WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

[Harrowby Hall]

So?

Why should that prevent some kind of amnesty?

[Walter]

So?

Why should that prevent some kind of amnesty?

I'd like to see some of the religious ones allowed back , they provided hours of fun in many ways .

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Walter,

I'd like to see some of the religious ones allowed back , they provided hours of fun in many ways .

Maybe the theists who come here have finally realised that they've backed the wrong horses all along, converted to atheism, and run out of things to say?

[Walter]

Hi Walter,

Maybe the theists who come here have finally realised that they've backed the wrong horses all along, converted to atheism, and run out of things to say?

job done eh?

I doubt it , they're probably too bruised from a constant battering each time they attempt to proselytise their faith which is rapped up in a question or baseless argument

[Udayana]

Probably fed up having the same arguments every time. We need a miracle?

[bluehillside Retd.]

Joking aside I've said several times that I'd genuinely like to hear from theists who aren't fibbers, trolls or simpletons. Clearly religion is a huge cultural phenomenon, and many who subscribe to it must I'm sure have better arguments than the hopeless ones we see here. What they might be though is anyone's guess, which is a shame I think.

Those of you who remember the old BBC board may recall a Father Patrick who was thoughtful and nuanced, but sadly others of his ilk don't seem to have found their way here.     

[Gordon]

Moderator:

Just to say that while we appreciate the suggestion that an amnesty might increase numbers we're very clear that those banned permanently had reached the end of the road here for various (and not always obvious) reasons - to the extent we were no longer prepared to moderate them: as such there will be no amnesty.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Gordon,

Moderator:

Just to say that while we appreciate the suggestion that an amnesty might increase numbers we're very clear that those banned permanently had reached the end of the road here for various (and not always obvious) reasons - to the extent we were no longer prepared to moderate them: as such there will be no amnesty.

Fair enough. Just wondering though whether there's a thriving anti-R&E somewhere populated only by banned former members of this one - kind of an undetectable dark message board?

Spooky eh?   

[Walter]

Moderator:

Just to say that while we appreciate the suggestion that an amnesty might increase numbers we're very clear that those banned permanently had reached the end of the road here for various (and not always obvious) reasons - to the extent we were no longer prepared to moderate them: as such there will be no amnesty.

for them there is no resurrection . They are damned to Hull for all eternity

the Moderator has spoken

[SusanDoris]

I would just like to point out that this forum must not close untilI have given up doing the DT Cryptic crossword which is not likely for a good while yet!

[Roses]

I would just like to point out that this forum must not close untilI have given up doing the DT Cryptic crossword which is not likely for a good while yet!

So it will have to stay open for 100 years +.

[Aruntraveller]

Gordon,

Fair enough. Just wondering though whether there's a thriving anti-R&E somewhere populated only by banned former members of this one - kind of an undetectable dark message board?

Spooky eh?   

At one time a few of the ex member showed up on NGL returns - but that, like the famous  parrot has been deceased for sometime now.

[jeremyp]

How about an amnesty, let back those previously banned (assuming there any that want to rejoin)?

I would be in favour of that, but I will defer to the moderator's decision. I was not involved in any of the exchanges between the moderators and banned members, so my view is based on an incomplete picture.

[Owlswing]

You know you are allowed to start topics. If you don’t like the ones that are here, create some new ones.

I have tried that - most don't seem interested.

[Christine]

Hello Everyone,

I’ve been lurking on your forum for years and after a few failed attempts to join, I finally spotted the admin email address. Thanks for sorting it out, Gordon.

I feel like I know many of you a little bit already. A few things about me: I’ve read J S Mill, Bertrand Russell and Thomas Paine on religion and found their arguments convincing. The thing is, I do think there’s something weird going on that I don’t understand, so I looked around the internet for interesting discussions that might spark some ideas. Sadly, so far, no luck re the supernatural but I’ve learned a lot about clear thinking and philosophy.

I think forums like this are valuable - I’ve read and understood things I might not have otherwise. I wanted to show my support. I might not post often, as I rarely have a thought that someone else hasn’t already expressed better than I could, but rest assured, you are being read 

Christine

[Aruntraveller]

Welcome Christine.

We are having a bit of a fallow patch at present, but who  knows with an infusion of new posts we may leap off again.

Don't worry about posting things that have been said before, I've been doing it for years!

[Anchorman]

WOT TV said... Just wait till the next Westminster stushie heats up and the forum will be in meltdown as per usual.

[Robbie]

Lovely to meet you Christine & what Trent and Anchor said.

[Walter]

Hello Everyone,

I’ve been lurking on your forum for years and after a few failed attempts to join, I finally spotted the admin email address. Thanks for sorting it out, Gordon.

I feel like I know many of you a little bit already. A few things about me: I’ve read J S Mill, Bertrand Russell and Thomas Paine on religion and found their arguments convincing. The thing is, I do think there’s something weird going on that I don’t understand, so I looked around the internet for interesting discussions that might spark some ideas. Sadly, so far, no luck re the supernatural but I’ve learned a lot about clear thinking and philosophy.

