Poll
Question:
Did it?
Option 1: Yes.
Option 2: No. Or at least not yet.
Did the internet change your religious beliefs? Or at least influence you to rethink your beliefs?
I think that the internet, allowing us to access large amounts of information, is indeed a life-changing technology. If I didn't have an internet connection, I'm pretty sure I'd still be a blind creationist/monotheist that shoves his beliefs down others' throats.
Since schools don't teach you much about religion, and many teachers still speak of an entity such as "God" as if it definitely exists, school really doesn't change your religious beliefs too much. But unlimited access to information thanks to the internet can very much change your outlook on the world.
No, not really... I mean they've been challenged here more than anywhere out in the real world, but it hasn't influenced me in any significant way. I've never tried to shove my beliefs down anyone's throat, I just try to live and let live
When I was about 4 years old, I doubted the existence of any sort of god. When I was about 7, I determined there probably wasn't any but I can't completely declare it impossible.
My views haven't changed since that time ten years ago, so no, the internet hasn't in any way influenced my religious beliefs. However, it has completely desensitized me to everything.
Quote from: Pancake Persona on February 15, 2009, 10:01:43 PM
When I was about 4 years old, I doubted the existence of any sort of god. When I was about 7, I determined there probably wasn't any but I can't completely declare it impossible.
Did you move to the south when you were 7?
Quote from: YPR on February 15, 2009, 10:04:29 PM
Did you move to the south when you were 7?
No, I only came here 4 years ago.
I really don't know what made me stop believing. One thing I do remember was seeing a report on America's Most Wanted, where a family lost their daughter the day after she completely denounced the existence of god. They were saying some mexican or something took her away and killed her, but it was obvious it was the parents that killed her for being a blasphemer and just made up some shit.
I think right after I saw that I decided to challenge the idea of a god, because nothing that really loves everyone would kill a person just for that, and I guess it just stuck.
No, I don't consider anyone on the internet worth taking seriously.
Not at all. I kinda just started to feel that it's much more important to live for yourself and others than to live for some god.
I don't doubt the existence of God, or any religious figure, I believe anything is possible for the afterlife, but still, I don't put religion very high on my list of important things in my life.
I never really had any strong religious upbringing as a kid. (I didn't believe in a god because I though, LOL BUT THEN WHO CREATED GOD and no one gave me a proper answer ;_;)
No. At no point was I convinced of Christianity (my upbringing familiarly and educationally), or anything else, and after I started reading books and actually involving myself in the world when I was 12-13 it seemed clear that institutionalized religion was irrelevant.
No, the shit was forced upon me as a child so I read the Bible and saw it was bullshit and moved on from there. wariodood;
No. i still have the same beliefs I have always had.
In a way. It made me think instead of taking everything face value.
No, just reinforced them. I was already questioning religion before I started using the internet.
Well, I used to think it was the religious fanatics that would always bitch to atheists, but now I realized that more often it's atheists bitching to people with a religion.
Quote from: ø Lance * Corporal * Atlas ø on February 16, 2009, 01:49:13 PM
Well, I used to think it was the religious fanatics that would always bitch to atheists, but now I realized that more often it's atheists bitching to people with a religion.
Trolling is fun because it pisses people off. giggle;
Quote from: Raekewn on February 16, 2009, 01:51:06 PM
Trolling is fun because it pisses people off. giggle;
it can also make you look incredibly stupid
Quote from: Pancake Persona on February 16, 2009, 02:15:49 PM
it can also make you look incredibly stupid
only to the people who rage from it. giggle;
Quote from: Raekewn on February 16, 2009, 02:34:23 PM
only to the people who rage from it. giggle;
The trick is to not give a shit. hocuspocus;
Anyway, topic topic topic. No, it just reinforced them by giving me more arguments.
Quote from: Bassir on February 15, 2009, 09:19:20 PM
If I didn't have an internet connection, I'm pretty sure I'd still be a blind creationist/monotheist that shoves his beliefs down others' throats.
Doesn't that just mean that you're incredibly impressionable? akudood;
Anyways, no it hasn't for me. It's just given me more arguments to back up my beliefs.
No, not at all. I've learned a lot about various religions just by research and such, but none of my beliefs have been altered by the internet.
Quote from: Raekewn on February 16, 2009, 01:51:06 PM
Trolling is fun because it pisses people off. giggle;
Yes, yes it is. Though that has nothing to do with anything.
when I found out that Santa wasn't real I became atheist
Well, yeah, the internet is a great source of information, but I don't think it influences my religious outlooks at all. I'm mostly influenced by daily activities, people, nature, and my classes.
