Has the circular answers on this religious forum driven you to being combative?
922500
When you feel yourself get cynical and resentful I suggest a trip over to 'Polls and Surveys' for some light entertainment. Get away from this for a while to lighten up. Take care!
496767
I have realized that no one reads this when I just link to it, so here is my response to an earlier similar question:\n\n I believe that I have been nothing but courteous to the people of faith here. I openly deny their belief-system. They openly deny mine. That's fine. We have, however, engaged in some very respectful debate, much to the benefit (I hope) of both sides. I know that my beliefs have not changed, but my preconceptions about young-Earth Christians have been shattered by some of the people I have found here. I think that they are wrong, but I am thrilled to have the opportunity to debate with them without resorting to name-calling or rudeness.\n\nGranted, this requires an openness on both our parts. I think that their faith is "wrong." They think that my lack of faith is "wrong." This is where most people get hung up and debate can go no further. If someone disagreeing with you is "offensive," you're stuck. Once you accept this disagreement, you are quite free to exchange ideas. This is what I have found here (for the most part.)\n\nAs for why I spend so much time in the religion and spirituality forum, I see faith as playing a huge role in the lives of everyone in the world, be they moderate Muslims, fundamentalist Christians, Pagans, or Atheists like myself.\n\nIn my supposedly free country I see gays discriminated against due to faith. People who would never think of using the N-word openly hate and criticize homosexuals for what they are, not who they are. \n\nI see medical advances that could help millions of people stymied by arguments that have their basis in faith. Stem cell research could potentially ease the suffering of billions around the globe, but people of faith stand in the way.\n\nWe are currently involved in what may or may not be a holy war. This is an issue of faith.\n\nOur current government supports "faith-based initiatives" in what may be a breach of The Constitution itself.\n\nI know that faith helps people sleep at night. This doesn't undo the tremendous amount of suffering it has inflicted at every turn of history. \n\nI see faith as a problem, and would like to encourage people to put aside their myths and embrace reason. However, I realize that this is futile. As Jonathan Swift said, "It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into."\n\nThat said, I think that Yahoo Answers provides a wonderful opportunity to try to see where other people are coming from. I disagree with the Christians (and Muslims and Pagans...), but I think it is very important for me to try to understand them. I would hope that they will try to understand me. Once we find some common ground and some mutual respect, we can truly start to talk about things.\n\nI hate the name-calling. The largest problem I have with religion is that it is divisive. I feel that this is the most important aspect of faith that needs to be removed from the equation. Name-calling is also divisive and does not fit into my attempts to act reasonably.\n\nI feel that I deny, but do not scoff. I embrace and enjoy open debate. I think that the things discussed here are important. I'd like to think that some of the things I have to say are pertinent. \n\nIf you want a place for only Christians (for example) to exchange ideas, there are plenty of places on the web for that. However, I think that this exclusion of other mindsets and worldviews does a disservice to those who would seek such a closed system.\n\nThat's why, as an atheist, I show up on the religion thread.
408813
I didn't report him, but I have found myself at the center of one of his childish temper tantrums.  I answered one of his questions with an answer that didn't agree with his opinion.  I found that he then went to my questions that were open and bashed all of them....  I did some clicking and found that he did this to anyone that didn't share his narrow opinion. After that day, I would goto his Q&A just to read it.  A source of entertainment!  I hope he gets to read this, just for him to know that I see him as a comical source of entertainment... and the fact that he has been suspended... He is just another angry stupid man hiding behind a bible.
1002117
AMEN\n\nAnd to the person that stated this was a forum and inappropriate .... check the heading this post fell under.  RELIGION and spirituality.  If it's going to offend you...stay away from it.
961465
why would i want to change anyone's mind? if i were a jehovah's witness, then it would be part of my spiritual job, wouldn't it? you sound like you're venting and maybe you're angry--perhaps you should check it out and see what's bothering you about this forum. Peace
961985
No, I get it. People ask a question, and then choose the people who side with their point of view. It happens alot. I tr to honestley choose the answer that actually answered my question, even if I disagree.\n\nSometimes though, ALL the answers avoid the question, (I have one up about remarriage right now, like that) and none of them address the issue, so picking one then is really difficult.
767117
I agree with you! If the questions are listed correctly under religion & spirituality, then they have no room to complain. What else do they expect to find here?? If someone posts outside of the correct topic area then it is considered abuse, and it should be reported, just as we would report someone for posting advertising of immoral subjects somewhere. I just believe that some folks have never taken a stand spiritually and are not knowlegable about it and it scares them. So the recourse they use is, "Don't shove it down my throat".  Also as far as the other person that said you weren't being christianly by your post is wrong, being upset is not a sin.........Jesus overthrew the tables of the money changers in the synagoge...done properly it is okay.
