Keeping R&S Civil

[AB Editor]

Afternoon.

We've noticed it's got a bit "rough" in here recently.

We'd like this section to be accessible to all without fear of being "ambushed" by members who simply disagree with them.

Please remember calling someone an idiot (or similar) is very unlikely to aid the changing of their perspective.

We're not asking you to change what you say - we're asking you to change the way you say it.

In other news: we now have a small "welcome box" between the "enter a question" box and the questions below. Suggestions welcome for things we could pop in there.

All the best,

Ed

[anneasquith]

well i agree with sandy. imo. anyone who is not athiest gets short shrift. i enjoy a good debate about religion. but i dont have a theology degree :(

[ummmm]

The Atheists appear to be more knowledgeable.

[EvianBaby]

I think this is one of those occasions where I'm meant to bite my tongue.

It's bleeding.

[Wharton]

Ed - What sort of watering-places do you frequent?

[AB Editor]

"Ed - What sort of watering-places do you frequent?"

The best.

Obviously we bring working class people to fit in the pit. Gnomes of my station don't like getting our hands dirty.

"I enjoy a good debate about religion. but i dont have a theology degree"

I'm not sure many do here!

[anneasquith]

^^^^ fountain of knowledge

[ludwig]

// Please remember calling someone an idiot (or similar) is very unlikely to aid the changing of their perspective. //

It's sometimes worth a shot though eh?

[AB Editor]

"It's sometimes worth a shot though eh?"

It's a bit like comparing someone to Hitler - you've immediately lost the argument.

[MarkRae]

Religion is a hugely emotive and intensely personal thing, though. I think that most religious people find it difficult or even impossible to explain why they believe what they believe. There's no provable "2+2=4" formula and the atheists exploit that by reductio ad absurdum claiming that since they can't explain their beliefs then they are stupid for holding them in the first place.

It's not easy to get past that...

[bibblebub]

Gnomes of my station don't like getting our hands dirty

Waterloo?

[sunny-dave]

Personally I have never had any trouble in here ... well there was the incident with Mike1111111 and the donkey but that was harmless horseplay ...

Nice wallpaper and quality carpets though - makes CB look a bit shabby ..

[sunny-dave]

... and (grits teeth slightly)

"I agree with MarkRae" ...

[anneasquith]

mike is a 5 !

[AB Editor]

"It's not easy to get past that..."

It's not, I agree.

In reality I would like less loaded questions and have more collaborative discussions - or actually inquisitive questions!

Less of the "Is religion a con or a disease?" and more "How many people of faith feel 'peer pressure' from fellow worshippers?"

Just as two examples.

[Kiki-frog]

Agree, Ed. I stop visiting R&S precisely because of those loaded questions. It's a bit like the Monty Python Argument Room sketch sometimes

[jake-the-peg]

Not quite Mark

You see religonistas claim special privileges

They claim the right to have their views respected even though as you point out they cannot justify them any more than people like David Icke can justify his or those who believe in things like witchcraft can justify theirs.

Not only do they claim the right to have their views respected over other patently absurd beliefs but they claim the right to have them foisted on others.

The mandatory act of worship in schools

Bishops in the House of Lords

Disestablish the church, get your magic books out of public schools

And then they can be entitled to their opinions all day long

In short to paraphrase Harold Wilson "Get your tanks off of our lawn!"

[Sipowicz]

No it isn't!

[jno]

DT, if you've got someone to complain about or report, why not do so? The Report button is there for all to use. Failing that, dropping snide hints doesn't seem to be the way to go.