Need for a separate Atheism forum

[_moksha]

After looking at all the posts in both the Celestial and Terrestrial forums about atheism, I was thinking it should be given its own forum.

[_Sam Harris]

Yeah, so all the "scholars" who are in it for "serious discussion" (ahem, hearing themselves speak) can have their own sandbox, and their threads need not be moved anywhere!

[_Blixa]

Why?

I admit the topic doesn't interest me as something to discuss: I'm an athiest and all it means to me is that not only do I not believe in god, I really just don't care much about religion in general. Religion is not part of my life and barely part of my current study. The whole thing is irrelevant to me, even the current vogue for pop-atheist writers. I do think the rise in fundamentalist religions is important politically, but to me that's a topic for historical and ideological analysis not discussions of "science," "logic," and "god." The same with Mormonism: my interests here are discussions of Mormon history, including contemporary culture, in other words, secular scholarly discussion and not true/false debates.

Nevertheless, I can see such things interest others and I don't see a need to quarantine discussions by topic.

[_Yoda]

With the search function that is already in place, if someone wants to search for threads by topic, they can do so. The element that should tie threads into either Celestial or Terrestial Forums is some type of reference to Mormonism. If a thread specifically covers another topic without any relevance to Mormonism, then they should be started and maintained in the Off Topic Forum.

[_Sam Harris]

Me, I'm just being snarky. I personally don't think there needs to be an atheist forum, but lately there seems to be an inability on the part of some folks (not you, Blixa...and I like the avatar...pretty!) to engage in truly civil discussion about the subject. Then there's the issue of what forum it needs to be in. Perhaps if there were the proverbial forum, there would be no need to move the threads, no matter how heated they got.

Me, being a theist, I can't say who should believe what, or if you should. You're not me, and my current vehicle is in the shop for repairs. I just want everybody to have enough gas in the car and to go in for regular tune-ups. In other words, live with integrity, for yourself and others. Ain't too much to ask....is it?

[_Blixa]

Me, I'm just being snarky. I personally don't think there needs to be an atheist forum, but lately there seems to be an inability on the part of some folks (not you, Blixa...and I like the avatar...pretty!) to engage in truly civil discussion about the subject. Then there's the issue of what forum it needs to be in. Perhaps if there were the proverbial forum, there would be no need to move the threads, no matter how heated they got.

Me, being a theist, I can't say who should believe what, or if you should. You're not me, and my current vehicle is in the shop for repairs. I just want everybody to have enough gas in the car and to go in for regular tune-ups. In other words, live with integrity, for yourself and others. Ain't too much to ask....is it?

I get your point, Sam, but even if lack of civil discourse seems to correlate with a particular topic, its the lack of civil discourse that should determine the thread's placement and not the topic. The Celestial is supposed to be not only for reasonably polite discussion, but scholarly discussion as well. That's harder to moderate for, I'm sure, but it strikes me that violators of the first are usually violators of the second. At least in threads I've read, and I have to say I haven't read many of the theist/atheist/whatever go rounds.

Anyway, I guess my point is: less scary stalky bullying, ecclesiastical threats and personal belittling no matter what the topic.

[_John Larsen]

I believe that the question of God is central to the theme of this board. To relegate certain topics to back alleys would destroy the continuity of the board.

[_Scottie]

Boards go in cycles.

Topics spawn other topics of a similar nature, so you'll see a whole slew of posts about one topic for a while. Next week we'll probably be inundated with polygamy posts, then the week after that will be prophets and lack of prophecy...

[_Yoda]

Me, I'm just being snarky. I personally don't think there needs to be an atheist forum, but lately there seems to be an inability on the part of some folks (not you, Blixa...and I like the avatar...pretty!) to engage in truly civil discussion about the subject. Then there's the issue of what forum it needs to be in. Perhaps if there were the proverbial forum, there would be no need to move the threads, no matter how heated they got.

Me, being a theist, I can't say who should believe what, or if you should. You're not me, and my current vehicle is in the shop for repairs. I just want everybody to have enough gas in the car and to go in for regular tune-ups. In other words, live with integrity, for yourself and others. Ain't too much to ask....is it?

I get your point, Sam, but even if lack of civil discourse seems to correlate with a particular topic, its the lack of civil discourse that should determine the thread's placement and not the topic. The Celestial is supposed to be not only for reasonably polite discussion, but scholarly discussion as well. That's harder to moderate for, I'm sure, but it strikes me that violators of the first are usually violators of the second. At least in threads I've read, and I have to say I haven't read many of the theist/atheist/whatever go rounds.

Anyway, I guess my point is: less scary stalky bullying, ecclesiastical threats and personal belittling no matter what the topic.

AMEN!!! :)

[_Yoda]

I believe that the question of God is central to the theme of this board. To relegate certain topics to back alleys would destroy the continuity of the board.

Agreed. That's why the Atheism threads have stayed where they are.