I think forums like this are valuable - I’ve read and understood things I might not have otherwise. I wanted to show my support. I might not post often, as I rarely have a thought that someone else hasn’t already expressed better than I could, but rest assured, you are being read 

Christine

well hello lurker , you've made it through to the next round .

we're all waiting to see what you've got for us Christine , the stage is yours .

[Harrowby Hall]

Looking forward to hearing your views, Christine.

You don't have to be mad to post here ... but it helps. 

[SusanDoris]

Hello Everyone,

I’ve been lurking on your forum for years and after a few failed attempts to join, I finally spotted the admin email address. Thanks for sorting it out, Gordon.

I feel like I know many of you a little bit already. A few things about me: I’ve read J S Mill, Bertrand Russell and Thomas Paine on religion and found their arguments convincing. The thing is, I do think there’s something weird going on that I don’t understand, so I looked around the internet for interesting discussions that might spark some ideas. Sadly, so far, no luck re the supernatural but I’ve learned a lot about clear thinking and philosophy.

I would be interested to know why you say, 'sadly, no luck with the supernatural'. Can you elaborate on this please?

I think forums like this are valuable - I’ve read and understood things I might not have otherwise. I wanted to show my support. I might not post often, as I rarely have a thought that someone else hasn’t already expressed better than I could, but rest assured, you are being read 

Christine

Definitelyk agree about forums being places from which we can learn, such as definitions of words such as objective and subjective; clear references to   reasons for total lack of evidence for anything supernatural; etc.

Are you by any chance a crossword solver? I took this up about 16 months ago and bluehillside, a crossword expert, has been an enormous help.

[Christine]

Thanks for the welcome.

Susan Doris, I said ‘sadly’ because I have Christian friends who sometimes try to get me onside. The arguments and reasons they present for their beliefs are unconvincing (to me), whether from good-hearted Anglican liberals or creationists. The literature recommended by both I find facile at best (including C S Lewis) and at the science-denying end of the spectrum, offensive. I hoped there might be some rationale, since evidence seems way too much to ask, that might give some insight into reality that I hadn’t previously cottoned onto. Sadly  it seems I had the best of it with the deeply unsatisfactory apologetics of C S Lewis.

While I have no objections to Deism, as expressed by Thomas Paine, it seems pointless, adding nothing of value beyond atheism, unless for a person who needs to believe in a ‘higher power’ before trying to behave ethically.

I’m not saying it makes me sad, just that the quality of the apologetics is a bit depressing given how many people believe. I don’t know a lot about religions other than Christianity. I’m a short way into What The Buddha Taught, and it’s good - no hint of the supernatural so far - but it’s not exactly a page-turner.

Thanks for asking  I feel like a proper forum member now.

I used to have a go at The Guardian crossword in my youth. I doubt I’d be much use now though.

[SusanDoris]

Thanks for the welcome.

Susan Doris, I said ‘sadly’ because I have Christian friends who sometimes try to get me onside. The arguments and reasons they present for their beliefs are unconvincing (to me), whether from good-hearted Anglican liberals or creationists. The literature recommended by both I find facile at best (including C S Lewis) and at the science-denying end of the spectrum, offensive. I hoped there might be some rationale, since evidence seems way too much to ask, that might give some insight into reality that I hadn’t previously cottoned onto. Sadly  it seems I had the best of it with the deeply unsatisfactory apologetics of C S Lewis.

While I have no objections to Deism, as expressed by Thomas Paine, it seems pointless, adding nothing of value beyond atheism, unless for a person who needs to believe in a ‘higher power’ before trying to behave ethically.

I’m not saying it makes me sad, just that the quality of the apologetics is a bit depressing given how many people believe. I don’t know a lot about religions other than Christianity. I’m a short way into What The Buddha Taught, and it’s good - no hint of the supernatural so far - but it’s not exactly a page-turner.

Thanks for asking  I feel like a proper forum member now.

Sounds good to me! We're definitely on the same wavelength here! I read quite a few of the C S Lewis books, e.g. the Narnia series, when I was still teaching and even then the cloying biblical parallels were making me suck in my teeth! I was in fact just about to realise that the voice battering on the door of the small corner where it remained trapped somewhere in my brain, shouting ‘There’s No God! Wake up and LET ME Out!!; finally was freed and my vestiges of belief simply evaporated.

I used to have a go at The Guardian crossword in my youth. I doubt I’d be much use now though.

I find it an activity which, I hope, involves keeping the brain working and I like the Saturday one because the answers are not available until nine days later!

[Roses]

Welcome to R&E Christine, I hope you will be a regular poster.

[Owlswing]

You know you are allowed to start topics. If you don’t like the ones that are here, create some new ones.

I have and most die a quick death as it seems what interests me interests no-one else. This is certainly true of posts to answer questions like "What do you believe in then?"

In passing - did anyone on here, now, ever post to the Glitter Room thread on the Beeb?