635844
I'm hearing you!!!\n\nI ask several questions which are of interest to me as they seem to be contradictory to Christian teachings.\n\nI'm not trying to offend, I'm just asking for a little outside the box thinking.\n\nMy questions are met with rudeness and vitriol and are normally answered by way of hurling quotes from the bible at me endlessly - no autonomous thought - just sermons.\n\nGggrrrr - that's why my last few "questions for Christians" have been more of a sarcastic nature.\n\nI figure if I'm not getting any straight answers and am persecuted for my interest, then I may as well just play it for the comic relief
1055644
Linda, Sweetie, one of the very FIRST things you need to learn as a Christian in Yahoo, is patience. You're gonna run into alot of these abusive comments, some people think they are being witty.  If they manage to get a rise out of you, they think they have somehow "proved" some sort of point.  I think they figure that Christians aren't supposed to get angry, or have hurt feelings, and when we react to such vicious comments, they can congratulate themselves that they have provoked us, and therefore, our God must not be real.\nWhen you really stop and think about it, they need our love and our pity much more than we need their approval.  Pray for them, but, don't let them push your buttons.\nGod bless you.
1078981
longhornkjm,\n\nThose responses on Yahoo! Answers are people who would never have the courage to act like that to your face. I have witnessed door-to-door, and I have preached with a PA system in the street, and I have rarely run into the type of responses that you often see here. The anonymity produces courage on both sides. Many Christians don’t have the courage to openly express their faith publicly either.\n\nPlease forget the idea that this forum represents real people. Many of the very vocal people are cowards similar to the men who beat up women behind closed doors but are mousy in public. Ignore them, and ask your questions, and enjoy the Christian and open minded non-Christian answers from others that you seek.\n\nGod bless.
308345
Well, it looks like you asked WHY they DON'T believe in God. That's a little different than asking "Do you believe in God?", which has been asked plenty of times here, and usually with one line answers of yes or no. \n\nI don't think that you deserved to be berated the way you were by some of the answers, but there is a difference in the questions. They should have been able to tell you why without being mean about it.
614749
Why are you trying to sow dissent here?  There are people on here trying to keep it less like a battlefield and more like a place for important questions on faith, and questions like this don't help.
1070319
I Have Said The Very Same Thing Countless Of Times!... Questions & Answers Addressed  To Christians Are Mocked, Degraded, Disrespected Purposely By NON BELIEVERS!.....Most Non Believers Come On This Site Just To Be Rude & Disrespectful!........I'm Glad Other's Are Beginning To Be Aware Of This Treachery Towards Religious/Spiritual People!...........Thank You!
1087591
I'm kind of puzzled about why you, as a self-described "non-religious person," would go into a site designed for religion and then ask this question.  I mean, aren't you asking why you're here, too?\n\nFor me, I think it's partly about education.  I'm not an Atheist, but I like that there are Atheists here, posting to the Religion & Spirituality board, because their POV is a part of the whole picture.  And everyone has a spiritual side, even if some people like to claim otherwise.\n\nIt's also partly about taking people down a notch when they get really smug.  That's petty, I know, but some of the so-called "Christians" on this site\nseem to spend a lot of time asking questions that are designed to just make them feel better about themselves, and that does breed resentment.  Especially when they wrap their prejudices up in the guise of piety, which I see a lot of.\n\nAnd, yeah, partly it's out of a resentment of the damage that religious fundamentalists seem to be doing in this country and the world.  And in a sense that's not fair, because the real damage is being done by leaders and fanatics, but then in a sense it is fair, because a part of the way they do this damage is through the voters, and that's all of us.
1152210
I welcome questions.  They make me think.  Thinking helps me to grow.  Sometimes I have even discovered that I could be *gulp*      wrong...fortunately, not often *whew*.\n\nI love a challenge.  So far, no question or challenge has weakened my faith in God.  If anything, it has grown stronger.  And that can only be a good thing.\n\nNever underestimate the power of faith, my dear.  Faith in the hands of a good person is awesome.  \n\nIn the hands of an evil person it is downright frightening!!\n\n:)
182641
I agree. 100%.\nIf religious people say things, we are swiftly "shut up" and our posts deleted.\nBut secularists can say almost anything and get by with it. They can offend us. They can attack our beliefs.\n\nI have found ridiculous posts on here. Vile posts. As long as it is religion under attack it appears to be accepted on here.
1072869
Some people just feel the need to be vulgar without any real reason for it.  I have found that there isn't really a lot of religious tolerance demonstrated on this forum.  I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but I also try to respect the views and beliefs of the other religions of this forum.  Someone else on this site asked once, "why can't we just agree to disagree?"  The foul language isn't necessary.