Many religious people and non religious people like to debate and i wonder why because you are not gonna change the mind of those you are debating and you will think of each other as stupid. In podcasts i watch when people debate about religion nothing is ever accomplished and at the end they just go back to saying how stupid each other beliefs are. Do you think religious debates are a waste of time? i certainly think so

I do in fact feel like debating religion is futile. Honestly it's not like you are going to change anyones mind about it. They have their beliefs that have been instilled with them since they were small. Hard to break people of that, unless they come to the realization on their own.

Jordanv78 : Exactly, some random dude aint gonna change their opinion on religion

Well I am a Christian. At times I get told I have to spread the word about god to people and to gain new Christians. No harm in doing that. But the best way is not to keep on annoying one person who has opinions about Christians and stuff. I do mention about god, but not to the extent that it will annoy them. They will come as they choose Christian or not.

Eniitan : exactly because the more they are annoyed about it, the more likely they will steer away.

I would say that debating religion online is pointless. You can't properly make your point with text only.

I don't waste my time arguing religion online anymore for this reason. I find it much more enjoyable and constructive to do it in person.

Yes, debating religion (or anything) is pointless. The entire thought behind a debate is to prove why you are right, and with that mindset you can never be convinced that you aren't right, no matter how much proof or logic is shown. This is why I avoid any actual debates, though if asked a question, I will answer, and occasionally I will defend myself if I'm criticized. Debating? No. My time would be better spent beating my head against a wall.

Also might I just throw out there that if the religion being debated is based on the Christian's Bible, it's even dumber because the Bible speaks negatively about debating.

I actually quit debating in public forums seriously a long time ago. Aside from the fact that dislikes tend to make some beliefs discouraged. I find it a complete waste of time, if not only for comparing the strength of your own argument against someone else.

Some people no doubt are serious about truth, but in a public forum, where any brainless person can post, and people tend to overlook respect, and are more worried about being right, discouraging ideas that they don't like with dislikes, ect. I don't think it's really a good idea at all. I mean, for debating anything.

I love talking to anyone about what life's thrown at us and why we think the way that we do. I think it's a shame how over defensive and trolley people can be in the forums. In fact, just to survive you have to play the game a little bit with them.

If you have questions about life. Don't post them on a public forum people can post on and read 24/7. See what you're close friends have to say. Not only will they respect your disagreeing, but since they also actually care about you, they'll try to lead you in truth.

I'm more interested in spreading my beliefs through the ministering of my life. People see how I live. People see I have wealth, whatever good qualities I have. People want to know why. They ask me, I tell them.

Debating online is either just for fun, or to see what the lasted arguments are against your standpoint. Personal life experiences (which out rule "science" or any religious doctrine in my book) will always be different for each people, and with that perspectives. Some people at the end of the long road of life may finally get it right. I mean, how people's perspectives are formed takes in many factors.

The one thing you should remember is that you, can never change anyone. All you can do is change and seek truth for yourself. Then other's. . . if they are hungry, or look up to you. . . they will know. . .

Where to come.

Be that person. Trust me, if more people cared about what was right, and what was true, than what was fun the world would be a better place. But it's not. Cause we're like the idiots who eat seeds we should have planted, and then we starve to death.

Happiness now > Planning for later.

Most common mistake most people make. At least in MY experience.


Erinn :

Okay, you know I'm going to disagree with you on that. XP Maybe in the kind of debating YOU see happening but I've had to many good ones. They never were on one of these forums though. Usually in a PM or in person. But that's because the people there actually had respect for one another. XP

I know I've gotten a few people to change on some issues they were nearly neutral on, but that's it. I think to say debating is useless isn't really correct, but. . . well. it has a special time and place. And it requires a great deal of respect, you know? Like something between friends.

Sword legion : You and your giving me a girl's colored username. xD Why? lol

Well we can disagree respectfully. You know I'll never accept debating and you know why. I can appreciate someone who can disagree respectfully though, instead of thinking it righteous -or even just necessary- to slander and attack one another for disagreeing. We're adults after all.

And I. Am. A. MAN! xD Pink summons.

I like to troll atheists online to see what kind of vileness they will spew at me. Otherwise, it depends on the context I suppose. When you say "debate religion" what exactly do you mean? Is there a God? Is the universe eternal? Or did it create itself and the physical laws that would allow it to do so somehow without any sort of supernatural agent? Is Jehova the one true God? Is Allah? Is Krishna worthy of worship? There can be a constructive exchange of ideas sometimes. "My God is better than your god" won't get you far, but the question itself deserves study. Debating with strangers online is beyond futile though. 

Well, when it comes to religion I consider myself a mutt because I sort of believe a little bit of everything ( Christianity, Catholic, Buddhism, etc. ) but I can't seem to fixate on one religion. Some things I believe and some I don't, after all, no one knows the absolute truth ( and probably never will ) so why even waste the time debating on something that will never be solved. Since there is freedom of religion in the USA, it's basically wrong to judge anyone by their religion and debate on how their religion is wrong in every way from others. How ignorant can you get?

