Is NS becoming less tolerant of Religion?

[Alliir]

I've noticed lately that more and more threads with seemingly anti-religious topics have been popping up. The moderators also seem to believe that they are acceptable. Though I admit I may be biased, due to being a christian myself, I feel that this is a reasonable subject to bring up. This thread is to discuss the current tolerance toward religion, and possibly to help the situation.

Personally, I feel that Nationstates is becoming less tolerant. It seems that now, every day there is a new thread explaining why religion is stupid, or why it should be rooted out and replaced with atheism. Though I understand that people are entitled to opinions, I feel that this may be going a bit far. I also note that some theists are just as militant, and can cause issues. However, I would expect them to be locked as soon as possible.
I would also like to bring up the fact that I believe neither Atheist nor Theism are inherently bad.
So, to end this, I'd rather this not erupt into an argument. I'm new to this forum, as well, so apologies if I am missing something.

[The Liberated Territories]

Nah, NS has always been like this.

[Cyrisnia]

Lets not.

[Corrian]

I don't think it is just a NationStates thing. I think the world in general is becoming less tolerant of religion.

[Alliir]

Nah, NS has always been like this.

And that's OK? Shouldn't we work to become more tolerant of other beliefs?

Lets not.

Why not? This can't cause issues, at the very least. If anything, it may improve the situation.

[Melfar]

Lets not.

And say we did.

[Purpelia]

And that's OK? Shouldn't we work to become more tolerant of other beliefs?

No we should not. NS is indeed quite tolerant enough when it comes to these things. Remember, tolerating something only means that we put up with it. And we do. You do not see anyone here declaring that all believers should be banned from the forum or anything like that. As long as they stay in their corner and not bug the rest of us we are fine to not try and convert them or throw them out. And that is all you can and should ever ask for.

[Alliir]

I don't think it is just a NationStates thing. I think the world in general is becoming less tolerant of religion.

True, but that's to be expected at this point. However, more tightly-knit communities (Such as NS) I would expect to be a bit less divided on subjects such as this.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

NS has always been like this, AFAIK. Of course, when you consider all the scandals involving religion lately, one can actually see why it would seem more people are being intolerant, but I think nothing's changed much.

I'm not a religious person. In fact, I tend to side with atheism in some points. But honestly, I try not to generalize. Some religious people are poisonous, while others aren't. Religions have two sides, a bad side and a good side. We shouldn't deny this. With the good, there is the bad.

[New Grestin]

I don't think it is just a NationStates thing. I think the world in general is becoming less tolerant of religion.

I was going to make a big speech about this, but this makes considerably more sense.

Seems as though the world as a whole is becoming less and less tolerant of religion, for better or worse.

Besides, the threads about how "Islam is evil" or whatever are actually pretty few and far between.

The problem with NS as a whole is that most of us are actually pretty reasonable, tolerant people, but the the bad eggs make us all look like jerks.

That's just my two cents, though.

[Alliir]

And that's OK? Shouldn't we work to become more tolerant of other beliefs?

No we should not. NS is indeed quite tolerant enough when it comes to these things. Remember, tolerating something only means that we put up with it. And we do. You do not see anyone here declaring that all believers should be banned from the forum or anything like that. As long as they stay in their corner and not bug the rest of us we are fine to not try and convert them or throw them out. And that is all you can and should ever ask for.

But they aren't in their corner. There are two anti-religion threads active as of now.

[The Liberated Territories]

Nah, NS has always been like this.

And that's OK? Shouldn't we work to become more tolerant of other beliefs?

Lets not.

Why not? This can't cause issues, at the very least. If anything, it may improve the situation.

Maybe. People can say whatever they want. No one has to accept it.

[Purpelia]

But they aren't in their corner. Two anti-religion threads went up within a week.

And of the general NS population what percentage took part in posting there? And which part of those posts were actively anti religious?

[Alliir]

But they aren't in their corner. Two anti-religion threads went up within a week.

And of the general NS population what percentage took part in posting there? And which part of those posts were actively anti religious?

The issue is less with the amount of people within them, and the fact that they have been left to survive.

[Kelinfort]

Less tolerant of political religion, to be sure.

[Benuty]

Case sample inconclusive.

[Jute]

No we should not. NS is indeed quite tolerant enough when it comes to these things. Remember, tolerating something only means that we put up with it. And we do. You do not see anyone here declaring that all believers should be banned from the forum or anything like that. As long as they stay in their corner and not bug the rest of us we are fine to not try and convert them or throw them out. And that is all you can and should ever ask for.

But they aren't in their corner. There are two anti-religion threads active as of now.

Maybe there should be an "Atheist discussion thread" or "Antitheist discussion thread", like there is for some religions, too.

[Benuty]

Less tolerant of political religion, to be sure.

So like Reagan worship?

[Idzequitch]

I think people in general are tired of religious people being hypocrites.
The religious can't help it. They have set a code of conduct they can't attain.
NS has never really been friendly to religion. It tolerates it, but certainly doesn't accept it
Also, it doesn't help that many religious posters repeat the same old and tired arguments over and over.
It gets really annoying, really quickly.

[Benuty]

But they aren't in their corner. There are two anti-religion threads active as of now.

Maybe there should be an "Atheist discussion thread" or "Antitheist discussion thread", like there is for some religions, too.

There has been several versions they all typically die off (not hard to wonder why).

[Purpelia]

And of the general NS population what percentage took part in posting there? And which part of those posts were actively anti religious?

The issue is less with the amount of people within them, and the fact that they have been left to survive.

And this is where we disagree. There is no issue to be had until things escalate into a massively supported forum wide pogrom or something similar. A few people mouthing off from time to time is completely inconsequential.

[Alliir]

But they aren't in their corner. There are two anti-religion threads active as of now.

Maybe there should be an "Atheist discussion thread" or "Antitheist discussion thread", like there is for some religions, too.

I'd be perfectly OK with an atheist thread. And I'd be against an "anti-atheist" thread, but I don't know of any.

[New Grestin]

And of the general NS population what percentage took part in posting there? And which part of those posts were actively anti religious?

The issue is less with the amount of people within them, and the fact that they have been left to survive.

Well, it's not like Moderation is going to immediately kill the thread simply because it has a different view.

In fact, if you look at most of the anti-religion threads, you'll note that the people who are spewing hateful vitriol are stamped out pretty quickly.

[Bojikami]

It's always been this way.

[Alliir]

The issue is less with the amount of people within them, and the fact that they have been left to survive.

And this is where we disagree. There is no issue to be had until things escalate into a massively supported forum wide pogrom or something similar. A few people mouthing off from time to time is completely inconsequential.

"Time to time".
These threads last until they reach 500 pages, and then a new one is born. It's a constant stream of them.