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MindOverMatter2
Guest
Well, being an atheist my self, who enjoys pretending to be a catholic poster; i have to say its just the sheer entertainment of the whole thing.
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MindOverMatter2
Guest
…just kidding, i am a Christian really
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Abba
Guest
Umm.
I think we have some that are Catholics who are pretending to be atheists and playing hard core to iron out some difficulties which sometimes involve not only logic and understanding but also some emotional and psychological issues.
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Arizona_Mike
Guest
Ssshhhhh!
The atheists who regularly come to a Catholic website tell themselves they are here to challenge us, or to correct our thinking, or to show us how simplistic our beliefs are.
Don’t disabuse them of these notions.
The atheists who regularly come to a Catholic website tell themselves they are here to challenge us, or to correct our thinking, or to show us how simplistic our beliefs are.
Don’t disabuse them of these notions.
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ThinkingSapien
Guest
I’ve glanced at them but as of yet have never contributed to them because I don’t get the impression that I meet the prerequisites of perspective for the discussions I’ve looked at. For example I recall some thread where some one seemed to be stressed over masturbation. Since I don’t agree on issues of whether or not that is an immoral or ammoral position or what it may mean for ones eternal soul I don’t think anything I have to say on the matter would be welcomed. I think it’s more likely my views might be perceived as an attempt to be antagonistic and lead the flock off the righteous path (though that’s not my intention).
Philosophy seems to be the most appropriate area to have a discussion in which one is coming from a different background or has different thoughts/beliefs that may disagree with Catholic teachings.
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eo_chibears
Guest
Wow, if you read into that way you are really far off base.
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Ahimsa
Guest
Why do apatheists not bother to come to this website?
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Abba
Guest
This reminds me of the time when I was studying at the university. I was Catholic but, a very ignorant Catholic. I, for instance, would go to Mass but when I felt like it and it was okay. I prayed but praying was not a part of my life. But, I did devour the Bible. I wouldn’t say that I was living on the periphery of the Church, it was more like way out there beyond the periphery. I was Catholic (in my ignorance of the teachings of the Church) but - My Way.
It happened that I, having always been pulled to the heart of the Church since day one of my life, was taking religion courses. I loved my Religious Studies professor - he was my favorite professor of all times. A great intellectual - but, in retrospect, I don’t think that the attraction was his intellect but - the mark of a priest. He had something that attracted me and it was not just his great intelligence, education, and dedication to academia and the search for knowledge and understanding - he had something more and now I know that it was that mark that was that much more. At the time, I did not even know that he had it.
Well, so there I was going back and forth with my favorite professor and the years passed. Then, one day, I was in his office asking some questions as usual. I objected to an explanation give for some questions which I now forget, but, what I will never forget was the professor’s response: Well, that’s because you do not believe in God.
I was surprised that he could think that I did not believe in God! Of course, he did lower his head as he sat behind his desk, and looked up at me from the top of his glasses with his naked eyes. So, the statement was more like a question. But, I thought that he should know that I believed in God. I told him, of course, I believe in God. He said; Oh; and considered the information and nodded his head.Why I was surprised that he did not know for sure is because it would be evident to me that someone who devoted so much time and effort learning about God believes in God.
Better, stop here, gotta go…
Peace,
Abba
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Ahimsa
Guest
A Religious Studies professor’s job is not to learn about God. His/her job is to learn about what people think about God.
Why I was surprised that he did not know for sure is because it would be evident to me that someone who devoted so much time and effort learning about God believes in God.
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babylonsfalling
Guest
The msg board atheists who can’t stay away from Christian sites are probably the most insecure atheists out there, and most likely to end their God-fit sooner than those who behave more normally.Do they just enjoy arguing with other people and attacking their beliefs?<----They’re trying really hardto not believe in God. Most atheists aren’t very good at it and I think their “attack-mode” has much to do with their frustration. I wonder what evolutionary mutation compels them to do that.
Once that happens, these guys will likely become some of the most admirable Christians in the congregation. The end of atheism is usually a more sincere type of Christendom than most lifelong Christians ever attain.
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Kalmbach
Guest
A lot of atheists come here because they don’t like sort of social, political, economic, or cultural effects of religion. Christians, in general, have lots of social currency and sometimes sway debates around issues of human rights in unfavourable directions. This is one small way in which atheists have power or sway in a time where non-belief is frowned upon, dismissed, and so forth.
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Abba
Guest
Are you saying: To know our enemies?
