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humidbeing

- 3 years ago

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What is needed to have a debate?

I was excited by the idea behind SOULPANCAKE, but as I spend more time here, it seems obvious that those with strong religious convictions are the majority. Overwhelmingly so. To take it one step further: A Christian, religious majority. Before I offend anyone, I have no problem with you being religious, or being Christian, and that's not the point of this question. It's simply a problem of demographics. I would pose this same question if I noticed most users were staunch atheists, or mostly Muslim, or Jewish. What is the point: Can this website really achieve meaningful debate when most of the users are largely coming from the same point of view? Doesn't the name SOULPANCAKE and surrounding verbiage create a self selecting user base? Was I bit naive as to interpret this website as a philosophical hub without any particular allegiance?

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I think I have to disagree a bit. I was surprised to find a lot of different faiths on here. More so than in most places I visit. Or, maybe I skip over the Bible Verse stuff :)

I must say, I'm impressed with the reactions everyone has had. I was hesitant to ask this question, because on most websites it would immediately degrade into name calling! @melb2 I'm coming from a Philosophical perspective when I say debate. No connotations there, it's just what you'd formally call any discussion.

Actually I think Jesus is going to slap Bush's head between his hands and pop it like a puss-filled zit.

In order to truly debate you need to have a strong opinion on the subject. Added to that though one must have a decent knowledge about the subject they're are debating otherwise you won't be believeable when talking. I have always told my students that when debating, you don't necessarily need to win the debate per-say but more so you should have made a good enough arguement that the other person or persons can see your point of view. If you can control what is being debated there is no right or wrong, it's how you speak your mind and if you can say it in a manner that all will listen to you in.

I have to agree with ksframe inasmuch as I don't think this is a site for "debate", but rather discussion. the word "debate" implies to me a defense/promotion of a particular pov. I agree that there certainly seems to be a lot of Christians of all stripes on this site, but I think it is probably a matter of demographics. There are also a lot of others from a non-Christian pov. I enjoy the discussion with everybody, regardless of thier religious pov, and more often than not, religion doesn't come into the discussion. Sure, there are some people who can make a discussion about coffee a debate about the "rightness" or "wrongness" of coffee drinking. But I also find that if I ignore them long enough, they will go away. I don't have to prove I'm right. and it doesn't really matter anyway, but I hope that what I do have to say is thoughtful and intelligent conversation. Some people have a need to be right, and that's okay, too. Whatever blows thier socks off. I find it is still possible to have an intelligent conversation. when the conversation begins to deteriorate into the realm of what I like to call stupid, then I just move on to another question that interests me. There are a couple of respondants on this site who I personally think prosletyze a little much (at least for my tastes), but they both frequently make some interesting points, and I do enjoy talking with them. we seldom agree, but then, that's the point of a conversation isn't it? The people that are my greatest irritants though are the ones who, because of want of anything better to do apparently, or because they don't have anything credible to add to a conversation, resort to name calling and personal attacks. These are the ones I choose to ignore entirely. I'm not here to fight, or call names, and since I don't particularly "know" anyone, really, I sure am not about to make personal attacks on them. There seems lately, to be a lot of religious oriented questions posted. that's okay, too. I don't have to answer or participate in the discussion, and frequently don't. The nice thing about SP is you can post your own question about whatever interests you, and you can certainly receive some valid input. But you are always going to run into some nut, religious or otherwise.

Is it just me or does Jesus look like he's about to go for Bush's throat?

I thought the purpose of this website was to explain and discuss your faith in a positive manner. I've had a wonderful experience and interacted with many people of differing beliefs. True some are the same; but I dont see an overwhelming majority.

I am new to this site as well and had the same thoughts. Spirituality does have different meanings and is not always defined by Jesus.

As ksframe said, I was not aware this was a "debate site". I thought it was a site for discussing/considering spiritual matters. Debates -- or what they have degraded into in the internet environment -- are more about proving one's pov (or even oneself) over others. This would seem to be the utter antithesis of the spiritual process, that needs to begin with humility and consideration of the other's position.

Not all Christians believe the same thing. To think that just because the majority of people holds a same belief that they can't have different opinions is an error in judgment on your part. Just like two republicans can argue about some political topic. Debate is powered by the human element and individualism. After all there are different sects of Christianity for a reason... they can't agree on everything.

