What do you think of flat earth theory?

[Josh]

I have a friend who's a flat earther. I occasionally try to respectfully give him things to think about. He's also a pagan with some interest in Christianity, so I challenge him there also sometimes.

I’m having similar challenges. Outright contempt and disrespect doesn’t win me any friends, but it’s hard when the idea is so.... contemptuous.

[JimFoxvog]

I have a friend who's a flat earther. I occasionally try to respectfully give him things to think about. He's also a pagan with some interest in Christianity, so I challenge him there also sometimes.

I’m having similar challenges. Outright contempt and disrespect doesn’t win me any friends, but it’s hard when the idea is so.... contemptuous.

The respect one can give is to look at the argument being made seriously, affirm where there is truth in it, and point out its fallacies.

One simple naked eye observation that I haven't heard an explanation for from the flat earth model is there are both south and north celestial poles. I expect you can say from personal experience there is a point in the southern sky that the stars seem to rotate around.

[MaxPC]

Flat earth theory is a good example of something that started out as a joke but those who didn’t know that and didn’t know any better took it seriously.

[appleman2006]

Having circumnavigated the globe a couple of times and found things exactly as I left them each time, including dirty dishes, I am forced to conclude that I arrived back where I started. Not easy to do that on a flat plane, even with the aid of a cylindrical plane, using the flight schedules that actually exist.

You do realise that is simply anecdotal evidence and cannot be trusted.

[joshuabgood]

Having circumnavigated the globe a couple of times and found things exactly as I left them each time, including dirty dishes, I am forced to conclude that I arrived back where I started. Not easy to do that on a flat plane, even with the aid of a cylindrical plane, using the flight schedules that actually exist.

You do realise that is simply anecdotal evidence and cannot be trusted.

He is part of the conspiracy. Because he was up there helping spread around chem trails.

[barnhart]

Another question, how many of you know flat earthers personally? Family? Church Family? Home school group?

[joshuabgood]

Another question, how many of you know flat earthers personally? Family? Church Family? Home school group?

I don't know any personally...but I argued with some on the internet that were conservative Christian types.

A brother I know calls this stuff mental pornography. He thinks adherents to this type of nonsense/conspiracies get a "charge" out of being "keepers of secret knowledge" and smarter than the rest of us ordinary folks that are mass deluded. I agree, bottom line I've never convinced a one of these folks of craziness of their claims.

[barnhart]

Another question, how many of you know flat earthers personally? Family? Church Family? Home school group?

I don't know any personally...but I argued with some on the internet that were conservative Christian types.

A brother I know calls this stuff mental pornography. He thinks adherents to this type of nonsense/conspiracies get a "charge" out of being "keepers of secret knowledge" and smarter than the rest of us ordinary folks that are mass deluded. I agree, bottom line I've never convinced a one of these folks of craziness of their claims.

I wondered if it might be an offshoot of creationism, (among conservative christians).

[Pelerin]

Another question, how many of you know flat earthers personally? Family? Church Family? Home school group?

I don't know any personally...but I argued with some on the internet that were conservative Christian types.

A brother I know calls this stuff mental pornography. He thinks adherents to this type of nonsense/conspiracies get a "charge" out of being "keepers of secret knowledge" and smarter than the rest of us ordinary folks that are mass deluded. I agree, bottom line I've never convinced a one of these folks of craziness of their claims.

I wondered if it might be an offshoot of creationism, (among conservative christians).

I don’t quite think so. People hold to creationism because it is the (conservative) Christian view, and it’s often taught as a necessary foundation for the gospel. Other Christian views do exist, but few people brought up believing creationism will accept them without a lot of wrestling and struggle. In contrast, no one has (yet) been born and grown up in flat-eartherism. Alternative Christian views are the norm, not something that has to be converted into.

I think joshuabgood is right, there’s an appeal to secret knowledge. I think you’re also right in this sense: Ken Ham and other scientific creationists do trade on the appeal of secret knowledge for their theories. Most people, though, are content to just believe God did it. Yes, they’re happy to know that Answers in Genesis has looked into it and can assure them creationism is scientifically plausible, but they’re not looking for much beyond that assurance.

[RZehr]

Another question, how many of you know flat earthers personally? Family? Church Family? Home school group?

I don't know any personally...but I argued with some on the internet that were conservative Christian types.

A brother I know calls this stuff mental pornography. He thinks adherents to this type of nonsense/conspiracies get a "charge" out of being "keepers of secret knowledge" and smarter than the rest of us ordinary folks that are mass deluded. I agree, bottom line I've never convinced a one of these folks of craziness of their claims.

I wondered if it might be an offshoot of creationism, (among conservative christians).

I have run across a pinch of biblical literalism present in some of these guys. That would be the similarity with creationism.