As some of you may recall, I tried something like this earlier, on my own blog - it didn't work out so well, mostly from a lack of activity, I think.
This time, I intend to do things properly. I've divorced the guild from my blog, which removes some annoying issues. I intend to regularly make blog posts on various atheism-related subjects, and check the forums daily.
So, why an atheism guild? Well, there are two things I want to do with this:
Firstly, I want to foster discussion on atheism, religion, and related topics. I've been just a bit mocking when making posts on my blog on the subject in the past, and I don' intend to continue that. I want reasoned, open dialogue.
I will still be presenting my thoughts, conclusions and arguments, but I'll hopefully be doing it in a way that people find more acceptable.
Secondly, I intend to set up a place where nontheists may socialise. Specifically nontheists. There's no real common thread binding together all nontheists - although a love of science is reasonably common - but it's nice to have such a place nonetheless.
I've set up guild member ranks so that I can promote people to a level where they can make blog posts - I intend to use this feature. And not just for atheists. If some atheist on BYOND wanted to make a post on this blog, and I thought that they could write a good post, and could try to avoid mockery in the same way I am, they can. If a theist wanted to make a post on this blog - perhaps relating some issues they have with nontheism, or a discussion of some other topic, and I thought they could write a good post and could refrain fom mockery, I would give them contributor access, too. So don't feel that you're not welcome if you're a theist.
I will also be linking to interesting discussions and arguments occuring on other parts of the BYOND site, of course.
BYOND needs more guild activiy. Maybe a social guild can be something along these lines.
Finally, I really hope that this post doesn't get front-page blocked like the first atheism guild post. I can assure the moderators that my intentions are honest, and that I will try to avoid discussions that don't reflect too well on the site.
Jp out.
EDIT: Oh, also, I'm open to suggestions for the CSS. I don't know too much about it, so it'd be handy if someone that does could help me with this.
Jan 4 2008, 7:13 pm
|
|
Popisfizzy
 |
So, the big question is, will this post get hidden like the on for the Atheist Guild on your blog?
|
I say we spam people. :)
| |
Not knowing why the first one was hidden, I can't really say. My best guess is either 'flamebait' (I'm trying to avoid that altogether), or the moderator considers religious arguments to reflect badly on BYOND. Or possibly the moderator was just sick of them. :P
It's entirely their right to front-page block this post, no matter what the reason - if the moderators decide that they don't want religious discussions on the front page, they're entitled to that decision. I just hope they don't. :P EDIT: Also, Oronar, seriously, no. > : ( | |
The bottom statement is true
The top statement is false | |
How can I join >.> I'm not a BYOND member anymore and it makes me sad.
| |
I'm afraid you have to be a member to join guilds - nothing I can do there.
You are able to post on the general forum sections, however, and comment on blog posts. | |
Can I join if im catholic?
| |
Rugg wrote:
Can I join if im catholic? If your a tool, sure, you qualify! | |
Maggeh wrote:
The bottom statement is true Please (do not) read in the parenthesis. | |
Masterdan wrote:
Rugg wrote: It was a joke, also, this isn't the "Stupid Canadian" guild. No need for you to post. | |
I want to foster discussion on atheism, religion, and related topics. Wow, just the kind of stuff I was hoping would fall of the edge of the planet and die. I'm liking this BYOND Members section less and less every time I visit. | |
I don't believe this.
| |
I'd join but I'm afraid I'd be wrong
| |
Funny thing. I have a feeling that if I were atheist I would have killed somebody by now. So therefore... I won't even consider it. Christianity helps me keep my morals in check.
| |
Killerdragon wrote:
Funny thing. I have a feeling that if I were atheist I would have killed somebody by now. So therefore... I won't even consider it. Christianity helps me keep my morals in check. That is incredibly stupid. You fall into the naive group that things lack of god is equal to lack of morals, which is retarded. | |
If you need an invisible man to stop you from killing someone, you have a problem anyway.
I think that might be what he's referring to, maybe. | |
Hm. I don't think lack of god means lack of morals, I just think that I would be... more free in what I would do in life. Of course I'm biased in being a Christian and thus I do think that I would do that, but if I were brought up with no religion I would probably agree that I am a naive fool that thinks atheists have no morals. However, I didn't say they have no morals, I just said that probably I would have no morals. It's a trippy subject for me to think about and talk about, but I admit I am biased and this is only a reflection on myself.
EDIT: I am also in this understanding due to many of my friends (including former friends). I say former because most were shot, or put into jail. Many are atheist, and many that had killed them were atheists. I don't hang out with them all the time, but they have been a group of friends of mine since I was a little kid, so I couldn't just leave them. This may have added to me being biased in what atheists are like. =/ | |
Oh and as for why I'm Christian anyways... Well, what got me into considering it was the whole idea of what created the universe. People say the Big Bang, but I still don't see how that could have happened... Where did all that matter come from? But then again, how did God come to be God? I chose one side, but I think really both are quite flawed.
| |
If you killed someone and you were a christian you'd go to hell for the rest of your existence... if you killed someone and were an atheist* you'd go to prison for the rest of your existence, so I don't think there's much difference.
*you might get have to do a bit more than murder to be there forever- maybe mutilating the corpse and then eating it. But that's besides the point. | |