The internet is going to hell?

[naab]

Well I wouldn't say they don't have faith. Yet the average user of the internet is about in his 20s or late teens, and normally going to church every sunday your mum looking over your shoulder, and all that shit you deal with irl pisses people off once in awhile. Therefore when they hio on the internet it's an immediate, *Strip all clothes off and go skinny dipping*

4 chan may equal the ass of the internet, but everyone goes there are has been there or knows about it. When was the last time you've been on, http://www.jesuslovesme.org/

It's not that being abrasive or a jackass is funnier. It's just more accepted, if you run around praising jesus you will immediately be seen as someone who's forcing it down people's throat, labeled as such and then flamed till you finally go to hell.

 

[kjrubberducky]

The Age of Enlightenment marked the first serious decrease in religious belief, as new rational and scientific theories started to arise and science actually became independent.
I'm not saying that the internet is our Age of Enlightenment, but it does provide information to a very, very broad range of people. Thus, knowledge (not just porn) is distributed farther and farther than ever before. And knowledge leads to the decline of religion.
As for your first point, I've been an atheist all my life, I didn't choose to be one because it's "funnier".

Couldn't put it better than this guy. In such a technological age, using such an uncontrollable age, reason is going to spread.

If reason is spreading, then why are people being so unreasonable and intolerant toward Christianity? You say it's science vs. religion? I believe the scientific method helps us to understand and appreciate the universe that God made; it doesn't disprove God.

 

[similar.squirrel]

The Age of Enlightenment marked the first serious decrease in religious belief, as new rational and scientific theories started to arise and science actually became independent.
I'm not saying that the internet is our Age of Enlightenment, but it does provide information to a very, very broad range of people. Thus, knowledge (not just porn) is distributed farther and farther than ever before. And knowledge leads to the decline of religion.
As for your first point, I've been an atheist all my life, I didn't choose to be one because it's "funnier".

Couldn't put it better than this guy. In such a technological age, using such an uncontrollable age, reason is going to spread.

If reason is spreading, then why are people being so unreasonable and intolerant toward Christianity? You say it's science vs. religion? I believe the scientific method helps us to understand and appreciate the universe that God made; it doesn't disprove God.

Not going to get into a flamewar over this..
But I think the God explanation belittles the beauty of the Universe, if anything.
Think of it like this: thousands of people visit beautiful, naturally occouring phenomena [rock formations, aurora borealis etc] every year. There is a scientific explanation for most of these. Now, if somebody with a projector or some modelling clay recreates these things, or something equally beautiful, most people will likely say 'meh' and move on.

 

[teisjm]

If the internet goes to hell, gotta go kill some people and then commit suicide.
let's face it, if the internet is lost to the fiery pit i would totally follow it, i need it to keep sane.

 

[kjrubberducky]

The Age of Enlightenment marked the first serious decrease in religious belief, as new rational and scientific theories started to arise and science actually became independent.
I'm not saying that the internet is our Age of Enlightenment, but it does provide information to a very, very broad range of people. Thus, knowledge (not just porn) is distributed farther and farther than ever before. And knowledge leads to the decline of religion.
As for your first point, I've been an atheist all my life, I didn't choose to be one because it's "funnier".

Couldn't put it better than this guy. In such a technological age, using such an uncontrollable age, reason is going to spread.

If reason is spreading, then why are people being so unreasonable and intolerant toward Christianity? You say it's science vs. religion? I believe the scientific method helps us to understand and appreciate the universe that God made; it doesn't disprove God.

Not going to get into a flamewar over this..
But I think the God explanation belittles the beauty of the Universe, if anything.
Think of it like this: thousands of people visit beautiful, naturally occouring phenomena [rock formations, aurora borealis etc] every year. There is a scientific explanation for most of these. Now, if somebody with a projector or some modelling clay recreates these things, or something equally beautiful, most people will likely say 'meh' and move on.

But,really, God doesn't use modeling clay or projectors; He uses geology, physics, chemistry, celestial bodies, etc. And wouldn't it make sense that God's art would make anything man-made pale in comparison?

btw, thanks for not flaming.

 

[similar.squirrel]

The Age of Enlightenment marked the first serious decrease in religious belief, as new rational and scientific theories started to arise and science actually became independent.
I'm not saying that the internet is our Age of Enlightenment, but it does provide information to a very, very broad range of people. Thus, knowledge (not just porn) is distributed farther and farther than ever before. And knowledge leads to the decline of religion.
As for your first point, I've been an atheist all my life, I didn't choose to be one because it's "funnier".

