I am moved by the rigor and effort of responses provided to me via the different members of this forum. However, I have been given notice by the moderators of this forum that I am now only allotted a maximum of three posts per day at 200 words maximum per post. Because of this provision, I will unfortunately not be able to respond at the rate which I have been.
To this end, I suggest an alternate proposal. A free debate between me and a committee of members of this forum. Here are some provisional rules which can be discussed between us until we find an agreement:
We will limit ourselves to a maximum of three posts per day of a mutually agreed word limit. Each day, the committee of atheists will either choose a member to represent them or collaborate on a separate thread to represent their side before they provide their post.
We will respect the provisions of good faith and not resort to insult, belittlement, or blatant misrepresentation.
We will reach a mutual definition of terms (God, gods, atheism, evidence, essential, etc…) before we debate the legitimacy of terms relative to reality.
Please provide your thoughts/concerns as to whether these terms are acceptable.
Back in the day, when Ex-Christian.net was operating a debate forum, there was a dedicated section called the Arena where two members could enter into a moderated debate. Other members could watch, but could not participate.
The main difference between this and bsengstock’s proposal is that it was the Moderators who set the terms and it was for the members to abide by them.
There is something very much like that on atheistdiscussion.org called “The Colosseum”, although it is seldom used. In fact that site isn’t super active in general anymore.
Below the “Colosseum” is something called “the Sewer” where they throw all the threads that turn to shit, lol.
Oh that there had been such a thing in Ex-Christian.net, mordant!
There was a long-standing member who I swear used to take a perverse delight in ****ing threads up. He was a good ole Texan Christian of the God, Guts & Guns variety. Need I say more?
The threads that he turned to shit were locked by the Mods and left where they were. But I think the Sewer would have been a good place for him.
Well, if he was such a good biblical Christian then perhaps he should have listened more to Jesus and less to Fox News, the NRA and Ben Shapiro? For instance…
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of god.”
“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”
“All who draw the sword will die by the sword”
Speaking only for myself, @bsengstock20, this seems to be an attempt to continue to construct your desired framing for conversation and would not result in anything different from what the threads have already produced. You aren’t going to agree to definitions different from your own or agree to relate those terms to your version of reality differently than you already do. So it amounts to an attempt to lead the discussion down a path I don’t consider either legitimate or fruitful.
