Cris
Closure of Religion forum?
I'm positive, Cris, that you remember the days when the front page of Exosci was a news clipper.
The religion forum rises out of necessity from that phase. Without it, certain archaeological or anthropological evidence have no place to be debated here. It's well enough to debate techniques discoveries, but if you can't explore the impact of those scientific events, what's the point?
Respecting your proposition, we should also drop World Affairs, Ethics Morality & Justice, Free Thoughts, and Art & Culture.
At which point I look forward to seeing how many people bother posting.
In the end, the Religion forum, at least, is necessary because it's always been a vital part of Exosci/Sciforums.
That neither theists or atheists alike have, in general, used the topic for such a regard for religion is their own choice. I mean, think of it
this way: Here we have a topic with some scientific potential, as Adam has pointed out, as well as a topic which proposes a method for examining religious texts according to modern and scientific principles, and it's important enough for a poster to come out and contribute nothing of value to the topic. I'm happy to explore Adam's proposed mirror neurons, but I'm more than a little disturbed, as one might be able to tell, at Godless' entry to the topic. I'll get back to Adam's point when I finish my reading, but such posts as his are a minority in the Religion forum. It's all what's important to people.
If the Religion forum isn't that important to someone, why should they bother reading or posting in it? What is the direct antagonism that compels people to muck up topics with worthless distractions? It seems convenient in the specific sense that for all the poor atheistic performance at the Religion board, I find it odd that you, Cris, an atheist, are asking for the removal of that board. Address the members of your common identity.
On a personal level, Cris: you and I often expect certain shortcomings of certain paradigms. It is, in part, one of the reasons why you're an atheist. The perception of a pattern and expectation of the same is fair. In other words, I expect the Sir Loone's and Musclewhatsits and other shouting babble from religious folk. Being that people of common identification to you (atheist) are making a forceful contribution to the irrelevance and worthlessness of the Religion forum, I would ask you to take the issue up with them, as well.
Imagine that someday someone finally obtains true proof of Jesus Christ: what forum would you discuss it in? Anthropology? Archaeology? What happens the day someone quantifies the processes of an "angelic apparition"? Fascinating, but without a religion forum, there is no place to discuss the most apparent implications of such a discovery.
Whether it's the Shroud of Turin, a box of bones, or a piece of wood alleged to be from the Cross, the Religion forum has certain value at a scientific site. That the members don't care about that value is reflective of the members, not the forum.
A suggestive comparison: In my experience, at least 90% of the "responsible gun owners" I know of are not "responsible" in the manner they assert. They still shoot while drunk, still keep guns where children can reach them, still believe that shooting something is the solution to anything. That 90% of gun owners don't know how to use their guns is not accepted as a reason to get rid of guns, is it?
Just as the responsibility of a gun owner reflects on the user and not the tool, so it is with our boards. Just because 90% of the people arguing the religious forum probably ought not be for lack of any clue what they're doing does not mean the forum needs to disappear.
Think about it in social terms: When a people doesn't understand something, and chooses to ignore it or cast it out, when has that
ever worked?
Here: we don't know what to do with it so let's throw it out.
thanx,
Tiassa