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Kalmbach
Guest
No, many atheists come from a background of religion anyway. Knowledge of “the enemy” is sufficiently established for a lot of us by having lived the life already. What I’m saying is that atheists come here to be a seed of doubt–not for the sheer fun of dismantling someone’s belief system, but because those beliefs have unfavourable consequences in and for society.
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ThinkingSapien
Guest
Indeed, and our families, friends, and others we know and love are among the religious. The term “enemy” is too strong and may not be appropriate for some since we have loved ones that hold the beliefs that we don’t. Drawing an in-group/out-group line based on those that are thought to be religious or not religious would separate me from my friends and family. (I emphasize “thought to be” because some of the people I know were pretending to be religious to me until they found out that I am not, so I had thought them to be religious up to that point).
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Arizona_Mike
Guest
Also, where else would they go?
They have a puritan’s zeal about evangelizing their beliefs. No one else really cares about their atheist faith, so they come here and to other religious sites, because we care.
Listening to them is really a kind of benevolence and charity, I suppose.
They have a puritan’s zeal about evangelizing their beliefs. No one else really cares about their atheist faith, so they come here and to other religious sites, because we care.
Listening to them is really a kind of benevolence and charity, I suppose.
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Kalmbach
Guest
I don’t have any particular interest in evangelizing my atheism; I have an interest in dismantling the beliefs in Christianity that are socially carcinogenic. It doesn’t matter to me how tempered or absurd your faith is–when it pushes into the public sector in the form of policy recommendations, it becomes a concern for me and my family.
Plenty of people care about atheism (though it’s not the kind of capital F faith that Christians have; it, as any belief or non-belief, is grounded in epistemological assumptions). There are atheism forums elsewhere that eclipse this forum manifold.
It isn’t an act of charity or benevolence to listen to us any more than it is for us to listen to you. This forum is open intellectual space. Sure, the designation and the majority are decidedly Catholic, but it is for the love of debate that we engage one another. Do you honestly think Jesus is sitting there nodding along, “They’re so kind, those CAF folk, the way they listen first and then argue 'till they’re red; how like me they’re becomming.” C’mon now…
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StarFireKK
Guest
Catholics have another motive besides “love of debate.” We have duty to answer questions asked about our faith and to correct misconceptions when we hear them. The duty is somewhat hard to define because everyone has different skills and some may feel they will do more harm than good trying to defend their position. But most Catholics I know, will make an attempt and then try to refer you to either a priest or a book on the subject so you can learn more.
The core arguments atheists make against our Faith are almost always the same or a small variation on a theme. On this forum, I have seen Catholic posters make the same argument against the same objections time and time again. It isn’t always love of the debate (they had the debate 20 times) it is because they feel it is their Catholic duty to speak up. I’m not saying some Catholics don’t enjoy the debate but we do take such discussions seriously.
So, the previous poster was not wrong when he said it can be an act of charity. What you are criticizing in your post is not the lack of charity but a failure of patience. Both side can always use more patience.
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Warrenton
Guest
I would like to think it is because, at least occassionally, they find an interesting, consistent answer to a question.
In a time where important political questions are reduced to slogans like “Hope and Change” or “What would Reagan Do?” even atheists may find our Catholic tendency to anaylze things in light of a known standard to be refreshing.
Though it is a fact lost on those raised on Rush Limbaugh or Susan Sarandon, one does not need to agree with people to appreciate the strength of their argument.
In a time where important political questions are reduced to slogans like “Hope and Change” or “What would Reagan Do?” even atheists may find our Catholic tendency to anaylze things in light of a known standard to be refreshing.
Though it is a fact lost on those raised on Rush Limbaugh or Susan Sarandon, one does not need to agree with people to appreciate the strength of their argument.
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Flyingg
Guest
God brought me here, who are you to question his wisdom?! 
Ok, seriously, I’m here because many religious people or people in general look at those who don’t share same beliefs with them (including non believers) as ‘aliens’. I want to change that, sure I’m not perfect myself, and this site is shown on Google when you do researchs and type a question so many atheists would register to reply to a thread.
Ok, seriously, I’m here because many religious people or people in general look at those who don’t share same beliefs with them (including non believers) as ‘aliens’. I want to change that, sure I’m not perfect myself, and this site is shown on Google when you do researchs and type a question so many atheists would register to reply to a thread.
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Abba
Guest
What I tried to express is that it would be evident to me and it was not to the professor, that someone who devoted as my time and effort as I was devoting in learning about God - believes in God.
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