Is the Y!A religion & spirituality section, less about genuine answers, and more about points scoring in some boring old debate?

Is the Y!A religion & spirituality section, less about genuine answers, and more about points scoring in some boring old debate?

Got it in one!

Here, have a cigar!

Pretty much...

Although not all of us want it to be that way. But.. those of us who are genuine, and who have no interest in playing the game, or in scoring cheap points for our position in order to inflate our own egos, tend to eventually get sick of what this place has become.. So due to the fact that we can't change it, any more than we can change basic human nature, a lot of us either leave permanently, or, like me, start taking extended breaks, and frequenting it way less often than we otherwise would have.

If they want to battle it out, they are going to battle it out. If they're still at the point of trying to prove how right, how smart and how superior they are, there is nothing any of us can do to make them see how completely worthless the whole game is.. They will have to develop during their own time, and have their own realizations once they're ready for it. We can't speed up other people's processes! And even if we could, we wouldn't be supposed to! We wouldn't be doing them any favors whatsoever. We might, in fact, be preventing them from learning those life lessons that they're currently supposed to be learning! Or at least that's how I see it... :)

I still have tons of things that I'm personally working on, though. Hang-ups, and fears, and imperfections.. Some of those are, I can easily get angry, and restless, and frustrated! And patience has never come easy to me. So... sometimes I DO just feel like shaking these people! Sometimes I DO just feel like telling them to wake up, and grow the f*ck up already! But: that's all on ME, not on them!

I guess people do these things, because that is where most of them are still at. They have not yet gotten past the whole herd mentality, in-group vs. out-group kind of thing.. It is all about the ego, and how to perpetuate it as much as possible. Which I can totally sympathize with, because I too have an ego that very often controls me! That's basically what it means to be born and socialized as a human! But.. the difference between me and them, I suppose, is that I have seen a few glimpses of the Infinite, so I've got something to consciously keep working towards. And I know that "Cassie" is not what I really am... That if I'm smarter or more right than someone else, it might make me feel mighty good for a little while, but ultimately these things matter exactly NOTHING! That the more you identify with your ego, and the more you try to do its bidding, the more ignorant you are! The more it will pull the wool over your eyes, and keep you from seeing true reality, the oneness of everything, and even God, if you want to use that word.. (I often do.)

There you go. That's just my perspective. People are where they're at, and that determines what they do. And for those of us who are elsewhere, it can often be pretty damn frustrating to watch it all unfold! But.. our behavior is probably just as frustrating to them. And also to other people, who might be much higher developed and more spiritually mature than we are. :)

Almost true but I am not sure about points scoring.

I keep believing that if I keep offering reasoned arguments and asking politely for believers to provide one shred of objective evidence for their beliefs, they might finally concede and admit that they were mistaken and that they will mend their ways, become agnostics at least if not atheists, and become better people as a result.

This particularly applies to Muslims (with whom the rest of the world has a massive problem at the moment) who need constant persuasion that they have got it totally wrong.

It is a very long slog though, and, given my age, I don't have a lot of time.

From an atheist point of view it is about an ongoing argument. Somebody has to halt legislation being passed that affects all of our lives for no other reason than an unproven entity wants us to adhere to his laws or, his subjects get offended when such and such an activity goes on. Let the religious zealots take over the show, we will all live in a theocracy. Fine for religious sorts, not so much for the hapless atheist scapegoats.

Oh come on there is only one religion involved and you cannot work out why?

It is not anything to do with God, Jesus, the bible, or even Christianity and all to do with the intolerance, hatred, bigotry, homophobia and persecution posted by BAD Christians towards others!

ALL the other religions and atheists live in peace and are ONLY attacked by BAD Christians which causes all GOOD Christians to despair at the damage they do!

The self-destruction of Christianity is underway and the only thing that can stop it is to abandon the terrible human emotions, seek to rediscover the idea of a loving god and act like it!

BAD Christians not only drive people further away from God but are the reason so many DECENT people are becoming ANTITHEISTS!

Pew News reports Christianity is shrinking with a corresponding rise in atheism!

The debate going on here is actually helping to stop BAD Christian behaviour towards others and church leaders have clearly stated Taking one sin to indulge in intolerance, hatred, bigotry, homophobia and persecution will never be acceptable in the eyes of God!

Christian leaders from around the world have clearly stated their opposition to the "victimization or diminishment" of gays and lesbians, saying demonizing and persecuting them was "totally against Christian charity and basic principles of pastoral care".

"We say that no one should have to live in fear because of the bigotry of others."

I think it's the importance. Yet I have seen big arguments about smoking!,

food...really! Although don't know about recently.

By importance, not only here and now. If I am sure of my belief, no need for being angry....unless...some really insult...intentionally..

I believe.

Mental health...suicide, cutting, psychology...depression, politics...disagreeable also. I had mud slinging around UFOS! Then more

around Shakespeare, Hitler.

Have these changed?

But being...right vs. wrong in belief is important, more than

whether black holes are collectors, or whether there's life in the universe.

Belief is past this life...I think many know that's the point.

Often?...certain atheists answer with an ax to grind. These repeat.

Some posers here pretend as Christian, and immature sling mud but not the same ppl.

When we buy a car, it's a lemon, we can scrap it.

But for me to commit to a belief with requirements? Important.

The debate at R&S is never boring, that is why it is the most live section.

I personally try to give the best answer possible so that people can seriously consider the question and my answer to hopefully inspire them to think or investigate it on their own. I have at times fallen victim to this behavior but honestly don't attempt to offend anyone. Hope this helps.

You are invited to play the game as per your standard, as long as it does not violate the 'community guidelines'.

The Theists here "know" the "facts" of their "faith" with absolute certainty!

With that, the atheists realize that the can be no argument ...

Genuine answers are like "truths" that do not exist...