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Are Atheists just close minded Agnostics?
- Thread starter Reverend Rick
- Start date
riley2112
Active Member
works for me.
I don't believe in "no belief" for any proposition: if a proposition is made, there is belief. It may be a tiny amount or a great amount, it may be weighted toward the proposition being true (belief), the proposition being false (disbelief), or neutrality on the issue of truth (withholding belief) but there is some aspect of belief.
Bad hypothetical IMHO.
If you take away the statement, "he is right here". I'll bite.
The bowls may be in the closet and the dog may be a breed that does not shed. There may be pictures, but they are not available. The dog may be gone at the groomers.
What I can say is, I doubt he has a dog. I have seen no sign of a dog. He may clean up after the dog becasue he has OCD.
No one says, "Jesus is sitting on the couch right next to me".
Lack of belief is different than non-belief. One is stronger than the other.
If we where in a court of law, I would have to conclude Bob has no dog beyond a reasonable doubt.
An agnostic has reasonable doubt. An Atheist believes there is no God beyond a reasonable doubt.
riley2112
Active Member
I would have to agree with that , I guess that would be belief in belief.:surf:
I don't believe in "no belief" for any proposition: if a proposition is made, there is belief. It may be a tiny amount or a great amount, it may be weighted toward the proposition being true (belief), the proposition being false (disbelief), or neutrality on the issue of truth (withholding belief) but there is some aspect of belief.
Not withholding belief of a being that does not exist. It withholds belief that any current or future evidence will ever point to such a being existing. Requiring sufficient evidence to believe something exists is logical.
Not knowing the answer to that goes the same for theists and atheists whom both believe something that is currently not completely knowable. Theists actually have the claim to know what did it but an atheist would just say "i don't know what did it but whatever it is wasn't god".
This thread is not about Theists.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
Exactly. I don't know for sure whether some kind of a god exists or not. Therefore, being a rational person, I do not hold the belief that god exists, i.e., I'm an atheist.
Back to the dog, I'm closed minded that Bob has a dog. People who have reasonable doubt believe it is not impossible Bob has a dog, they still have an open mind about Bob's dog.
My point was atheists don't normally claim to know they just eliminate one possibility. It isn't so much non-belief in some entity that doesn't exist. It is a belief that there is a more logical explanation whatever that might be.
OK, you have closed your mind.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
You have an interesting definition of closed. To each his own.
I could be wrong.
riley2112
Active Member
A closed mind would not take in any new evidence. It looks to me that he has looked at the evidence and has decided that God does not exist. However if new evidence came to light He would look at it and make a decision on the evidence at that time.
Please give me an example of what kind of new evidence is even possible, short of the second coming?
riley2112
Active Member
Is that really want you took as the point of that statement. Really?
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
If there's a god, I'll leave it up to it to decide. Being god, it should have no problem providing evidence of its existence that I will accept.
Is that really want you took as the point of that statement. Really?
OK, I told Mr. Trout that I though he had a closed mind about God.
Then I said I could be wrong so I am keeping my mind open.
You said if evidence was presented he would look at it.
Trying to keep my mind open I asked you what kind of evidence he would consider short of proof positive.
What I really take from this is people might pretend to have an open mind, but it is just lip service.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
Sounds like somebody's mind may be closed.