Have you noticed that this group has been more active lately than R/T?

[Evoman]

New posts every day. Several responses to each post.

Makes you think about all those "why do atheists post on R/T" threads, huh?

[Warpy]

1. I think there are a lot more unbelievers out there than will admit to it.

It took Europe 2 world wars and a Depression between them to shed the old Sunday School god who never sent them any more than they could handle. I have a sneaking suspicion that most believers are where I was at when I was about eight, afraid not to believe in anything but the honesty of Pascal's Wager.

Plus, we atheists tend to be a gabby bunch when we're finally in a safe place where we can admit who we really are.

[chicagomd]

2. I have to agree on that last point.

Some of the best conversations I have ever had with my father came after we both realized our shared "lack of faith".

[Warpy]

9. My dad only admitted it to me about 3 days before he died

but I reminded him I hadn't been a believer for a very long time. I did tell him what it felt like when I went into deep shock and almost bought the farm--it's quite nice, you know--and I think that helped him over his main worry.

His death was very peaceful, no more words between us, and no fear.

[TZ]

3. Now, Evoman, there is ONE thing that R/T has more of..

than this group does...POLLS!
Pastrami on Rye with mustard and a pickle!!!!
:rofl:

[Evoman]

5. Isn't that the truth!

Too many freakin' polls that don't make any sense.

Anyhow, have you read the new Sword of Truth novel? I heard it sucks as bad as the last 5.

[TZ]

6. I haven't read it yet, no

I saw it in the bookstore and have been thinking about reading the last 3 (I stopped after Naked Empire-when a fantasy novel makes anti-war activists into the bad people...). I was hoping some masochistic poster (calling Deepthought42!) would read it and tell me if it was any good...Currently working my way through Terry Pratchett...He must be an atheist/skeptic actually. Great parody...A line in one of his novels has in his "world" "fake fossil bones put there by a Creator with nothing better to do than upset archaelogists and give them silly ideas...":rofl:

[salvorhardin]

8. He is an atheist

Terry Pratchett is an atheist, although in an interview he said he does believe in a soul.
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/3691/issues/17_bigquest.html

An awful thing about him developing Alzheimer's.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. Surprised about the 'immortal soul' quote

He is a 'distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association.

[deepthought42]

18. calling me out, huh?

:P :P :P

lol... I'm hopelessly biased on that series, though I'll concede the latter books are more ideological, but the last 3 books (part of a trilogy) are good. But like I said, I'm biased. ;) I read Sci-Fi/Fantasy to escape the real world, not to find it (hey, where'd it go????) :rofl:

Also reading:

Kristen Britain, The High King's Tomb
J.V. Jones, A Sword from Red Ice
Alison Weir, Innocent Traitor (about Lady Jane Grey)

I think that's it for now....lol :freak:

[Evoman]

21. I've read all of them except the last one.

Sorry, dude, but the last three suck ass. Books 1-6 were somewhat passable. Reading Naked Empire and the book before-it-that-shall-not-be-named was like eating a turd sandwich. The last three are like eating turd sandwiches with dijon mustard...all your doing is covering up the bad taste, not actually enjoying it.

[moggie]

4. It may be post-Christmas exhaustion in R/T

Perhaps even Christians can get tired of Jesus, temporarily.

[and-justice-for-all]

7. R/T can be fun....

It is a riot when people try to rationize their invisible friends and they always get their asses handed to'em. If you don't have evidence, then you don't have a case or even an argument as far as I am concerned.

Atheist post in R/T because it's general discussion regarding the very thing they oppose: Religion, it would be a completly different story if we went over to the spirituallity/christian forum and gave'em shit, but we do not do that.

[skepticscott]

15. It's not just that atheists oppose religion

And in fact, they don't even necessarily oppose it so much as they reject it for themselves. But as I've pointed out in R/T before to people who wonder why atheists insist on posting there, there are many issues appropriate to that forum that atheists are perfectly qualified to comment on, including (obviously) the question of whether any gods even exist, the interrelation between faith and reason or faith and science, what degree of government involvement in or support for religion is appropriate and legal in our country and the question of whether organized religion has been, on balance, beneficial or detrimental to society.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

26. You're right

There are plenty of DU groups particular to a religious faith where atheists do not post, because it's their space, and we respect that. Whereas R/T is another matter.

[progressoid]

10. I haven't been to R/T for a looong time.

Can't say I miss it much.

[Kolesar]

16. I think of atheism and this forum in particular as a mirror for the religion I rejected

I could not see posting on R/T about what frightful fascists the Southern Baptist Convention or the Rat Pope is being this week.

[NMMNG]

11. I click in there every so often

Lately it has been :boring:.

[TZ]

12. That's because there is a couple of posters who seem to be missing

Like the one who tried to tell R/T all about the joys of Christian sex!!! Best R/T thread ever!!!
:rofl:

[NMMNG]

13. Oh yeah

:P

[moggie]

14. See, R/T can be educational!

He learnt a new use for vegetables!

[Random_Australian]

17. Perhaps I am missing something, but I don't see the connection.

Actually, now I think about it, as soon as I see "why do atheists post on R/T" I immediately think of the rebuttal that I've used the last 1000 times, and thus can't think past it.

So, what is the connection between the relative activities of the groups and those threads?

[Evoman]

20. Well, Random Australian...let me explain.

When we don't atheists don't post in RT, there seems to be very little discussion. Just as there is little discussion in the religion groups. However, there is plenty of discussion in our group.

Basically, if atheists didn't post in RT, it would be dead.

Does this make sense to you?

[Random_Australian]

22. Sure! Thanks.

I miss the obvious sometimes. :blush:

[Evoman]

23. No problem...everyone does.

Except me. I'm perfect.

:)

[Random_Australian]

24. I'm perfect too! Actually, I thought I was wrong once,

but that was a mistake. :)

[TZ]

25. *snort*

Insert flippant sarcastic comment here!! (what?! Its been months since I've been able to harrass you!! and I must say...It shows, yak boy) .....:P