It's convinced me to never become a hardcore christian, and making me feel that Buddhism will be the way to go.
Seriously, the Internet proves that suffering is everywhere, and it helps you yourself pass through it.
Nah, I have had enough outside factors turn me off from religion. The internet probably reinforced it to a degree though.
I don't think I even knew of the word "atheist" before going on the Internet, but I've been one as long as I've had any thought about religion at all.
I never was convinced of religious stuff at all. My mom does make me go to church often on Easter and occasionally on Christmas, but I never believed any of it.
I retract my previous statement. The internet was one of the influences that made me reject atheism.
The Internet gave me access to information which has led me to alter my beliefs. Talking to many atheists has also given me more reason to deny the existence of a supreme deity.
I never really cared about religion to begin with. I was forced to go to a Catholic school from Kindergarten until 8th grade. My parents also brought me to church every Sunday until I decided that was bullshit. I still don't care about religion and only go to church on Christmas.
Quote from: Geno on February 16, 2009, 10:16:33 PM
when I found out that Santa wasn't real I became atheist
hey me too. I can't believe my parents did that to me ;-;
To tell you the truth, I don't really remember ever actually believing in God, or Santa for that matter. Maybe I was too young when I did believe in them to remember.
Now the Easter Bunny on the other hand, I believed in him up until I was 10. saddood;
I can't tell. I began to actively use the internet when I was twelve, and at the time I was a Christian. I didn't really give much of a shit about it, but I would defend it if challenged. As time passed, I became barely Christian, as in "oh yeah god and jesus woohoo i don't give a fuck much though" and now I'm agnostic. The internet introduced me to a wider range of theologic views, but without it I'm pretty sure I'd reject Christianity at some point in my youth.
The internet is very responsible for atheism's spread, though. Fifty or a hundred years ago, atheism was a synonym for smart because it was rare to come across vocal atheists and those who were vocal atheists were rejected by society. Today, any kid can go online and feel enlightened. That's where you get a lot of internet users on a zealous crusade under a different name.
Quote from: YPR on February 15, 2009, 09:22:48 PM
No, not really... I mean they've been challenged here more than anywhere out in the real world, but it hasn't influenced me in any significant way. I've never tried to shove my beliefs down anyone's throat, I just try to live and let live
Sometimes, you post what I was going to post. I like you.
Anyway, I found out about William Lane Craig's debates with a lot of Athiests on YouTube. I can't believe he never lost a debate. Well, most of the one's I've watched, were won by him, but nobody ever mentions of his losses (If he even lost any debates), not even some Athiests. Anyway, there was one time where I almost became an Athiest, but watching his debates made me get away from that. His website: reasonablefaith.com, has so many articles about all of this stuff.
He made me discover more about Christianity than anything or anybody else.
Link me to some of these "wins". baddood;
the first one i found is him basically whining "stephen hawking said that if universe was a 20340340304034030 bit smaller it would have collapsed and there is a 1 in 0330030403400340304034034^04304030430 chance blah" as if they're proof of God.
Okay, even if the chance is small, it just means we made the small chance. Otherwise we wouldn't exist to know how we didn't make the chance. Maybe there were billions of billions of big bangs before the last one? The argument that the chance is really small and thus God had to do it is just stupid.
also yeah winning a debate and being right are two different issues baddood;
Quote from: Raekewn on March 05, 2009, 02:36:49 PM
Link me to some of these "wins". baddood;
the first one i found is him basically whining "stephen hawking said that if universe was a 20340340304034030 bit smaller it would have collapsed and there is a 1 in 0330030403400340304034034^04304030430 chance blah" as if they're proof of God.
Okay, even if the chance is small, it just means we made the small chance. Otherwise we wouldn't exist to know how we didn't make the chance. Maybe there were billions of billions of big bangs before the last one? The argument that the chance is really small and thus God had to do it is just stupid.
You try to be in one of his "Questions of the Week". Anyway, some people think of his arguements as "almost undefeated". But anyway, the decision on whoever lost or won is really depended on the opinion of the viewer. I only chose about seven debates, then gave up. I don't mean the clips themselves have proven a "victory", but the whole debate of those parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qT1pp_jCUw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRadlJH67D0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fByVAPQdaiw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwqnyu6UgGE&feature=PlayList&p=BA8DC00322DBB639&index=13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUsMHSeWvaA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EJ39RMSXvk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrmCihGWVSg&feature=related
So many YouTubers love to debate. Debates are everywhere in YouTube. Even look in the comments of this debate. Barely commenting on the WLC's debates.
Go on his website, he even gives you some transcripts of his debates, but not all, though.
Oh god, his debate with Christopher Hitchens on 4/4 will be intense.
