No, that just says you understand the theory ABOUT black holes, not that you understand how they work and what they are.
The same goes for the sub-atomic particle. You don't know what it is. You only know the current popular theory that underwent peer-review.
To relate this back to the topic...
No. You don't. You know the current THEORY. This is the idea that the evidence best supports.
we can locate them by detecting their gravitational fields, and the way they effect light.
there are various theories of event horizons, anti-matter particles and other associated traits, but the black...
I think it can be more harmful than helpful in a society like ours, that is pushing the boundaries of it's moral character to include a broader range of people.
Do you understand how black holes work? Obviously not, no one does. No one can get close enough or find a way to analyze them effectively. We only know they exist. We know some of the properties of a black hole, but not how they relate to one another. To say "I don't believe in black holes...
The obvious theist argument here, would be that someone of faith is more likely to stand by his convctions, never waver, and remain consistent. This is one of the arguments from conservatives in America. Is steadfastness always a good quality? Can atheists be just as rigid in beliefs?
It most certainly DID.
I posed the same question then as now.
When discussing matters of theology, do athiests have a place in that?
So far we can conclude that in certain matters yes, and certain matters no.
How many times am I going to have to say this? you dissecting the topic is not answering the question. I AM AN ATHEIST. You can't change my mind on that subject, It's already done. What I'm asking is, what you would have to say to those who DID believe, and were using those beliefs in...
You don't have to understand something to believe it, that's called faith. You also are fully capable of understanding something and not believing it, that's called doubt.
That said, how would you be fair to those of "faith" who believe that the freedom to worship openly is comprimised by rules that prohibit worship at school or at work?
By the way, religion was the early form of government, faith is a requirement of most religions, specifically in America, Europe...
lmao, yeah i get that feeling too. But let's assume we're talking to the deist type, or a religious apologist, a more philosophical version of "God". These Gods are harder to refute, since they exist in the gaps of human knowledge and largely serve the needs of each individual believer, but are...
I think people shouldn't consider faith as a virtue, but rather a position. This is sort of what you have done here, by suggesting that faith is fallible and "could well be wrong".
What I want to know, is, in light of evidence, would your "faith" lead you to a different conclusion about...
I think the objective question is kind of a new thing on this forum. I'm using the inspiration of Plato, who always posed questions objectively, regardless of personal observation, to direct a line of reason. You get more honest, reliable discussion this way. Unfortunately, you also risk...
You said you were atheist, agnostic and theist, basically implying that you have a broad view of all three, right? So what would you say to someone considering God's role in society?
This is the gist of what I'm asking, or at least the conclusion I hoped most people to come to. Would you weigh...
look forward to it :D I think some things aren't a matter of certainty as much as common sense. Like teaching kids the Earth is 10,000 years old or that Evolution is a myth, for example.
You don't have to argue the points of atheism to me, I'm an atheist. I'd like some creative dialogue, what would you say if you had a chance to include your opinion when considering God's roll in, say, civil unions, or civil rights?
We are talking about the definitions of the words, not your personal beliefs about what they should mean. The definition of a word is not open to theological debate, sorry.
When speaking of something objectively, you speak of it in one or more of its theoretical conditions or states, as it would...