Why Convert?

[JCG]

Evolution is a fact, but some people try to use it to extrapolate several things which are better left to scientific discovery in due time.

On the other hand, I can tolerate atheists who have ARGUMENTS to back them up...same thing with Christians.

[MarkG]

Vlad, 95% of the Greek population are Orthodox Christians. I've never met a Greek that takes the Bible literally and i would consider it a miracle if one could find an article in a newspaper or magazine against evolution

[Ari Rahikkala]

Why try to convert christians/other non-atheists to atheism? While I don't actually do it often (I prefer just shooting down religicists' arguments whenever I see them), I would have a few good reasons:

- intellectual exercise: since these discussions generally tend to be initiated by theists and the same arguments are almost always used, it would be great to find an argument against theism that hasn't yet been thought up by anyone
- troll: since it's not done often, it would be fun to see their answers
- understanding: for situations where I need to apply Macchiavellist principles to a theist, I need to be able to think like one. Therefore, I need to have discussions with them
- boost of the intellectual ego

[Akka]

The question was not trying to convert believers to atheism, but christians to evolution.

[KrazyHorse]

I have no urge to make any Christian "believe" that evolution is the origin of biological diversity on Earth. I simply wish to drive it through the thick skull of most Creationists that scientific evidence points toward this conclusion, and therefore arguments for Creationism must be considered as based on faith (thus are unsuitable to teach in a public classroom).

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


Like when?

Atheists do things like walk into a high school in Paducah, Kentucky and open fire on a youth prayer group.

Atheists do things like walk into a high school in Columbine, Colorado and blow a girl's head off with a shotgun when she refuses to recant her faith.

Atheists do things like walk into a Baptist church in Atlanta, Georgia and open fire on a choir practice.

[Urban Ranger]

This is hilarious.

A couple of Creationists showed up and started flamebaiting. A couple of stoopid Creationists too, lacking any skill or talent in the area. Go home before you two are taunted mercilessly


monkspider,

Speciation due to evolution is a fact.

[Guynemer]

Shall I post an equally tiresome listing of crimes committed by Christians, Dr. Strangelove?

Honestly, weren't any of you taught by your mother not to debate religion with people? It's rude and hopelessly futile.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Atheists do things like walk into a high school in Paducah, Kentucky and open fire on a youth prayer group.

Atheists do things like walk into a high school in Columbine, Colorado and blow a girl's head off with a shotgun when she refuses to recant her faith.

Atheists do things like walk into a Baptist church in Atlanta, Georgia and open fire on a choir practice.

I don't know about the other two, but the two HS teenagers involved in the Columbine shootings certainly did not shoot their victims because they were Christians. This is a crass distortion of the facts.

The fullest account of the new evidence appears in the Denver Rocky Mountain News (September 24, 1999, 5A). The only eyewitness, Emily Wyant, 16, reports that she and Cassie, 17, were alone, studying together in the back of the library, and that she hid with her under the table when the shooting began. At that point, Cassie began praying out loud. According to Emily, "She was saying, 'Dear God. Dear God. Why is this happening? I just want to go home,'." Emily hushed her, saying "I know. We all want to get out of here." Emily believes that Cassie's loud praying may have drawn the gunman to them (they were, after all, all the way in the back). As the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports, "All of a sudden, [Dylan Klebold] slammed the top of their table, said 'Peekaboo,' and looked under the table at both girls." Emily says he immediately looked at Cassie and shot her, without any words exchanged. Then he turned to Emily, but was suddenly called away by Eric Harris, Klebold's accomplice. As Emily heard him, Harris said to Klebold "Hey, there's a n----- over here."' The two of them then shot to death Isaiah Shoels, a young black teen.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Atheists do things like walk into a high school in Paducah, Kentucky and open fire on a youth prayer group.

Atheists do things like walk into a high school in Columbine, Colorado and blow a girl's head off with a shotgun when she refuses to recant her faith.

Atheists do things like walk into a Baptist church in Atlanta, Georgia and open fire on a choir practice.

You're confusing atheist with rebellous, troubled youth.

At least the first two were done not because of atheism, but because they were f*cked up kids.

I'm not sure about the last one, I've not heard anything about it.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Originally posted by Asher
Exhibit A:


How many atheists spread messages like that?

How many Christians do? I certainly don't.

[Asher]

Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous
How many Christians do? I certainly don't.

Obviously not all, or even most, do it.

But life in North America is so ladden with Christian overtones in everything we do, it can get annoying pretty fast. Top that off with the public-whacko-protests like the people in the picture and many non-Christians are not happy campers.

Most atheists/agnostics don't care either way, though.

[Ari Rahikkala]

Originally posted by Akka le Vil
The question was not trying to convert believers to atheism, but christians to evolution.

Although there is a difference (and it is a big difference), it usually tends to be ignored in this kind of threads, and I don't care to make the distinction.

[Space05us]

Im atheist and I don't care what other people think. when people start preaching around me about thier religion or about how right atheist are I just walk away or tell them to shut up because I don't care.

[Urban Ranger]

You should, though. Why let the flamebaiters muddy the water?