Perhaps they are trying to find their way over new ground? Or they could be just like you, a self-important fathead, and be asking dumb-ass questions......

I think religious people who are wrestling with doubt about their faith, I don't think it's a bad idea to come on here and get their answers without being recognised and put down by those they know, so perhaps they're stepping out of their territory to seek answers. On the other hand if they're on this site to try and convert, they're on the wrong site

We discuss religion because we are not able to do so openly in most other forums. We discuss religion because it is imposing on our personal rights. As to why you got hostile responses, in spite of your repeated assurance that you aren’t ridiculing, your question had a pretty condescending tone.

It's because there a lot of folk that come on here just to try and convert people or hock their bullshit, it's fun to see them get shutdown though so it's fine with me.

Some of us Atheists enjoy, from time to time, a bit of 'Baiting the Faithfools' that often linger on sites like this one pretending to be either Atheists or Agnostics, etc.
Hence, in doing so it does, quite often, bring the some of those 'roaches,' aka Trolls, out from under the skirting boards and into the light.

Some time ago, I made a similar post saying that I did not understand the phenomenon you describe, and got a lot of negative feedback. I hope you fare better.

The simple fact is that those like you and I are long past religion, while those who behave as you describe are not.

It's one of the few places one can express his or her disdain for religion without risking serious backlash. Most true atheists are still "in the closet" and are selective about with whom they share that aspect of themselves. We're not exactly welcome in most places in society, unlike Christians and other religions that have their churches and temples and mosques, and regular, open worship services. So this is kinda our place. The yin to the yang.

I was wondering that myself.

My theory is that new atheists and those raised in religion keep reaching out to fellow nonbelievers for reassurance, similar to their former need of Divine approval.
I block people who talk about religion all the time. You can go to their profiles, click on the "block" button, and begin to thin the herd to people who talk about nonreligious subjects.

A very pertinent question in my opinion. I think it's normal. It's a normal subject of discussion. The problem sometimes is people take many things as fact when it's only an opinion. That goes to everyone be it religious or not.

Wrong! I once wrote an essay called “Wrong” Like when Neville Chamberlain got off the plane from the Munich Agreement and declared "There will be peace in our time.” It took a hundred million dead and wounded to prove him WRONG.

How about the record studio manager that told Elvis Presley to go back to wherever you came from and drive a truck. WRONG.

Or the Tin Pan Alley a record studio boss that told Sophie Tucker, “You're too fat to be a Broadway star. To back to Connecticut. WRONG.

Here's a good one: At the end of the Civil War the U.S. was a broken nation: 600,000 dead, the infrastructure a mess, people alienated and dejected, no money. The monarchs of Europe said to themselves “I knew democracy would never work.” WRONG: That was 1865. By the end of the century the U.S. led the the world in railroads, telegraphs, telephones, steam engines, steel production, kerosene for lamps then energy, aviation, and oh yeah automobiles.

But by far, the WRONGEST, stupidest statement ever made was made by a man claiming to be God: THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH. Yeah right, tell that to the Jews marching into the Auschwitz ovens.

If it doesn't bother you as you stated, then why would you want to look for another community? Maybe you're the one uncomfortable and don't like confronting your own decision not to believe... And if you think about it a bit, this post is a religious post itself

I believe you ask a legitimate question. I'm not sure if your topic is the actual posting of religious questions or memes, or the answers/comments to such things. There are people on this site who are looking for validation of their agnosticism or atheism. There are also a few who are questioning their religious "faith". But there are many of us who respond to posts that affect us in some way, positive or negative. Although the site name makes us think that only agnostics join, I think this is one of the few "free speech" sites that appears not run by entrepreneurs, a religious group, or an organization with a political agenda.

I’ve occasionally wondered the same.. But, I had the opportunity of growing up religious free, to the extent family and friends weren’t shoving it down my throat. Seems it was my early teens when I’d ‘discuss it’ to the level some are now. But they’d yet to escape.

I sense a seething and justifiable anger. They were immersed in this BS, became ‘experts,’ and now look for opportunities to criticize it. I can not match their familiarity, but do empathise and respect their pain.

Not all have cleanly shaken it, and appear justifiably bitter. I appreciate them, very much, and feel they may question that crap till the end. Seems part of a necessary healing process ...and happy they’ve a place to vent

I’m not ridiculing either, but now I’m curious. You’re level 6, and just getting around to that question? Why now ?

I think it is a lot like what the Bible says about ‘wars and rumors of wars’...there will always be religions and rumors of religions. Humans are just so creative when it comes to living out of our brains! We each choose a path and try and live in it..,but no two people will be on ‘that,’ path at the same place in time!

I hear you Steven...
I'm a person with no remarkable animosity toward religion; I just don't buy-in.
I like this site as a place to socialize with similar-minded folk. I am interested to
note differences in values and mores, between believers and non-believers.
I have no particular desire to discuss theology, pro or anti and will scroll through
(especially the more bitter-hysterical)posts and comments.
btw...I perceive no discernible difference between social beliefs of most people
here with that of the public at-large...(in a sense, "we are all "Christians" )...

I am a "self-important fathead

I too have made that observation in the past and have been chastized for it. Lol

I like to discuss mythologies, the symbols tells a lot about how cultures and societies looked at the world, the past, the others. It is nice to see what is the same and what is different. What themes repeat in all human histories and seems to be central to our conflicts.
If you can look over the supernatural and political power harnessing of religions you can see that they are fascinating compilations of centuries of civilization development. Even the bible in the writing moments or the several interpretations are a reflex of the ever-changing society. From an isolationist judaism to a missionary apocalyptic cult (initial cristianism) and then to a religion that focus on stabilizing society and keeping status quo.
And all the argumentative power and gymnastics to support changing of a society in a text that does not change.

It is easier due to our base culture to discuss the 3 branches of YHWH mythology than greek african or hindu mithology, because we westerns all know something about this one.
But if someone wants to talk about Zeus duality as the liberator (from chronos) or tyrant (punishing Prometheus for giving humans the fire) i would love to join.

Have you noticed the news lately. The Xians, especially so called conservatives want everyone to fall in line with them and pledge allegiance to their version of god. No thank you. It is in the news, it affects our laws, and it affects our lives. Of course we're going to talk about it.

Many people take years to break from religion. And many of those are never comfortable identifying as atheists. As for discussing religion it's one of my favorite things. The sheer number of christians is astounding And then there are all the other believers. My fascination with religion is the reason I am an atheist.

Easy answer , most likely already said: this is Agnostic.com, not Athiest.com. I lean far toward atheism myself, but I still have an opening for questions that can hold some scientific validity. I FULLY dismiss the major religions, especially the Abrahanic ones. I see some science in other places.