Couldn't put it better than this guy. In such a technological age, using such an uncontrollable age, reason is going to spread.

If reason is spreading, then why are people being so unreasonable and intolerant toward Christianity? You say it's science vs. religion? I believe the scientific method helps us to understand and appreciate the universe that God made; it doesn't disprove God.

Not going to get into a flamewar over this..
But I think the God explanation belittles the beauty of the Universe, if anything.
Think of it like this: thousands of people visit beautiful, naturally occouring phenomena [rock formations, aurora borealis etc] every year. There is a scientific explanation for most of these. Now, if somebody with a projector or some modelling clay recreates these things, or something equally beautiful, most people will likely say 'meh' and move on.

But,really, God doesn't use modeling clay or projectors; He uses geology, physics, chemistry, celestial bodies, etc. And wouldn't it make sense that God's art would make anything man-made pale in comparison?

btw, thanks for not flaming.

Speak for yourself, I guess.
I find the scientific explanations infinitely more beautiful than saying 'oh, that guy made it'. We obviously draw some sort of parallel between ourselves and God [made in his image], and it would be somewhat arrogant to say that a mind such as ours created the world.
T
o each his own =]

 

[The3rdEye]

*snip*

Without going into my own personal faith-based beliefs, I agree with you on a very fundamental level. Despite how much we try to believe otherwise, humanity is a very, very small part of the universe (well, the rest of you are anyway, I be 100% pure awesome) and to think that we are the be-all-end-all of existence is both a foolish and crippling misunderstanding. The things we do know, that's science, which was originally what we believed. For things we believe, that's faith, which is either proved or disproved eventually by science.

Our world may have changed because of our access to and ability to share information, but in the end there will always be things we just don't know. Mind you, I would like to put forward based on previous posts that there is also a -large- difference between "faith" and "religion". It's up to each person to decide how to handle the fact that there are some things that they don't (and possibly won't ever) know, and that's the basic function of faith, to allow you to make decisions regardless of not knowing.

 

[Jharry5]

I'm an atheist, but have no problem whatsoever with any religion (as long as it isn't being shoved down my throat). I think the main reason atheism seems to be prevelant here is because it's a gaming forum and not a relgious forum.
To be honest, I think the OP has been looking the wrong place; I'm sure there are still plenty of religious people out there. But atheism seems to be on the rise to me...

 

[SnowCold]

Of course it's 5, what any other possebility is there?

...except 1, 2, 3 and 4...

 

[MoganFreeman]

Take away the consequences and accountability and most people will act differently.

The internet doesn't change people, it just shows you who they really are.

 

[Aanorith]

Tbh as far as I know it's not just the internet. I know very very few christians my own age, most my friends are devoted followers of Atheism and tollerance. Those christians I do know however are proud christians go to chruch alot and never force stuff on you so meh.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I think it's because people who are more intellectual or scientifically minded are more likely to embrace and make full use of the internet, and those people are also less likely to believe in religion.

Tell that to Al-Qaida. The internet is there most usefull recruitment device.

 

[DemonI81]

The internet doesn't breed atheism, logical thinking does.

 

[ElephantGuts]

I think it's because people who are more intellectual or scientifically minded are more likely to embrace and make full use of the internet, and those people are also less likely to believe in religion.

Tell that to Al-Qaida. The internet is there most usefull recruitment device.

Really? I think I heard they advertise over the internet but I wouldn't think it's their most useful. I wouldn't think the sort of people who are going to join a terrorist organization spend a lot of time on the internet. But, I guess things are different over in the Middle-East. People have different priorities.

 

[Flying-Emu]

I think the religious people are scared that they'll be called out on their religion if they announce it, that may be a factor too.

No. It's that they're afraid they'll be mindlessly flamed for their religion, as they should be. You know, since it happens every fucking time we mention it.

 

[Lavi]

Simplist explanation:

The internet is full of young people.
Young people often like to rebel.
The form of rebelling changes every few years.
Now the form is being atheist.
Now we've got a bunch of idiotic children shouting out the same shit religious (or even the older logical of the same denomination) people have heard 500 times and can refute easily.
Thus, no one wastes their time commenting.

