Introductions

[Theoretical Skeptic]

Thanks for the welcome, Gordon, Trentvoyager and SusanDoris.

How interesting to see a new name - welcome. I look forward to reading your posts.
It would be interesting too to know how you chose your user name.

Uh, I don't remember, actually. Probably just because I thought it sounded cool. I tend to be skeptical of the skeptical.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Theoretical,

Uh, I don't remember, actually. Probably just because I thought it sounded cool. I tend to be skeptical of the skeptical.

Welcome TS - nice to "meet" you.

Just out of interest, what's wrong with skepticism? 

[SusanDoris]

Theoretical,

Welcome TS - nice to "meet" you.

Just out of interest, what's wrong with skepticism?

There seems to be, unfortunately, a trend of some sort by those who do not like being challenged by sceptics  to call said sceptics 'pseudo-sceptics', a really cringe-making label in my opinion. I do hope our new member is not one of them!

[torridon]

Hello, Everyone. I'm a theist who enjoys discussion and debate with atheists. Good to be here. Hope we can have some fun.

Hello Theoretical.

Hope you brought your tin hat 

[Theoretical Skeptic]

Thanks, Blokey McBlokeface and bluehillside.

There's nothing wrong with skepticism, blue, so long as it isn't expected to be above skepticism.

There seems to be, unfortunately, a trend of some sort by those who do not like being challenged by sceptics  to call said sceptics 'pseudo-sceptics', a really cringe-making label in my opinion. I do hope our new member is not one of them!

Your hope has been dashed in this case, Susan. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[Theoretical Skeptic]

Hello Theoretical.

Hope you brought your tin hat 

Got it in the suitcase with my thinking cap, torridon.

[SusanDoris]

Thanks, Blokey McBlokeface and bluehillside.

There's nothing wrong with skepticism, blue, so long as it isn't expected to be above skepticism.

Your hope has been dashed in this case, Susan. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

'qwell, well, I shall be reading with interest and responding with care!!

[Anchorman]

HI, TS;
Good to see you here.
Do you have a straightjacket?

[Theoretical Skeptic]

HI, TS;
Good to see you here.
Do you have a straightjacket?

Well, of course I do. I have a well worn straightjacket an open mind prone to independent thinking and a thick skin. The asylum is my home away from home.

[Theoretical Skeptic]

'qwell, well, I shall be reading with interest and responding with care!!

To me, everyone is skeptical to a greater or lesser degree. I happen to be skeptical. I was an unbeliever for most of my life, only becoming a believer at 27. I'm 54 now. I've been debating the Bible and religion online since 1996 and it has always been my belief that no one converts anyone. The Christian should introduce accurate knowledge to those who are interested. For someone to reject that 'good news' is as satisfying as it is for someone to accept it. After that it's up to the individual and what they want to do with it. Plant the seed.

So I don't operate as a Christian when discussing and debating the Bible and theism etc. My purpose in debate and discussion in the theism vs. atheism arena is to explore inaccuracies held by theism as well as atheism.

Of course, everyone thinks they have the truth. The Bible as well as the interpretation of the believer and unbeliever are all infallible. So what it amounts to is hashing out what is most likely to be accurate information and what isn't.   

[Gordon]

Moderator:

This thread is primarily a 'hello' thread, and more detailed discussions that lead to on-going exchanges between members are beyond the aim of this thread should take place elsewhere, on one of the other Boards.

A derail involving spelling has been removed. 

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi TS,

To me, everyone is skeptical to a greater or lesser degree. I happen to be skeptical. I was an unbeliever for most of my life, only becoming a believer at 27. I'm 54 now. I've been debating the Bible and religion online since 1996 and it has always been my belief that no one converts anyone. The Christian should introduce accurate knowledge to those who are interested. For someone to reject that 'good news' is as satisfying as it is for someone to accept it. After that it's up to the individual and what they want to do with it. Plant the seed.

So I don't operate as a Christian when discussing and debating the Bible and theism etc. My purpose in debate and discussion in the theism vs. atheism arena is to explore inaccuracies held by theism as well as atheism.

