Happy Atheist Forum

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to say hello. I've hung out with my fellow atheists over on the other side - the Christian forum CARM - for some time now, and I've quietly gathered up a reasonable amount of posts there, got into some interesting discussions and such. It's time for me to actually, you know, sign up to a forum representing my own side - especially with the recent changes at the CARM forums where the atheists have been severely restricted in terms of where we are allowed to post.

Anyway, me. I'm an undergraduate student, of physics. I am passionate about science; my favourite scientist is Feynman. Hope to have some good discussions here.  My brother already has an account here; hi templeboy!

Hi Jack, Welcome to HAF.  You must have a lot of patience to be able to post at CARM for a while.

Hello Jack. Welcome.

I've not visited CARM before. What is it like there?

Lol i would like to welcome you to a happy return from the dark side.

:welcome:  

So the theists were trying to restrict what you guys were saying?  I guess its not an easy thing to bring ones world view into question.  Anyway I hope your time at CARM left you with a unique perspective of Christianity and I look forward to discussing it with you ^_^

How different are your less-than-equal "Atheist rights" at CARM compared to our no preaching policy?

QuoteHi Jack, Welcome to HAF. You must have a lot of patience to be able to post at CARM for a while.

I took the policy of don't post unless you have something to say. I just slowly amassed posts, and didn't post on anything that didn't interest me.

QuoteHello Jack. Welcome.

I've not visited CARM before. What is it like there?

I somehow like it. There are some really intelligent atheists there, and one or two decent regulars on the Christian side (as well as a fair number who come and go, but are good while they're there). You have to be careful, but I feel you can get through to some of them if you play it real straight-faced and respectful, without hiding your views. If you're going to go there, you have to make sure you go for quality rather than quantity in your posts.

QuoteSo the theists were trying to restrict what you guys were saying? I guess its not an easy thing to bring ones world view into question. Anyway I hope your time at CARM left you with a unique perspective of Christianity and I look forward to discussing it with you ^_^

Consider that two significant CARM christians - blowfly and thrillhouse - deconverted. Blowfly became probably the best atheist poster of them all. Matt Slick and his deputy, Dianne, became very frustrated with atheists - phrases like "fed up" spring into my memory. For a long time they were saying they were going to change things, and they did. I can't say I was surprised. I don't know, I hardly ever posted outside the atheism, and occasionally the evolution, boards. It wasn't a direct issue.

QuoteHow different are your less-than-equal "Atheist rights" at CARM compared to our no preaching policy?

I don't know much about this forum yet, but what I'd say is that CARM always had strict rules, and it was easy to find yourself warned, especially as an atheist. That, perhaps, is the equivalent of the no-preaching rule you have here, because just as, say, "Don't take the Lord's name in vain" is a rule an atheist is more likely to break, "don't preach" is a rule that a Christian is more likely to breach. The recent changes don't have any comparison.'

This forum is too small to compare to CARM, though.

Welcome to the forum. We have some fairly restrictive guidelines and rules, but they are mostly to keep this forum above the level of name calling and petty bickering. We mostly succeed in doing that. I may be the most hard-nosed enforcer of rules (hard to tell for sure, but I have very little tolerance for spam and trolls).

After all, we believe in free thought, but we believe in simple human courtesy and respect too. I think this forum has a good balance between being able to argue ideas and beliefs and keeping to its name of "Happy". It certainly isn't all atheists, and I'm grateful it isn't. After all, many of us were theists, some strongly so.

We're all different, but find common ground in our humanity.

Quote from: "MrJack"

QuoteSo the theists were trying to restrict what you guys were saying? I guess its not an easy thing to bring ones world view into question. Anyway I hope your time at CARM left you with a unique perspective of Christianity and I look forward to discussing it with you ^_^

Consider that two significant CARM christians - blowfly and thrillhouse - deconverted. Blowfly became probably the best atheist poster of them all. Matt Slick and his deputy, Dianne, became very frustrated with atheists - phrases like "fed up" spring into my memory. For a long time they were saying they were going to change things, and they did. I can't say I was surprised. I don't know, I hardly ever posted outside the atheism, and occasionally the evolution, boards. It wasn't a direct issue.

So CARM is Matt Slicks forum huh?  That makes me want to troll it ... but I won't.  Just out of Curiosity did you hear about his debate with Matt Dillahunty from the Atheist Experience?  They spent a show debating the Transcendental Argument (TAG) and after so long in it they went nowhere.  After the debate Slick wen't all over youtube and I think to a few other sites where Dillahunty's name was and proclaimed victory (like a child) over him.  Which the next episode was awesome because Dillahunty ranted and tore Slick to pieces.

But anyway I am OT.  So what did they do to change your privileges?

Quote from: "LoneMateria"So CARM is Matt Slicks forum huh?  That makes me want to troll it ... but I won't.  Just out of Curiosity did you hear about his debate with Matt Dillahunty from the Atheist Experience?  They spent a show debating the Transcendental Argument (TAG) and after so long in it they went nowhere.  After the debate Slick wen't all over youtube and I think to a few other sites where Dillahunty's name was and proclaimed victory (like a child) over him.  Which the next episode was awesome because Dillahunty ranted and tore Slick to pieces.

I saw that on youtube, though I didn't see the next episode. Watching it now- Dillahunty is great.

QuoteBut anyway I am OT.  So what did they do to change your privileges?

The atheists are now only allowed to post in the (slightly expanded) atheist forums, plus the evolution forum. The rest of the forums now consist of the Christians rehearsing each other's prejudices.

Quote from: "Mr Jack"The atheists are now only allowed to post in the (slightly expanded) atheist forums, plus the evolution forum. The rest of the forums now consist of the Christians rehearsing each other's prejudices.

I guess that is reasonable...on the Atheist Network forum you have to be either an atheist or a "free range theist" to post anywhere outside of the special religion section.

I think I might have an account at CARM but I never posted there because the CARM members I have run into on other forums were such a pain to try to discuss with...which is guess is par for the course when discussing with most religious people.  

I really don't know how some of you keep up the energy to continue debating theists....I burnt out on the debates about a year ago and don't think I'll be ready to do it again for quite some time.  I could debate now, but when I'm burned out it ends up just being annoying and I have a hard time being civil even though I think it is important to be so.