Originally posted by Heino
Would you find it equally amusing for a bunch of fundamentalist evangelicals to hang out on an atheist forum, or in my case, a biology forum, and tell all of us that we are brainwashers trying to shove evolution down others' throats?
I am not talking about other forums that you go to. I am talking about THEOLOGYonline, and I am addressing the atheists or non-believers, which includes you, that are currently hanging out here claiming that they are here for the pursuit of truth. Your debates here are all well and good, but I haven't read many remarks from atheists which would back up the notion that they are looking for truth. Hey, at least I am being honest with myself and all of you. I made up my mind a long time ago what I consider to be truth, and from what I've read most of the atheists here have as well.
Originally posted by Heino It is very simple. There is a debate between an ATHEIST and Bob Enyart, a Christian. Obviously, not just Christians have an interest in such a debate. Some atheists were invited to participate in the forum, and even I got an email announcing the debate. There is nothing dubious about it.
I haven't said anything about the debate going on between Bob and Zakath, have I? Now that you brought that up, yes, I agree with you. There is nothing dubious about coming here to read that debate. However, debating is usually a matter of contest, is it not? Winning. Again, be honest. If you aren't gonna change your beliefs and are here just for an old fashioned duel, than stop trying to tell all of us that you really care about truth, because it's your own truth or belief that you really care about. Not ours. Again, I bring this up because most of you (atheists) try blowing smoke by stating you care and want to learn something. Yeah, right. That is sooooo evident in all of your posts.
Originally posted by Heino What about the people who got invited by the hosts of these forums? When one is invited to an interesting discussion, would it not make sense to show up?
See above response.
Originally posted by Heino I should add that there are many non-Christian forums out there, with fundamentalist christians harrassing the non-Christians. Having seen many myself, I do not consider what goes on here to be harrassment by any means. I do not feel threatened by atheists, because they haven't said anything threatening yet. I have seen a few rude fundamentalists, though.
Hey, I am not talking about other forums, but I will state that I don't find that hard to believe at all. There are all kinds of Christians. Some, unfortunately, will leave the non-believer with a sour taste in their mouth. I am not the type to go and engage with people that hold the opposite belief of mine with the intention of being malicious. It happened to me before I was a Christian. I feel that what God has to offer sells itself and having some fear of Judgement Day didn't hurt me none either. I only "go there" with the unbeliever when they give me the green light. Let's take a look at harassment.
Main Entry: ha·rass
Pronunciation: h&-'ras, 'har-&s
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: French harasser, from Middle French, from harer to set a dog on, from Old French hare, interj. used to incite dogs, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hier here -- more at HERE
Date: 1617
1 a : EXHAUST, FATIGUE b : to annoy persistently
2 : to worry and impede by repeated raids <
harassed the enemy>
synonym see WORRY
- ha·rass·er noun
- ha·rass·ment /-m&nt/ noun
Hmmm...to annoy persistently? Harass the enemy? This seems to me, in my opinion, to be the exact intention most of you have. Harass. Not all of you though. I've talked with some atheists before who I knew to have an honest interest or curiosity in my belief and that made for a productive discussion. Again, if you are interested, great! If you know that you are not going to change your mind, ever, than be honest with yourself and us why you are here. If you are here to annoy or harass, than I recommend getting a life.
Originally posted by Heino Possibly because they see the same criticisms over and over again from people like yourself, and give the same responses to them again and again. It makes sense, doesn't it?
The only thing I'm criticizing is the atheist's motivation for being here. I don't plan to get into criticizing atheist's beliefs, because almost every single discussion I've read or been apart of is counterproductive. The atheist has no intention of changing their beliefs and nor do any Christian. Again, why are you really here? If it is because you are openminded and do want to learn from the theist, than my hat is off to you.
Originally posted by Heino I am not ticked off. In fact, I think that Jack is the only person here who might be ticked off, as he is being rude to me, and I am not even a atheist. I believe that a bunch of interesting scientific topics are being discussed. For example, I learned yesteday that gravity can dilate time, just like velocity does. When I did a google search after reading Jack's comments, I found a bunch of fascinating material that I had never read before. Thanks to Jack for bringing up that topic, by the way.
I don't presume to know what Jack feels or doesn't feel. If he is irritated or ticked off at you, it could be that he shares the same feelings that I have. Like I continue to state, most atheists are here to irritate and that get's old. With many atheists here, the minute the discussion begins they start putting down theists.
Originally posted by Heino Well, how does one expect to have a "debate" about the existence or non-existence of God, without atheists? You cannot "debate" without opposing views, can you not?
Again, if you are debating to win, that's one thing. If you are debating because you hope to learn, that's another and more productive as well. If you are debating knowing that you don't give a rip about what the other person believes and are being dishonest by stating that you do want to learn, you will have just become a part of many atheists here at TOL.
Originally posted by Heino I think you need to calm down, take a breath deeply, then realize what the debate is about. There has to be atheists here, because we are discussing the existence or non existence of God.
Thanks for the advice. Regardless of how I might sound, I am not in the least bit upset. I believe in being real and honest. I agree that in a debate of the existence or non existence of God both sides have to be here. If you (the atheist or non-believer) are here debating to win, than fine. Competing is great. Just don't feed me a line stating you (the atheist or non-believer) cares about the pursuit of truth when everybody here can see that's bull.
enough. 
