thelastrequim : You have just exposed the reason why discussing religion is a waste of time. People, I HOPE in equal amounts, use it for both good (charity) and evil (war, slavery, misogyny, etc.)

PacmanandMariofan : this "echochambering" (no ill intent in using that word) does make it easy to discuss since people have the same basic beliefs.

It is still one and the same,the last requiem. Control people and fight,you have to be able to control the masses to get them to do your bidding.

TristanTehGamer1 : To anyone who is interested in learning about other religions will still holding onto their own spiritual beliefs, debating would be very useful for them (i.e. someone like me). However, most people have one set of viewpoints regarding spirituality, and have a hard time even listening to another point of view.

I have some friends who will successfully debate with me about different lore from Christianity and my own beliefs about Karma without getting upset with each other, however another set of friends will get offended just by mentioning a set of beliefs apart from their own, and will often shun my efforts.

If everyone goes into the conversation understanding no one is shifting their ground, then it's not a waste of time.  If everyone goes into the conversation with an open mind and they are willing to examine the debate from the other point of view, it's not a waste of time.

Debates are a great way for both sides to get a forum to express their feelings, their thoughts, and their actions.  It's a way for people to discuss the why behind all the things that happen.  It's a chance for us to show respect to others and to learn about their lives.

Ultimately, if someone can have a debate and walk away thinking they met a really nice person who gave them a view into the life of someone very unlike themselves, time wasn't wasted.  Everyone grew a little.

No, I do not consider it a waste of time. If a year, five years, or twenty years down the line a person realizes that what I told them was true and they decide to leave their religion and be their own person and live their own life then I will have done my job as a person and changed the world.

NameEntry : YOUR contribution might have helped, but shifting religious views usually takes an accumulation of contributions. I know that is how it worked for me from being almost a socialist to being a "philosophical anarchist." Only through reason and introspection can someone make such a radical change - we are talking about completely changing world views, and probably even values.

Ghostbear1111 : true, but such contentious debates can easily turn sour, even unwillingly. I once had an argument with a nephew-in-law (a Jehovah's witness) about his faith and science. I remained calm but what he said was so devoided of logic that having a mature conversation was nearly impossible.

janus : Placing that kernel of truth in someone resulting in that change would be enough for me.

I believe it to be a waste of time because many people do not believe in god and won't listen.

Final Weapon : I could say the same thing about believers. Many of them, despite a heavy burden of proof that, say, the Earth is more than 6,000 years old they will still hold on to their beliefs.

Now, I agree that many atheists have simply switched from the Super natural God to the God State, but it is not everyone.

It all depends on their personal beliefs. If they believe in the lord in any way, then they might listen.

I find that it's difficult to debate with people who dislike your post without identifying any reason why....

In a certain way, yes. Debating usually starts arguments, which I think are unnecessary and foolish. I gave my life to Jesus and upon reading the Bible found verses. Verses on how to communicate to people who do not believe in Christianity-- not start a verbal fight. Heck, you don't even have to say anything to the other person! Just by showing them how you do things in your everyday life can impact them.


So in short, yes-- I do believe debating is nonsense.


EDIT:
If you want some examples, here they are:
- Matthew 5:14-16
- James 1:19
- Proverbs 15:1

I just had to jump in on this thread and add my two cents in.Do I Think Debating Religion is a Waste of Time?, hell yes. At its core all religion is basically the same, you(the follower of the faith) worship a(n) divine entity or multiple divine entities and basically hear the same divine teaching just with a different spin on words and or the story has slight variations to it.Mostly all of the major religions also have the same "God" or "prophets" just with a different spin on either there role or once more a different variation of there story/background. All the teachings in the various religions are basically the same principle just different interpretations, I feel as though religion was only made so that way a less civilized barbaric culture that was early man could have some sort of ethics or code of law to follow or present a sort of guide for the people. Me personally I think religion is only still around nowadays to cause more hate and war and keep people as a whole divided.

Well, a good debate is never pointless. Assuming the person you debate with is as respectful as you are.
Even if neither party changes their mind, a debate helps you flesh out and better understand your own viewpoints.

That said, if the debate isn't respectful, it's always pointless. It's an argument at that point.
Unfortunately, so many discussions about religion, especially on the Internet, frequently turn into arguments quickly.

If someone is generally curious, by all means educate them however.
Personally I don't consider myself a member of a specific religion, but I do have beliefs in common with various religions.
For this reason, I always welcome hearing about others ideas, and at times do incorporate some of these thoughts into my own belief system.

For that reason, I'd say never be closed to discuss issues. That said, discussing religion should be handled carefully.
Those conversations can get messy quick.
 

TristanTehGamer1 : For me I personally don't care, for one I may be Christian though I am not very religious or act upon it. Also if someone is from a different religion, I could care less because they can believe what they want to believe. So in the end, I really don't care whether it is a waste of time or not because I'm not part of it.

To me, religion itself is a waste of time.  We are all human beings living in one world and we should love each other, not divide ourselves from each other with things like religion, politics, race, sex. 

lordbelial669 : That sounds rather closed minded.
Religion isn't supposed to be a dividing factor, but rather a way of bettering one's self.

I completely agree with baileyface, in that a debate should be between two parties who respect the other persons opinion. People too often confuse 'Debate' with 'Argument', and don't realize that debates are intended to be a forum to present your opinions as opinions for others to examine and question (in a respectful manner). When I enter a debate with someone, I always am looking to learn something, and I hope they learn more about me in return.

Vanelan :   I am sorry, but I don't see how that is closed minded.  If we saw each other as humans, and not as a religion or a color or a gender, we might actually achieve some sort of peace eventually.  Closed minded would be saying that my religion is right and my color is right and being a man makes me better than a woman.  That would be closed minded.  I am not saying that religion is wrong, but it sure does separate us as a whole for some reason, and I believe that's the way they want it.  Once we accept that our African, Chinese, Japanese, Syrian, Mexican, Native American friends are brothers and sisters, we can move on.  Sorry if I left out your area of culture

lordbelial669 : Its closed minded because you are basically saying that anyone with a religion is closed mined.
You are prejudging someone with a religious believe. Isn't that closed minded?
Some religion teaches tolerance, isn't that bringing people together?