n_j writes:
It starts out very civil until they realize whether or not you can debate and whether or not you have good points. The better your arguments, the more their vehemence will increase.
It's hard to know where to start--but, yes, skillful debate and strong arguments earn respect here; they will also elicit skillful rebuttals with strong arguments. You believe this is wrong?
But there is always one thing they are typically incapable of answering truthfully.
The "liar" insult carries little weight with rational folk. I'm surprised to see you undermine yourself in this self-trivializing way.
The mere fact that they spend inordinate amounts of time attempting to dissuade you in your faith coupled with the fact that many of them turn rabid against Christians speaks very loudly that there is still part of them that wants to believe, and in certain respects, do still believe.
The forum's focus is Evolution vs. Creationism. You will note that the faith-centered forums here draw little attention from the atheists and agnostics. But when Creationists venture into the science forums to attempt justifying intrusions of religious belief into public education and policy, the response is, indeed, as multivocal and focused as it should be.
Case in point: I don't believe in flying-purple elephants. Because I don't believe in them I find no compulsion to argue about their existence, much less give it any thought. But this doesnt work for the atheist, otherwise, why not just spend as much time attempting to refute the existence of the flying-purple elephant? Why not something arbitrary to argue about? Why?-- Its because there is something in them that is mindful of their Creator and the mere fact that they give Him such 'undue' attention should speak very loudly to you that they do in fact care and that they are in fact effected by the notion of God.
That's pretty sad logic, nj. Try promoting instruction in the tenets of FPEs in public schools, and you will see a commensurate response. It's fine to be a partisan, but don't delude yourself into believing that rhetoric is reason.
Your initial response to the OP is a good case study. You make broad charges against other forum participants, typifying their beliefs and behaviors--and then refuse to substantiate your claims, instead referring vaguely to other forums and brushing aside demands for examples as though the very idea of evidence were an insult.
This is one of the science forums. You could flail away in one of the faith-based forums, and elicit little response. But that was not your intent; just so, Creationists are largely not content to hold their own beliefs, but wish to impose public policy and educational consequences on others. The fact that we more secularly minded folk resist does not validate their pernicious beliefs about our motives.
God gave us the earth. We have dominion over the plants, the animals, the trees. God said, ”Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It’s yours.’
--Ann Coulter, Fox-TV: Hannity & Colmes, 20 Jun 01
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