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Sure it is, so long as it's not in person. When it's done via text it works well. Even lectures can do it just fine. But put two people in a room together to 'discuss' their religions and you won't get anywhere.
Andrew got it right. This debate is done (even before it got started).
Just my not-so-humble opinion. B)
I've never had a problem discussing religion and faith with people in person even though I'm liable to disagree with at least 90% of the population most of the time about significant features.
I find the flame wars in internet discourse get worse than people talking face to face. I assume if you want there to be some sort of "progress", measured in the form of moving opinions and beliefs on the part of one or both parties, then yeah, it's hard to see that happening very often.
But it's a lot more productive to get it out there that, for example, someone doesn't believe the same things and see how that plays out than it is to let people assume you believe the same things based on your behavior and continue to make other more dangerous unfounded assumptions about people who have different faiths, or none whatsoever.
I agree with Sun Tzu. I've seen things get way more heated online than I have in real life.
The thing is that, if someone believes what they believe strongly enough (which they should, or they don't truly believe it, IMO) then you won't be able to move them very much; and that is true for both online discussions and RL ones.
I think it is a good thing to discuss/debate your religion. If you don't, how will you ever learn what to believe? Now I understand there are certain things that shouldn't be changed- for instance, in the Christian religion, the method of salvation is one such thing. But there are many things about religion that could benefit from an outsider's view, and could make you think.
I say that yes, it is beneficial. As with all things, it must be tempered with common sense.
I find that material that isn't a discussion, such as books and documentaries and the such do a much better job. When it's just text and there's nobody to argue with then you reflect on the material (or at least can) rather than becoming more adversarial.
People don't have to share their beliefs. I don't care what you believe, if you keep it to yourself and don't try to force it on me (and your beliefs don't require that you bomb buildings or something like that) then whatever floats your boat. Not everyone thinks these things through. Not everyone is the introspective type. Some people just would rather not have the debate. We're just not going to find those people here because of the nature of this site.
True, very true. But I'm not talking about just going and finding random people to debate your religion with. Might I also add however, that proselytization is a major bulwark of most religions. Wasn't what I was talking about in the context of "debate" though.
To my mind, "debate" is discussion. Whether discussion within your own religion, or within a disparate group that has members of different religions, discussion isn't a bad thing. It can help people learn both about other religions (a hobby of mine), not to mention solidify what they think. In that context, being sure of what you believe isn't a bad thing. And who knows? The debatees might learn something along the way!
Good point. However, there does come a time when you're going to be put on the spot, and you're going to have to discuss/debate your religion and beliefs. Preparation is a big part of that, yes, but there is also the part of being able to put what you believe into words, and making sure that those words are crafted so that others can understand them. The benefits are two fold; they help the person who holds the beliefs, and they help the person they are speaking to understand the debaters' beliefs.
Do you learn what to believe? I always had the impression beliefs were something discovered, because no matter how many times you are told there is a God or whatever, if you have no sense of the existence of that God its not a belief you will hold as an adult. I don't think anyone is going to have a debate in which they are convinced that they do or don't believe in something spiritual, they might find it at a deathbed or on a mountain or something, but probably not in a debate. In many religions there is a lot of smallprint which I think most people don't pay a lot of attention to anyway. I agree with Sun Tzu though, I think finding out about other people's beliefs really helps you understand them on a level you wouldn't otherwise.
If you believe in the Bible…here's the Bible said…Old Testament Book of Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool…..Isaiah 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified…And Saint Paul in New Testament..,Act 9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him…KJV..
i know most people will disagree with me .. but i think debates do not get you anywhere .. for two reasons :
first when someone convince you of a religion its the person's reasoning that wins over you not necessarily the religion it self , the same religion could be rejected if debated by different people
second and more importantly although you should believe in a religion with your heart and mind .. you could never find like a solid prof to get convinced .. its not math .. because nobody sees god now .. and the point of a miracle is that its something the mind couldn't believe so as long as you don't see a miracle with your own eyes you will never believe it .. and stories in religious books could all be myths .. so if your looking for a solid proof you'll end up an atheist
third when writers try to persuade people into believing in an idea they attack the opposite idea with facts that are only partly true so you can never build your knowledge of a religion over a book or over an opposer's opinion
so what i think people should do is 1st think whether this huge extremely complicated universe with all the life on it and all the complexity in its every detail of every particle could all be done this perfect without a creator .. and if you do believe that there is a creator .. then you must read about the teaching of other religions and see which of them is most acceptable to you