Has this forum had any effect on your beliefs or ideas at all?

[Evoman]

Just wondering...please feel free to explain yourself, of course.

On edit: the second and third choices may seem weirdly worded. For the sake of discussion (not because its necessarily TRUE), assume a spectrum from Fundie<--->Strong Atheist.

[H2O Man]

1. Other.

No change, but I find some threads interesting.

[monmouth]

2. I don't want anyone getting a big head/ego going here but I would say as

a new poster but long-time reader of DU, I find that 95% of the writing, style, vocabulary, humor, etc. is far superior to any other site. Just saying....

[cosmik debris]

3. Sometimes a post can broaden your view without changing it

Here is my example.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=100432&mesg_id=100512


Thanks again Odin2005

[Imperialism Inc.]

4. I voted appreciation of theistic arguments.

I'm actually a stronger atheist than before any discussions here, but the responses of theists here have been much help in understanding their position and further strengthening my own. I certainly have a much deeper understanding of the ideas underpinning religion in general.

[Meshuga]

9. I went the other way

I voted to say that I have gained appreciation for atheistic arguments (especially for the fact that we have anti-atheist laws around the country which is ridiculous and makes me understand their concern), but I remain a theist. Not any weaker or stronger theist but I just remain in the God-room. My belief meter keeps oscillating regardless of what I read.

[RethugAssKicker]

5. Religion here is almost synonymous with Christianity

We hardly ever discuss other religions, such as Buddhism, Taoism..etc.

But I guess thats common here in America, as over 80% of the people believe in the bible.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Another reason you don't often see other religions

talked about in this forum is that there are forums for them, be they Muslim/Islam or Seekers on Unique Paths. However, I have noticed that sometimes posts about relgions and thoughts other than Christianity and atheism tend to sink like a stone here.

[bryant69]

6. I could vote in a few of those categories

I am interested in the spectrum from Fundie to Strong Atheist though - that's an interesting spectrum. Could one assume that a "Strong Atheist" would be as driven to inflict his or her beliefs through legislation as a dominionist? IN other words a Dominionist (or Fundie, in this poll) would want Schools to teach from a specifically Christian perspective, teaching belief in Jesus and throwing out evolution (not creationism as I typed origionally cause i"m a dunderhead). Would a Strong Atheist feel the same way? He'd want science teachers and others to actively teach atheism, encouraging a cynical if not negative view of religion?

A Dominionist wants a religious test to hold political office - you have to be a good Christian to hold high office - would a Strong Atheist feel the same way? Baring political office to those who believe in superstitions?

I should note that I doubt there are very many if any strong atheists here, if you follow that definition - insofar as they exist, they certainly wouldn't be the threat the dominionists are.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Finder]

10. Atheism cannot be taught...

since it has no tenets or beliefs.

I personally do not distinguish between strong and weak atheism...IMO-- an atheist is an atheist.

[bryant69]

11. Atheism cannot be taught

That doesn't make any sense to me - how are Dawkins and Harris selling books then? I looked through Harris's book yesterday - and it certainly looked like he was making an argument.

Do you think that people who believe in superstitious mumbo jumbo should be allowed to hold high public office?

Bryant

[Finder]

13. They are debunking religion not teaching atheism...

I do not think most holding high office believe in what they want voters to believe they believe.lol

[bryant69]

15. OK

Should public school teachers debunk religion as part of their teaching duties?

And what do you think high office holders actually believe?

Bryant

[Finder]

17. Definitely not...

other than comparatively in history, or in psychology, religion should not be discussed.

Most politicians I know personally are agnostics and/or deists but do attend church.(it would be an issue if they didn't!)

[cyborg_jim]

16. That is the right of the people

If they choose such people to represent them. One could argue the wisdom of a political system that allows people to make such bad decisions but then that's hardly going to be a new thought for a Democratic forum with Bush in charge of your land.

As ever though atheism is being conflated with other philosophical concepts; empiricism, materialism, rationalism, skepticism etc... nothing about not believing in gods requires that one has to have the same worldview as Dawkins or Harris. It's just quite a common thing because many of the people in the world who are atheists today are so because of these aforementioned concepts.

[Evoman]

23. I really hoped nobody would misinterpret the "spectrum" thing.

I just said it because its easier to use the concept in the poll. For example, there may have been a weak atheist who became a strong atheist during their stay here. That is not assuming that weak and strong atheism are the same as the difference between a fundie and a liberal christian...they are very much different.

