Are you a better person for debating religious ideas?

Great question, actually! I have always wondered myself.

I used to be a regular here, back in the good ol' days... (2008-2010-ish.)

Then I gradually got tired of it, and disappeared off the radar for a long, long time. (Although I would still check back occasionally, using various anonymous accounts.) Now it seems like I have finally returned. But I don't know how long it will last for. Probably until I get busy doing something else, or I find some other website I like better.

So what brings me here for the time being? I think part of it is nostalgia. It might sound corny to a lot of you, but this place used to be very important to me, and it shaped my everyday life back when I was a teen, still trying to find herself. How could I NOT keep returning, every once in a while, just to reminisce?

Other than that, I guess it fills some kind of a gap in my life. I used to be all about "debating" religious ideas, back when I was a regular. (I was an atheist at the time.) But after having my own spiritual experiences that changed my life forever, I have come to realize that there is no way to convince other people of the authenticity of MY experience. Plus it was never necessary either. I am not supposed to convince other people. We're all supposed to find our own path! Theirs might look very different from mine, but that's okay. My personal experience is MINE, and that's all there is to it. (Although I will gladly tell people about it, if they want to listen.)

So yeah... It is not about DEBATING people, exactly. But I think it is all about branching out and trying to SHARE something.. Trying to give people some of the love I've been privileged to know, by helping them in my own little way. :) Also, I want to learn about other people's experiences. And I want to maybe meet people who think similarly, and make new connection. Because most of the people in my everyday life are not particularly interested in spiritual issues.

Of course I am.

To be able to put someone at ease while talking about such a volatile subject takes talent and finesse.

This is entertainment. Plus, I enjoy talking about religion, science, etc. So it's like a double win. I get entertained, and sometimes get to debate interesting stuff (I've even learned a few things).

As far as spending all my time here. I usually have Answers up in the background, but it's mostly a place I go when I'm taking a break from other things.

I can spend time doing other things, but it will still be time spent. Eating, sleeping, drinking, bar hopping, or going to a movie, dating someone, just driving along a road alone...all are time consuming, and so it does not really matter what we do, as long as we enjoy it.

I enjoy being on here, it helps pass time, I could waste it watching television. But, I have gained from being on here, it has strengthened my faith in God, because I can see how others feel about God, some loving and some hating Him. And so, by analyzing all input, I can come to a better understanding of the world and how God is within it.

I can understand Atheists believing so strongly in Nothing, that even the so called Big Bang happening from purely Nothing, makes sense to them. Science itself is sort of contradicting itself with that one, because they claim to not believe in anything unless it is fact, and then it is not a belief. The Big Bang is so outrageous, with Time and Space starting then, meaning Eternity does not then exist. So, the brief period that Time has existed, is a mere few billion years. That to me, does not make sense.

Anyway, I try to understand how they think but cannot. And even watching Atheist Scientists who claim God does not exist, I sort of feel sorry for them, because they are trying so hard, to prove to the world, that there is NO God. But yet, they cannot explain something such as Dark Matter, nor the Big Bang. WHAT was there before the Big Bang? Without God, it has to be Nothing. And that, is unexplainable.

So you see, it has been a learning experience to me.

I'm 24 sitting on a lot of cash and accomplishments that I have achieved and am still building my empire. But I love coming to yahoo answers, relaxing, and answering questions here and there. Everything I do in life is for other people, I want the future to be awesome for our kids, no more wars, and things like that. I strive everyday to advance the betterment of our society and any way I can help makes me feel great. There is your answer.

I am only here because I think that I can benefit from it. Yeah, it's nice to help random strangers out with their religious problems, but this only pertains to a small percentage of the questions asked in this category. I'm here to introduce myself to new ideas and ways of thinking. The point of me being here is to increase my debating skills, as well as my literary skills, and further prove to myself that I right about my beliefs. How could I conclude that I am right without putting opposing beliefs to the test? I already feel extremely confident in my beliefs, but I learn something new every day.

It would be Great to get to debate some subjects but most of the time its atheists trying to get a rise out of true believers who test us all.

Hate seems to be the common denominator of all the whole world , set on destroying the world. If I can help just one person in my life to know that there is peace in knowing the one true God, Then my life hasn't been for nothing.

I would be a lesser person for not striving to share the good news about Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I am commissioned by Jesus to do that (Matthew 28:19 and Acts 1:7-11).

My circumstances are such that I can spend a lot of my retirement time at home, on the Internet, doing just that. I am only concerned that other people will be the better for considering the person of Jesus Christ. May you be blessed in Him. AiH

I rarely come here anymore. I just thought I'd check to see if anything has improved over the past few months. The new format stinks and many of the people have become less intelligent and less sensible over time. I used to come here for asking questions, answering questions, and to learn about religions. I stopped coming here when I could go for hours without seeing a mature question. So it was a waste of my time.

It makes me think. I get some ideas and sometimes an interesting point of view, and I can point out that not all Christians are gay-bashing fundies.

I get a lot of humor too. One girl, when I patiently explained the above, sent me a private text telling me she knew I was lying and all Christians are just like that, and then she blocked me. I think she's going to be an interesting woman when she grows up, if she gives herself a chance.