Now, from time to time I'll question my religion when compared to others ( or not ) but that doesn't mean I think the religion should be boycotted. I just have questions and I can't help it like what Ferdinand said; Is there a God? Did he create the universe? Why? There are too many unanswered variables out there and it seems that the only truth we'll ever know is... we don't know.

EDIT : Grammar fix

It's not a waste of time.

Perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps I'm right. Nevertheless, in an argument, I can see who has the better objections or who maintains a logical contradiction. Especially listening to others debate, I can develop my own conception of the world, now including any values I did not previously think of as important and dismissing any logical errors that I may have realized I carried.

Debate is almost never productive between the two debaters. The reason they agree to debating is because they are so confidant in their own position. But someone (if not both) is wrong. However, people listening can be affected by the debate, and it is those people that the debater should be aiming to educate anyway.

TristanTehGamer1 :  DPP much? I believe debate is important, helps spread ideas, and present arguments. Even if one of the sides' arguments never change. XD

thelastrequim : I agree, debate causes a person to think.

In terms of religion, I think there is a specific time and place for talks of religion. For instance, if I'm a random person and you start talking to me about your religion or dislike for religion, I will most likely ignore you almost entirely and dismiss it as "passing time." Now, if a person is going through hardship and they want advice or want to know how I personally deal with problems - then I think this is a good time to talk about your thoughts.

As for when you want to convince a religious person that having no religion is the "right way," that seems a bit more difficult. There really isn't ever a solid time to just flat out say "Man, how can you believe in ___ when this happens every day?" You know what I mean? So, in a sense it's easier for someone to talk about religion in a positive light than in a negative one.

Now, I'm not saying that it's widely acceptable to preach or bash on those who do, but it does seem slightly easier to preach.

As for if it's a waste of time, that depends. I know people who really just never talked about religion and thought of it as like a "well, my book says this so you should do this, even though I don't." When you actually talk to someone who is at least semi-interested in what you have to say, you may sway them in your direction. It may not appear like your words had an effect on them, but they may go home after hanging out with you and Google what you talked about. They'll want to learn more to either find proof in what you said, or to solidify their own personal stance. This goes with all forms of debate.

Your goal isn't to instantly change their mind, it's to make them actively think about and want to research the topic at hand. Religion is a little tougher of a subject, but ultimately is a debatable subject. If you believe in what you're saying full heartedly, it is not a waste of time.

If by debating you mean talk about The religion itself then yes, it's a complete waste of time. Religion is based on faith, therefore no amount of reason will convince a devout Muslim that it is very unlikely 72 virgins will wait for him when he dies after his suicide bombing. Or a Scientologist that we are not The creation of some extraterrestrial entity.

However, talking about freedom of religion is still very pertinent. WHATEVER happens between consenting adults whose life or property is not in danger is no business of The state. Therefore Christian bakers have FULL RIGHTS to refuse baking a cake to ANYONE. After all they are The ones who are The worse off since they lost business.

I'm a Christian and I think debating religion is a waste of time. Simply discussing it and sharing your beliefs with other people isn't a waste of time though. On a youth group retreat I went to one time, we talked a lot about the results of debating religion and how the debates usually go. What happens most of the time is the debating people leave angry and unchanged, and even the Christian can feel like it was a huge waste of time.

Skilledtree : First off, love your layout. I'm a big fan of green. But, I digress. I find it a whole loy easier to talk about the negatives of religion than the positive. Like, how about the part of the Bible that teaches infanticide (Psalms 137:9) or the time God killed Onan for masturbating (Genesis 38), or when he sent two bears to kill 42 children (2 Kings 2:24), or the other 2.4-33 million people he killed in the bible. That number shows a range of speculative numbers, plus the over 2 million literally within the text. I should also add that Satan only ever killed ten people in the Bible, which God allowed in the book of Job. What about the Qu'ran? Well, there's beheading disbelievers (8:12), extorting monetary compensation from all other religions (9:29), plus, the rest of the Qu'ran in general. I've never read from the Book of Mormon, or many other religious texts, so I won't pretend to know about them.                                                                                                                                                                        Aside from the text, religion has also caused many atrocities, bigotry, and has even slowed scientific progress. Ever hear of 9/11? Jihad, as taught in the Qu'ran. How about the Crusades? Or the church trying to prevent contraceptives and condoms from entering third world countries that desperately need such supplies? How about infringing on the right to have an abortion? ISIS/ISIL/IS/NCIS believes tht Allah's will is being carried out. How many Secular minded people have you met who support the war on drugs? Not many, I'm sure. Also, most, if not all of us in the LGBT community hve countless stories of religiously based ridicule.                                                                       Of coutse, I recognise not ALL of religion is bd, but the positives come more from loose translations of religious texts. At leat, the texts I've personally seen.

Yes. Religion is a waste of time and it was used for one purpose only,controlling the people. Or used as an excuse to fight. The Holy Wars,The Crusades,Isis.

Oldschool777 : That was two purposes.