echo chambers.

Because disagreement is not "trashing".

Could go on...

You don't have to "fight" for anything. You don't have fewer rights than people of faith. Religious people understand that there are people who are without faith. They accept that.

As for trashing... what else do you call it when, during a discussion thread between posters about _________ (fill in the blank with any religious matter of your choice, a poster pops in with "you DO realize there IS no God, and you people are all crazy, right?" Because that happens in almost every thread I read.


I have no interest in baking. And it would be a little screwy if I constantly chimed in on threads about baking, telling others how baking isn't real.

Not the best analogy. If I am wondering if baking is for real I can watch you bake and then eat some bread, I don't have to have faith in order to believe it's real.