Of course, everyone thinks they have the truth. The Bible as well as the interpretation of the believer and unbeliever are all infallible. So what it amounts to is hashing out what is most likely to be accurate information and what isn't.   

I'll be interested to learn what you think to be "accurate knowledge" and "inaccuracies", and why. Given Gordon's (quite correct) enjoinder not to have discussions here, can I encourage you to start a thread on either or both please?   

[SusanDoris]

Your hope has been dashed in this case, Susan. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

There is only one other poster I know who has that sig line so I have been reading all your posts with added interest. I have also taken a look at your web site, newly formed. I hope you will let me know if you are in fact the poster who has known me for many years on another forum! In the meantime I shall respond to the content of posts as is my wont on the four forums I go to regularly  and not jump to conclusions!

[Anchorman]

Thanks to Gordon, I'm back.

My hard drive committed suicide in January; we couldn't recover the data, so I had to bite the bullet and install a new - inferior and, frankly, rubbish - screen reader. It's taken me yonks to get up and running, interrupted by a month's break in, well, you can guess.....

[Gordon]

Welcome back Jim - we missed you.

[Nearly Sane]

Thanks to Gordon, I'm back.

My hard drive committed suicide in January; we couldn't recover the data, so I had to bite the bullet and install a new - inferior and, frankly, rubbish - screen reader. It's taken me yonks to get up and running, interrupted by a month's break in, well, you can guess.....

Hurrah

[Darryl62]

Hello all! My name is Darryl. I have become friends with Gordon on another unrelated forum. I have been invited to join your forum and look forward to a lot of reading material. I am from the U.S. in the State of Missouri.

I am not a diehard agnostic or atheist, mostly just a non-participant. I have a few family members who are VERY religious in what I would call a modern or Pentecostal church. They are always trying to SAVE ME. I have tried before to let go of doubts and immerse myself into it all because that ‘is the way’ to enlightenment I’m told. It all got a little crazy for me so I quit attending over 20 years ago.

I would like to know more of the talking points an agnostic or atheist might explore to counter the incessant onslaught of those trying to SAVE MY SOUL. They feel they are on a Noble mission from God so they will never cease! I am skeptical enough about the whole thing that I might truly be an atheist but I never worried much about a label.

It appears I have a TON (or a Kilo???) of Reading to do.

I struggle a bit with the ‘slang’ used in the UK but I usually get the gist of the point being made.

[Nearly Sane]

Welcome, Darryl!

[Gordon]

Welcome Darryl - its great to see you here.

Yes you'll come across new stuff but I'm sure you'll also add stuff yourself, and we'll all look forward to that. It's been a while since we've had a genuine American here 

In the For Attachements section there is a 'put face to the name' thread - maybe put a pic there so the members here can see your impressive beard.

[Aruntraveller]

Welcome Darryl.

Another beardo!

Hope you enoy it here.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Darryl – just a quick hello and a warm welcome from me too.

Sounds like the only thing you need saving from is your family members! 

Perhaps one disappointment here is that over several years no theist has been able to make a case that hasn’t readily been falsified, so fear not – any rebuttals you might like to have to those who those who would “save your soul” are at your fingertips...

Best regards,

Blue

[SteveH]

Greetings. I'm an active Anglican (Episcopalian in US terms), but, between you and me, I don't really believe much if any of it any more: it's just that, at 72, I think it's a bit of a pity to throw it all over on the final straight, so I stick with it, and call myself a very liberal-to-non-realist Christian.

[Firefly]

Hi
Not really sure why I am here...
I am an atheist and have a very...how can I put this...alternative view of existence and the need for laws, ethics and morals...but I have a friend who is a very strict Presbyterian and is struggling with various thoughts and actions that they consider sins including merely being friends with someone like me.
 I'm doing my own variation of bible study to try and understand them a little better. But as a kind person open to all people, who just sees the world a bit differently, its hard for me to understand how someone can see me as a sin just because I don't share their beliefs.

[SteveH]

Welcome!

[Nearly Sane]

Welcome, Firefly. I doubt many of us would be able to say precisely why we are here. I'd hope that we have a diverse enough set of views, and I don't just mean religious, to help, and sometimes amuse.

Please feel free to post lots, little, or just watch.