You're not special. People have been arguing the same religious shit for millenia. Course, on the internet everyone's special and important and has 50 PHDs.

Btw, I turned theist. Screw the bandwagonism that once grabbed me from thought and holds others. Remember, you really aren't special.

PS. Yeah, this is probably attacking YOU. I don't care

 

[BGH122]

I don't care about religion at all. I don't judge people based on their religion, because does it really matter? As long as you're a swell guy or gal, I'm fine.

Also, I try to avoid partaking in the bashing of religion.

It matters because you're depriving your religious friend of the truth. I'm not saying you have to go running up at them, hands flailing, yelling "THAR IS NO GODDD!!!!" I'm saying that you should press them on their beliefs. If they genuinely have strong logical grounds for the beliefs they hold then they'll convert you and you'll have gained from it. If they have no real reason why they believe in God, or their reasons are logically contradictory then they'll have benefited from the conversation.

Despite its burgeoning popularity, tolerance isn't always right.

Btw, I turned theist.

Please explain this, I'd like to know what made you into a theist. What explicitly are your beliefs, if you're comfortable sharing them with the prescience that I will probably challenge them?

 

[DoW Lowen]

Okay I had uni all day, I'm quite glad you all are getting along so well and now I'm here to respond to everyone at once. *Takes deep breath* Here goes...

ok, I said I wasn't going to read this, but then as I scrolled up to click on my profile, I saw "Switchfoot" and I was like, WHAT?!

And that's when I had to say.

DON'T DIS THE FOOT! THEY'RE AMAZING!

And besides... it's not like YOU'RE floating on a cloud surrounded by virgin super model choir girls. I mean... HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!

Not dissing the Foot, just think that's the kind of music you'd hear up in heaven, with them being a Christian rock band and all, would use another example but I honestly don't know any other prominent ones, besides the the Hip Hop/Rap folk, but it's ironic that they sing in the name of God in one song and talk about "smacking them nasty bitches" in the other.

I'm not floating up on clouds, true. But I feel heaven would be an odd place if you spent your days on a cloud where everything is white and there are virgin super models who hang around you all day, but you're not allowed to touch em. It's like Adam and Eve, "Here is the tree of knowledge, it will allow you to see all the wonders of my universe... but don't you f***ing eat it!"

I do think it's un-fair, however, that you only mention Christians. There are other belief systems out there. Just because somebody doesn't openly state their religion on a forum doesn't mean that they're not religious. We seem to be under the impression that everyone is Christian or an atheist.

I don't just mean Christians, if you notice I do try to use the word "religion" and not be specific. But when religious flame wars go on, it's generally the Christians vs everyone else. It's rare to see a Buddhist or a Jew get flamed on these forums. And I don't think Muslims get flamed that often in FORUMS either, probably because people are consciously more sensitive, they get enough s*** in their daily life already.

Nicely presented query.

3) The internet is for pr0n

So the reason you don't see more (sane) religious content on the internet is because anyone who actually HAS faith doesn't need it to be affirmed, hence the definition of Faith: Belief that is not based on proof. I'm not saying that there are no bastions of religious morals or integrity on the internet, I'm saying that they have the good sense to disassociate themselves from the REST of the internet, making them more difficult to find. This applies to all faiths, not just the cool ones.

Thank you.

3) True if all porn related sites were to be deleted off the net, there would be like 10 web pages left.

You're right to say this, they would disassociate themselves from sites like this where people are more opinionated. But I have several acquaintances where they would class themselves as devoutly religious, but they surf the forums a lot but they stick with pop culture sites like soompi. Is this to say that they tend to stay to less opinionated and more agreeable websites? Just a question.

As for the rest of you, I took some Valerian extract and I'm tired. Answer you in the morning.

 

[traceur_]

"Beer is good, God is great and People are crazy". I think that about sums up my views.

Hear hear!

 

[inx7]

WOW i know that its wrong and bad BUT im just gonna say this cuz its just the fucking internet and my opinion. I think that most of the young athiests are spiritualy uneducated (maybe spelled that wrong idk)RETARDS. There is just too much proof that there is a higher power it seems very absurd to question it. I dont believe in religion cuz its just a very good evil system to manipulate people however i believe in a higher power.

P.s. I am not saying you cant find god through religion im just saying its just not my way