The only thing I roll my eyes at around here is the notion that the theme of this website has any effect on the rules of honest debate at all. As if this is home turf for theistic beliefs and therefore said beliefs are entitled to more credit without the establishment of some proof. I guess I also get annoyed with the format sometimes. The same questions get brought up a lot. Sometimes, it feels futile to answer them. Again. And... Again. It feels like some people ask questions, and get answers, but then ask the question again... And for what? To ignore the previous answers? To get answers they want?

It's hard to weed out the intellectual conversations; a lot of bad grammar and misspelled words, it just gets annoying. I personally am not an agnostic, atheist or a believer in any of the Abrahamic traditions. I believe that science points in a direction where exactly, I'm still unsure. But what I find most intriguing: what we don't know is always the basis of belief or disbelief. A philosophical hub? How is this not? A philosophical hub?

I dont think it matters much. It might not be the kind of debate YOU had envisioned. But even within one group of people such as Christians there is plenty of room for debate. My younger brother goes to a Christian university to be a youth pastor and family psychologist and if theres one thing I have learned from talking to him its that even within a totally isolated Christian environment there are liberals, conservatives, people who follow the old or the new testament, people who interpret the bible one way or another. I think the answer to your overriding question "what is needed to have a debate?" is - a subject to debate, and people involved who have a base level of respect of the idea of debate. A willingness to levy sound arguments for your beliefs but be humble enough to accept that you may be proven wrong. an open mind I think is most important.

Why would that observation offend anyone? Except, of course, those people who are offended by the mere FACT that you aren't. While it may (MAY) be true that Christians are the majority, I feel that every demographic (that's not true, I'm not aware of many Jews or Muslims), but most demographics, and certainly the non-religious or atheist demographic, are adequately represented. I have had several discussions with people who completely disagree with me about all kinds of things (I am a Christian). I also tend to disagree with some of the Christians on this site, but that's not what you were asking about. What is needed to have a debate is an issue, and at least two differing points-of-view about it. I think SoulPancake has that. Furthermore, it is my understand that the majority of Americans, and for that matter the majority of people on Earth, are religious/spiritual/believe in God, so wouldn't it, in fact, be more misrepresentational if they were the minority on this site? Furthermore, I don't believe there is any particular bias on the part of the people who run SoulPancake. There are plenty of challenges and questions posted on the main page that seem to come from all different points-of-view, including (but not limited to) that Spiritual Atheist guy.

the trend of topics changes pretty frequently, when you look at it. There's a slew of something followed by a slew of something else. And so it goes. As far as an overwhelming demographic, I guess that depends on what you notice. Seems to me that there are more Baha'i than in the general population and most of the atheists are comfortably vocal. Lots of noisy Christians, granted. The demographic tends to be a bit older than Facebook and certainly than mySpace, although there are quite a few intelligent and wise young people with valid points. A philosophical hub? I think it comes closer than anything else. Any particular allegiance? A hyper healthy respect for Rainn Wilson, whose magic escapes me.

SoulPancake

humidbeing

What is needed to have a debate?

kdmask

I think I have to disagree a bit. I was surprised to find a lot of different faiths on here. More so than in most places I visit. Or, maybe I skip over the Bible Verse stuff :)

humidbeing

Michael7843853

Actually I think Jesus is going to slap Bush's head between his hands and pop it like a puss-filled zit.

Maninawe

Maninawe

melb2

Michael7843853

Is it just me or does Jesus look like he's about to go for Bush's throat?

Benivey2

I thought the purpose of this website was to explain and discuss your faith in a positive manner. I've had a wonderful experience and interacted with many people of differing beliefs. True some are the same; but I dont see an overwhelming majority.

humanity60

I am new to this site as well and had the same thoughts. Spirituality does have different meanings and is not always defined by Jesus.

Griz

birdwing

FailuresArt

Antonia

kadellagroove

RyanLBailey

PopeSkippyXVI

What is needed to have a debate?

I think I have to disagree a bit. I was surprised to find a lot of different faiths on here. More so than in most places I visit. Or, maybe I skip over the Bible Verse stuff :)

Actually I think Jesus is going to slap Bush's head between his hands and pop it like a puss-filled zit.

Is it just me or does Jesus look like he's about to go for Bush's throat?

I thought the purpose of this website was to explain and discuss your faith in a positive manner. I've had a wonderful experience and interacted with many people of differing beliefs. True some are the same; but I dont see an overwhelming majority.

I am new to this site as well and had the same thoughts. Spirituality does have different meanings and is not always defined by Jesus.

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