Has EvC changed your beliefs?

I would like to ask the members of EvC if the discussions on this forum have affected your beliefs?Has the content of this forum made you re evaluate your position in any way (strengthening or altering your beliefs)?I don't want this to turn into a bashing exercise and I'm not looking to say "Yes but...." to any comments. I'm interested in what effect EvC has had on your beliefs.Coffee House now seems more appropriate. I know my title sucks....any suggestions?Edited by Larni, : Differnt phrasing and meaning to OPEdited by Larni, : Another title change.

In a way it has.I used to think that anyone who held any kind of non-rational belief was an idiot. I also believed for gods and such to be real that my whole world view would have to be wrong. I could not see it happenning.Since coming to EvC I have seen posters argue back and forth basically trying to 'prove' each position.I think that (in the cold light of day) my OP was loaded so I will edit it reflect the fact that EvC can change beliefs in general rather than only religious beliefs.It seems obviouse (now) that what one believes is right, one honestly believes is right. I think I got caught up in things being 'absolutes'. That is to say 'this' is right and 'that' is wrong.I've said on some occaisions that there are no letters of fire in the sky screaming "this god or that god is real", but from comming here I can see that it is your initial position that dictates your likely conclusions.If you accept the initial premise that the bible is the be all and end all and you honestly believe this is true, any other view must be down right perplexing.If you believe in damnation you will be doing the right thing by trying to sway people into acting in a way that will 'save' them. any other action would be morally wrong.If you can't give credence to religious beliefs (for whatever reason)you could see others as either being willfully ignorant or hopelessly provincial.Part of my role at work involves 'getting into the heads' of people to experience their perception of the world and coming here has made it easier to do this. Thanks to posters like Iano and Faith, Robinrohan and Buzz I think I'm better able to stop thinking like me and think like somebody else for a bit.And Iano explained the relevence to xains of Jesus dieing better than anyone. I think I understand some of why xians think he was so important.Has it changed my belief?Yes.I don't think it matters as much what is right, more that what we believe brings a bit of warmth and comfort to ourselves.I have stopped being on a rabbid crusade to tempt xians (for example) out of their faith.I think I will edit the title to ask the question I should have asked initially and examine the possible change in any relevent belief; not specifically religious beliefs.

D'oh!"Has EvC changed your beliefs?" sounds good.D'oh!But then again, I did get to do some pretty deep thinking answering my own question. How ironic Edited by Larni, : D'oh!

Thats not what I meant Buzz. It's what effect EvC has had (and by inference the peopple who post on it), not the bible.

In what way?

No it was not.Claiming as a proof is rediculous. Evil could exist with out god. Indead, from you logic evil would not be part of the world if there was no xian god.I vote for a world with no evil and no xian god.

Sorry 'bout that Adminnemooseus.Will keep myself on track.

One of the aspects of my beliefs that have changed from comming here is my belief that there is an 'absolute'. Even though I am a dyed in the wool scientist I have re-learned through discusions about logic that one cannot prove anything.It could be said then that coming to EvC has shown me that some sort of supernatural entity could exist simple because there is a very slight chance it is true.That the nature of the devin entity is known by any one of us is that minute chance made even more minute.

Thanks for such a frank and honest post Jazzns. Respect.

Me too. I should have put that in my post. I've learned more in the last year about bits and bobs that it stagger me.

Cool Buzz, sorry for the misunderstanding

Deleted 'cause I was drunk when I wrote it.But sober enough to delete it....Edited by Larni, : No reason given.

In what way? Is it xian or secular that makes you feel that way?

Phat, my respect for you grows day by day.I certainly may not agree with you but damnit you make cogent points.