What if, sometimes, the religious who come to boards like this one are not true believers but individuals who are uncertain themselves as to the iron-clad verity of their chosen superstition? Keep in mind too that most people don't choose their religion, but that it is imposed on them by family and the simple accident of geography. Some believers are simply not so sure as they’d like to pretend.
Years ago I frequented various religion chat rooms and message boards, and yes the places were rotten with my-way-or-the-highway types, full to bursting with their own unshakable confidence, but also there was a reasonable number of ostensible believers who found themselves on the fence and were struggling with the nagging notion that the pap they had been force-fed as toddlers might not be the last word. In anything.
People like that may frequent places non-believers hang out to listen and learn why other rational and intelligent people don’t believe in their mythology. I’ve seen it happen, believers throwing off the yoke of superstition and embracing freethought and rationalism. Certainly not a daily event, but it happens,

Another point, Christians respect nobody’s religion but their own, so whenever they whine about how they ‘need’ us to respect their religion, I find it helpful to remind them that they don’t respect anyone else’s...like that jackass who was killed by the tribe in the Indian Ocean... the only thing he deserves for his trouble is a Darwin award for exiting this world as an imitation-gold plated chump. Respecting other people’s beliefs is simply not in most Christian’s DNA.

I am trying to get away from them. it’s like being spyed upon. sucks. They keep trying to force women to serve.

Yours is a very interesting question so I will take the time to relate to you a recent experience on this site. I recommended a book, VACCINATION IS NOT IMMUNIZATION by a chiropractor who did extensive research, Dr Tim O'Shea. This book is full of data presenting a point of view that should be of interest regardless of which side of the coin one is on. Mind you,this site is supposed to be for free thinkers, most of whom are intellectuals. I received a lot of responses, With one exception, these responses were disturbing: insulting, calling me a criminal and finally one threatening my life. I came to the conclusion that recovering from the yoke of religion is a little more complicated than one would think. They were exchanging one messiah for another: the dictates of the propaganda machine of the establishment, in this case big Pharma. Otherwise they might have been interested in finding out what this researcher had to say on the subject with what they obviously did not have: an OPEN MIND. So I conclude that religion is a process imbedded in the very young. So to throw of this yoke one needs to undo this process one step at a time knowing that it will never be total. Let me tell you, my responders were not nice.

I don't think those who are believers should be involved in this organization. They have an agenda. Those questioning could gain info and insight into how they truly feel. If they feel they are believers there is no reason for them to stay on.

I left an Alanon group, which had been actually very helpful, but for all their protestations about accepting me as a non-believer, it was clear that for them the only way to go was to believe in an anthropormophic higher power - and it was also clear that they would keep pushing that idea - should a believer want to join this group it would need to be made very clear that pushing their deity is unacceptable

Why is it, that the religious never have to justify anything, it is only us who do? For them, acceptance is automatic. EXCEPT HERE. I've tried listening to their side, and found it wanting. I'll post about that another time. Those of us here, chose to be. Of that much I am sure. Now, if the religious choose to be here, by extension, they accept the 'rules', written or otherwise. If they come to argue or persuade or save, go away. I heard that already. If they come to learn, sure. Keep the BS to yourselves though, it's not going to be kindly met. Looking at a few of the comments should quickly remove any doubt about that. We have been persecuted and ridiculed no end... this is OUR forum. To speak freely, without judgment, or having to justify a damned thing. That's my take on it. I said a long time ago I won't attempt to take anyone's faith away, even if I could. They need to afford me the same respect.

I really don't want them here! This is the only place that we are free from all that garbage! My opinion!

I don't mind as long as they don't try to preach or convert. The moment they start proselytizing, admins should kick them out. If they can keep their religion in their pockets, let them enjoy some civil conversation and lively debates. I see no harm in inclusivity, provided they respect us and our disinterest in religion.

I think that would defeat the purpose of this group. I don't need to be confronted by bible-thumpers whenever I express an opinion and I already weeded my other social media of them, for the same reason.

I would hope they were hear to gain knowledge. If they start preaching or condemning us I would have a problem but I’d just move on and continue with my life.

No trolls please.

Absolutely not. I live in the South right in the middle of the Bible Belt. Tired of fielding those conversations.

One of the tenets of this group seems to be the openness to multiple ideas about the world.. religion and their acolytes can have their say in my world as long as they listen as much as they speak...

As long as they can be respectful, I say yes. This place should be safe for people like me who rarely, if ever, get to speak out about their beliefs for fear of threats and social punishments. We should be respectful towards them, as well.

I agree to some extent. Everything seems saturated by religious overtones these days and it is nice to find a place where one can escape from it for awhile. On the other hand, it may be that there are those who come here with doubts of their own. I give them credit for seeking opinions/information that is not just another validation of their own belief system. I’m trying to be generous here. Other times, I get annoyed by it.

I agree. I don't want to be preached out by anyone about anything. Just discuss and learn.

Agree Draco. I'm looking for a sanctuary (cough cough) away from religious bs. I view believers mainly entering as trolls. Let them debate it elsewhere please.

In theory, I welcome diversity of opinions and challenges to my way of thinking. However, in my experience, most religious people neither argue rationally nor honestly. The lack of honesty bothers me more than the lack of reason.

Why would they want to even ?

I don't want them on here. This is our private club house. Like the old treehouse sign "no girls allowed" I don't want believers in our clubhouse. We have to listen to them enough outside our club. Get out and go away buttinski.

i am all for PEACEFUL LIFE WITHOUT RELIGION. i am interested in raising my mental & spiritual energy in a friendly self-inquiry with fellow freethinkers. i am absolutely opposed to deal with illogical arguments, posed by theists.

Overtly religious people make my skin crawl anymore after the direction politics has gone in this country this last year. I don't come here to feel bad.

They're kinda like the herpes, if you ignore them they won't go away completely, and they'll show up at just the wrong time to be annoying and unwanted.

Oh hell No..

I was startled to come across a "believer" on this site. Are there lots of them? Why are they here? To discuss science? I am suspicious of their motives. I have never met a believer who was truly respectful of my atheism.