What Are Your Reasons For Debating On This Forum?

[jgh7]

I've come to realize that we have many reasons that we debate, whether we are aware of them or not.

1) We can debate because we want to prove our view is right and others are wrong, and that provides us with security, comfort, and a sense of accomplishment and smartness.

2) We can debate because we want to teach others to think like us, and that gives us satisfaction if we have persuaded them to view things like we do.

These are some reasons why I debate the way I do. I try to avoid the first reason as much as possible, and I am very careful about when I choose to pursue the second reason. But I also debate to see where faults are in my arguments and to learn other people's views and see if there is logic in them that is worth applying to my own set of logic.

What are your reasons for debating on this forum? This may be a very personal question to ask. But do you have goals for all this debating you're doing? Or do you simply debate mainly because it's fun? Heck, that's another reason I'm here.

[Zzyzx]

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[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

My primary motivation to debate here is intellectual stimulation. Since I do not partake of activities that I regard as mindless (watching television, emoting over sports or spectatorism, seeking entertainment and "fun"), stimulating and challenging activities and conversations are appealing. Some of our debates can be thought provoking and on rare occasion challenging.

I do not seek to convince anyone to adopt my ideas, though I do encourage people to think and to make sound decisions based upon reliable information (wherever that may lead). If any teaching occurs it is incidental.

A strong secondary motivation is to challenge / confront those who make claims of knowledge that they cannot demonstrate they possess. "Windbags" and "pretenders" shout from podiums and pulpits (particularly preachers, teachers and politicians) but may have difficulty holding their own in reasoned and honorable debate on a level playing field. Emotional appeals and fantasy may be attractive to the masses, but do not affect me at all and do not fare well in debate.

A minor motivation is to gather information for a book-length manuscript tentatively titled "Rational Theistic Debate" – which includes arguments presented in these debates.

I do not care to learn why people believe as they do or what they believe. That is their business, not mine. I am interested in what is presented in debate, what claims are made, and how ideas are defended (or not).

Time spent debating and moderating is sandwiched between various tasks around my property, activities elsewhere, research and writing on wide ranging topics. Since I have no set schedule, time stamps may indicate posting at any hour.

[OnceConvinced]

1) I spent over 30 years of my life diligently believing and serving the God of the bible. Then one day I discovered, to my horror, that my God wasn’t real. That I had spent over 30 years of my life, wasting a lot of time with religious nonsense. I do not want others to fall into that same trap.

2) Due to living a Christian life I missed out on so many experiences due to the fact I believed certain things were wrong and that I should be putting Christ first in everything. Life is short. We do not have a whole eternity. This life is not just a test. This life is not just a test. We should not be beating ourselves up over our human nature. I do not want to see people missing out on making the most of their lives because of their Christian beliefs.

3) I was indoctrinated into Christianity from birth. Given no other options of what to believe. Taught the bible as if it were fact. I was told that evolution was a lie of the devil and Atheists were evil. But evolution is not a lie and Atheists are not evil just because they don’t believe in God. Indoctrination has to be stopped and as with me, the only way to be broken out of that indoctrination is to have ones faulty beliefs exposed.

4) Many Christians exaggerate and even lie about what the bible says, claims made about Jesus, their own lives, miracles, the things that Jesus has supposedly done in their lives. These things need to be exposed. People need to speak up otherwise others will be suckered into it. One thing that really irritates me on this site is when Christians claim certain things which I know are just not true. I have to stand up and I have to say these things are not true.

5) Threats from Christians. Hell and damnation. This needs to be stood up against. It needs to be exposed for the rubbish that it is. Fear tactics are not a good thing.

6) Christianity being pushed on us. Not only indoctrination, but people wanting our laws to be biblical based. Wanting to insist on things like bible in schools. They are trying to push their fantasies onto us as reality. We must stand up against this stuff.

7) For the enjoyment of it. After over 30 years of bible studies I know a lot about the topic and I love to discuss it. I love to debate the topic.