Strong atheist/weak atheist is more of a philosophical difference (in terms of knowledge), while religious fundamentalism is the degree to which people believe in the literal interpretation of their holy book. Also, I would put deism or pantheism more to the "atheist" side of this FAKE spectrum (i.e. deism is to the theist side of weak atheist, but to the atheist side of liberal christianity/islam/judaism or fundamentalism, if that makes any sense) Again, I kind of hoped that most people understood that, and didn't make a big stink about all those beliefs being different. In reality, its not a spectrum at all...there is atheism, and there is everything else.

"I am interested in the spectrum from Fundie to Strong Atheist though - that's an interesting spectrum. Could one assume that a "Strong Atheist" would be as driven to inflict his or her beliefs through legislation as a dominionist"

No, thats not what strong atheism is. Strong atheism is another way of saying Gnostic Atheism. Strong atheism isn't a "fundie atheism". Again, don't get to stuck on this Bryant, lol. The spectrum was just an easy way of expressing an idea so it could fit in the poll...don't make me edit myself. I have way to much freakin work to do ;)!

[xchrom]

8. my faith beliefs change and alter all the time.

and that hasn't stopped because of reading this forum.

i participate sometimes -- but not often.

[TRYPHO]

12. I'm always learning...

But when I joined DU I certainly wasn't expecting a discussion board like I found. I was looking for a place to discuss ancient history, early christianity and similar period Judaism. Google got it wrong, to my luck.
Therefore I had no expectation of participating in, and having to consider and reconsider my position; and more importantly others position wrt to beliefs. I don't know any outwardly obvious atheists (of the type we find here!) - hell, I don't really know any Christians apart from my brother-in-law and some of the guys down the snooker hall. I certainly don't discuss my deeper thoughts and their deeper thoughts on religion. It is refreshing though I feel the knowledge base of many is surprisingly shy of my expectations for people who have braved posting more than 1000 times!

I enjoy the opportunity to discuss intellectually, and enjoy more than that the chance to get f angry with the bull5hit I have to read and am forced (beyond my ability to control) to reply to!

TRYPHO

[Meshuga]

14. Welcome to DU TRYPHO!

I'm assuming you are a Jew. If yes then we have something in common. There are all sorts of different backgrounds here and that helps keep this forum interesting.

Enjoy!

[TRYPHO]

22. Do a google on "Trypho" that should explain!

And yes I am, and yes it is interesting here. Though I am delighted to have found the "hide thread" button! But what I could really do with is a "chat area" to chat live in, and save everyone the perpetual agony of reading ad-hoc un-thought through drivel, when you just want to chat about something. Something for the moderators to ponder on. Other than that, and the sheer abundance of postings in this ONE forum, I am hooked. But then I guess most of us here probably have slightly addictive charachters.

Thanks for your kind welcome,

TRYPHO

[silverweb]

18. Other.

I'm always interested in other points of view and how people come to hold them. This forum is almost always very interesting.

[hunter]

19. I put "other."

It has expanded my understanding of how others think about these things, and that's positive.

I'd be interested in hearing the opinions of those who chose "This board has made my feelings towards others (theist or atheist) more negative." This forum is actually one of the more civilised open discussions of Religion and Theology on the internet. A lot of places are extremely toxic.

[Evoman]

24. No doubt. I mean, there are a couple of PEOPLE who made a bad impression on me.

But I would never say this board made me think badly of christians or other religious GROUPS. Geez...I really like almost everybody here (although I'm sure more than a couple of people hate me). Its kind of sad that people take things so personally...I mean, we are all good liberals here, right?

[kiahzero]

20. Other: It hasn't so much changed them as brought them more to the surface (n/t)

[immoderate]

21. I don't like to say, "I respect your beliefs."

That's hollow, if I don't believe them. I respect people's right to have their own beliefs, and though I might argue, ultimately one's beliefs are a part of his or her identity.

I'll echo previous posters who noted the high quality of discourse in this forum. I don't think anyone will change my mind here, but I've received a tremendous amount of information here.

--IMM

[Danger Mouse]

25. I voted for...

'I have gained appreciation for atheistic arguments, but I remain a theist.'
Big time =)

[More Than A Feeling]

26. Not this forum specifically, but a number of sites have had a profound effect on me.

Beliefnet, Witchvox, strippingthegurus.com, whywon'tgodhealamputees.com, The Slacktivist...these sites as well as off-line circumstances in my life have caused me to learn to enjoy asking hard questions, and also about the limited nature of human knowledge with regard to the divine. Unbeknownst to me, I've always been agnostic with respect to God (even though Christianity has been my faith for four years now), but I didn't really begin to realize how that could be until a few months ago.

Look up my previous R/T forum postings, specifically those prior to this year, if you want to see the difference. I'm practically two different people (figuratively speaking, not literally ;-)).

on edit: here are a couple I went back and found myself:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=29143
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=25944&mesg_id=25944