Quote from: Original_MIB on March 05, 2009, 03:21:51 PMOh god, his debate with Christopher Hitchens on 4/4 will be intense.
Source stating that this event is going to happen, please.
Quote from: Slim on March 06, 2009, 01:40:47 PM
Source stating that this event is going to happen, please.
To give a very reliable source, I'll give you the source that their debate is going to take place at.
http://www.biola.edu/academics/professional-studies/apologetics/events/
This will be a good debate.
Quote from: Original_MIB on March 06, 2009, 02:28:23 PM
To give a very reliable source, I'll give you the source that their debate is going to take place at.
http://www.biola.edu/academics/professional-studies/apologetics/events/
This will be a good debate.
Quote from: Original_MIB on March 06, 2009, 02:28:23 PMbiola
LMAO
QuoteBiola University is a nationally ranked private evangelical Christian university located in Southern California
Who would willingly describe themselves as "evangelical"? Also, I can feel the bias already.
'so wear did lyk cum frum. oh how about da universe. oh pascals wager. what proof lol'
Quote from: Original_MIB on March 06, 2009, 02:28:23 PMThis will be a good debate.
Only if Hitchens is in a bad mood. When he's too polite, like he was with Dinesh D'souza, it starts to get boring.
Quote from: Raekewn on March 06, 2009, 02:33:26 PM
LMAO
Who would willingly describe themselves as "evangelical"? Also, I can feel the bias already.
'so wear did lyk cum frum. oh how about da universe. oh pascals wager. what proof lol'
All that means is that the moderator will probably be privately rooting for the Christian guy, but if he's a good moderator, it shouldn't show.
baddood;
Quote from: Raekewn on March 06, 2009, 02:33:26 PM
LMAO
Who would willingly describe themselves as "evangelical"? Also, I can feel the bias already.
'so wear did lyk cum frum. oh how about da universe. oh pascals wager. what proof lol'
We'll all see on April 4th. If he'll "lose" or "win" this debate.
Also, do you believe science can solve everything in the world? Just asking, really.
Quote from: Slim on March 06, 2009, 02:35:57 PM
Only if Hitchens is in a bad mood. When he's too polite, like he was with Dinesh D'souza, it starts to get boring.
I wanna see a debate between Richard Dawkins and William Lane Craig.
Quote from: Original_MIB on March 06, 2009, 02:40:39 PM
We'll all see on April 4th. If he'll "lose" or "win" this debate.
You can't really "win" or "lose" a debate. It's up to the viewer, so if you are watching it as a Christian wanting validation of your beliefs you're going to feel that the Christian won, and an atheist would feel otherwise. Unless, the other person is completely destroyed and it's clear.
Quote
Also, do you believe science can solve everything in the world? Just asking, really.
It can attempt to solve most things, but "everything", no.
However, it says nothing for the existence of a god.
Science once couldn't explain why it rained so it was attributed to gods. Clearly we know that's not why it rains now.
There is some stuff that we won't be able to prove, and that's okay. Science isn't supposed to explain everything.
Quote from: Raekewn on March 06, 2009, 02:49:41 PM
You can't really "win" or "lose" a debate. It's up to the viewer, so if you are watching it as a Christian wanting validation of your beliefs you're going to feel that the Christian won, and an atheist would feel otherwise. Unless, the other person is completely destroyed and it's clear.
It can attempt to solve most things, but "everything", no.
However, it says nothing for the existence of a god.
Science once couldn't explain why it rained so it was attributed to gods. Clearly we know that's not why it rains now.
There is some stuff that we won't be able to prove, and that's okay. Science isn't supposed to explain everything.
That's why I put quotes on 'win' and 'lose', because one can't really determine one's win with just the moderator. You also have to support this opinion with what you thought about this debate. Whatever you just though of, may cause an arguement between you and another who has a different opinion on whoever their supporting that opposes your opinion. Maybe I just used them wrong?
Also, name some examples that science cannot solve, please.
Quote from: Original_MIB on March 06, 2009, 02:59:18 PM
Also, name some examples that science cannot solve, please.
well for one thing there's the heisenberg uncertainty principle but that only applies on the very teensy tiny level akudood;
Quote from: Original_MIB on March 06, 2009, 02:59:18 PMAlso, name some examples that science cannot solve, please.
Ever, or with what we currently know?
Ever, I can't say because maybe there will be a revolutionary discovery next week.
But currently, I'm going to say: What caused or came before the big bang, for example.
There is some speculation(e.g. string theory stating branes of the multiverse touching and releasing the big bang, but it's not a theory in the same way that evolution or gravity are theories) but no definitive proof.