[Hamsaka]

[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

I had to admit several weeks into my membership here that I just really enjoy arguing with people . IRL I'm nonconfrontational, so opportunities do not abound, especially opportunities to discuss religion, politics or some current events. Except with certain friends and family, I avoid these subjects like plague. So that's one reason -- arguing, when it is 'contained' and disciplined in the form of debate, is a total blast. I've had my head spun around so many times I've lost track of the new things I've been wrong about.

Religion is a deep personal concern for me, having been a Christian and then recovering from it, which took years. I care about humanity in general, where we are going, how we are getting there. We have to share the planet for the time being, and in order to share nicely so that the most people can have the best quality of life, people with fundamental disagreements need to discuss them.

It is impossible to debate with certain mind-sets, but the debate can be viewed and the reader can take it from there.

Mostly though, I debate because it forces me to give fair attention to POVs that astound or offend my sensibilities . I'm doing nobody any good if I'm trapped inside my own unexamined perceptions and opinions about whatever. Demystifying the fundamentalist/literalist behavior has been very helpful, and clarifying as well.

[Haven]

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[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

My primary motivation to debate here is intellectual stimulation. Since I do not partake of activities that I regard as mindless (watching television, emoting over sports or spectatorism, seeking entertainment and "fun"), stimulating and challenging activities and conversations are appealing. Some of our debates can be thought provoking and on rare occasion challenging.

I thought I was the only one not into "pop culture" -- it's nice to see another person doesn't like mindless TV, sports, and so on.

I'd say I'm here for the same reasons you are--intellectual stimulation, discussing topics that don't come up (or are considered too provocative) in "real life," and knowing why my beliefs are true/rational (or finding out they're false/irrational and abandoning them). It's nice to talk about "big issues" like religion, science, and politics in a friendly, civil environment.

[help3434]

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[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

My primary motivation to debate here is intellectual stimulation. Since I do not partake of activities that I regard as mindless (watching television, emoting over sports or spectatorism, seeking entertainment and "fun"),

What makes you think those activities have to be mindless?

[Zzyzx]

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What makes you think those activities have to be mindless?

Thanks for asking.

I do not suggest "have to be" -- but I do regard them as such myself since I do not seek emotional stimulation (which is a major part of the appeal of such activities). Although quite athletic, for instance, I have never cared about (or cheered for) "sports" teams winning (literally never) -- or which horse can run the fastest, or who can play with balls the best, or who has the prettiest behind.

As a teenager and twenty-something I did not "prove masculinity" by becoming a sportsman or frequenting bars -- but instead did things that satisfied me or were in keeping with my agenda, such as working high steel, serving in the 101st Airborne Division, graduating with honors from college (and on to graduate school).

Likewise, it is of no interest to me how many tea cups someone can balance on their forehead, or who can act like a hero on a movie set. Television appears to me to be largely wasteland permeated by disinformation, propaganda and advertising packaged as entertainment (including "news" and documentaries). I do not choose to devote four hours per day (average US) or any time to such activities, but prefer reading, research, writing, physical activity, interacting with intelligent people -- doing real things in the real world.

By not watching the average number of hours of television I have gained 95,000 hours over the past 65 years (since it became a fixture in society during the 1950s when I was a teenager -- and disliked it from the start). That is well over ten years of 24/7 freed for other interests.

Another way to think about those 95,000 hours is that they equal 47 years of normal work weeks. And, people wonder how I can have done so many different things . . . or pursued such varied interests. I actually DO things rather than watch others.

It does not take a mind to be a spectator -- or any talent to watch others. It is no accomplishment to cheer for a winning team.

Rather than pursuing fun-seeking behavior or entertainment, I enjoy thoroughly a rather simple lifestyle -- every day -- with no need for escape from reality or find relief from boredom and drudgery or ways to "kill time" (none of which are part of my life).

I realize this differs radically from the attitudes and interests of others -- but do not seek approval -- and do not suggest that others follow my paths or adopt my ways.