Dawkins & Religion

[Kathryn]

rvltngst ur gr8

(Kathryn looks at her fingers in horror...they seem to have taken on a life of their own...)

 

[ImmortalFlame]

I believe there is no god, which is a belief.
The lack of belief in god would seem to be atheistic too.
What a diverse lot we are!

Like I said, I define atheism "in the broadest sense" as a lack of a belief in a God; as that definition encompasses all forms of atheism, including the belief that there is no God. I find it's the most accurate definition, considering we're such diverse bunch. I tend to avoid the "soft atheist, hard atheist" categorization as much as possible, but they keep cropping up all over the place.

 

[Sententia]

I believe there is no god, which is a belief.

I also believe leprechauns don't exist. I also believe Wisps don't haunt my land. I also don't believe ghosts move the game piece of a ouija board and that there is not a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit

If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.

 

[Kathryn]

Oh no, not the china teapot revolving around the sun thing again.

Canned atheism - what could we call it...

"SCAM"

Hey, that's sort of catchy...

 

[Revoltingest]

I also believe leprechauns don't exist. I also believe Wisps don't haunt my land. I also don't believe ghosts move the game piece of a ouija board and that there is not a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit

Hey! I believe those things too. Small world.
I can add to it.
I believe there's no internal combustion engine which can run on water. I believe Obama has know idea what he's doing. I believe Libertarians will lose the 2012 prez election.

 

[Sententia]

Oh no, not the china teapot revolving around the sun thing again.

Canned atheism - what could we call it...

"SCAM"

Hey, that's sort of catchy...

1952... you still don't have a response?

 

[Sententia]

Like I said, I define atheism "in the broadest sense" as a lack of a belief in a God; as that definition encompasses all forms of atheism, including the belief that there is no God. I find it's the most accurate definition, considering we're such diverse bunch. I tend to avoid the "soft atheist, hard atheist" categorization as much as possible, but they keep cropping up all over the place.

Why be nice? The things I don't believe in are by definition infinite while the things I am actually capable of holding a belief in are by definition finite. If someone wants to debate you on that subject call them out.

Don't let nonsense **** block reason. (Unless its funny to do so... in which case... by all means)

 

[Revoltingest]

Oh no, not the china teapot revolving around the sun thing again.

Canned atheism - what could we call it...

Please....."steeped atheism".

 

[Sententia]

Hey! I believe those things too. Small world.
I can add to it.
I believe there's no internal combustion engine which can run on water. I believe Obama has know idea what he's doing. I believe Libertarians will lose the 2012 prez election.

No idea... Didn't you see Kat's post?

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Why be nice? The things I don't believe in are by definition infinite while the things I am actually capable of holding a belief in are by definition finite. If someone wants to debate you on that subject call them out.

Don't let nonsense **** block reason. (Unless its funny to do so... in which case... by all means)

Meh, he didn't say anything I strongly disagreed with. I just thought he was clarifying my point.

And I'm not very good at being funny. I try, but fart jokes only get you so far on forums like these.

 

[Kathryn]

I believe I've had enough of this for one night and I'm going to bed. And unless I fall out somewhere between my office and my bedroom, my belief system will still be quite intact fifteen minutes from now.

 

[Sententia]

I believe I've had enough of this for one night and I'm going to bed. And unless I fall out somewhere between my office and my bedroom, my belief system will still be quite intact fifteen minutes from now.

Really? You said you're done hours ago and you included me in a post as if I had been expecting some type of response since you asked me if I had anything else.

Are you really done now? And I think I made it abundantly clear that I would abhor if you converted on the account of anything I said as opposed to what you actually believe. I encourage you to decide and Dawkins, Hitchens, Jesus and Ghandi are just humans. (Even if Jesus is debatable lol. (Double entendre... do I have to explain that cause I feel as if I do not...)).

You decide based on what you know and understand and reason to be true. If something I say helps great but if something I or anyone else dictates... You should find out for yourself.

I am wrong. A Lot. So is everyone else. So are you.

We can only seek to learn. Hell half the time I question if following jesus wouldn't be better for my family. Lord knows I know more about the bible and Hay Suse then probably anything else I know.

 

[Kathryn]

Really? You said your done hours ago and you included me in a post as if I had been expecting some type of response since you asked me if I had anything else.

Are you really done now? And I think I made it abundantly clear that I would abhor if you converted on the account of anything I said as opposed to what you actually believe. I encourage you to decide and Dawkins, Hitchens, Jesus and Ghandi are just humans. (Even if Jesus is debatable lol. (Double entendre... do I have to explain that cause I feel as if I do not...)).

You decide based on what you know and understand and reason to be true. If something I say helps great but if something I or anyone else dictates... You should find out for yourself.

I am wrong. A Lot. So is everyone else. So are you.

We can only seek to learn. Hell half the time I question if following jesus wouldn't be better for my family. Lord knows I know more about the bible and Hay Suse then probably anything else I know.

My faith isn't shaken, because I believe in the doctrine of free will. And I've decided not to go to bed just yet.

My husband works out of town a lot and when he's gone, I find that I stumble back into the office over and over again before finally shutting it down.

Hey, I'm doing it again right this minute! But you seem like a decent person so I didn't want to end things on a sour note. And besides that, I've made myself another cup of Earl Grey tea so the forum is stuck with me for at least another 30 minutes.

Look, I think one thing that sets me off about some atheists (not you necessarily) is that it seems that many of them assume that others have not thoughtfully considered, and rejected, atheism. It seems that a common assumption is that we're religious by default. And I'm sure some people are -just as some people are godless heathens by default.

I've had several crises of faith in my life. I've had tragedy and heartache and the most crushing grief. I've also been abundantly blessed.

I've read and studied theology and history and the like for nearly my whole life - starting when I was in elementary school. I've delved into various religions and beliefs - and as I best understand things at this point in my life, I believe that God is real, that He created the world and all that is in it, and that He has a purpose for my life - and everyone else's for that matter.

I believe that I am also wrong about many things - but I am not complacent about my search for truth. And I truly do try to sift through things objectively, pushing aside my pre conceived notions.

This ain't my first rodeo. I've switched horses before for that matter.

That being said, there's a lot to read out there in the big, wide world. It's a safe bet to say I won't get around to all of it.

 

[Sententia]

My faith isn't shaken, because I believe in the doctrine of free will. And I've decided not to go to bed just yet.

My husband works out of town a lot and when he's gone, I find that I stumble back into the office over and over again before finally shutting it down.

Hey, I'm doing it again right this minute! But you seem like a decent person so I didn't want to end things on a sour note. And besides that, I've made myself another cup of Earl Grey tea so the forum is stuck with me for at least another 30 minutes.

Look, I think one thing that sets me off about some atheists (not you necessarily) is that it seems that many of them assume that others have not thoughtfully considered, and rejected, atheism. It seems that a common assumption is that we're religious by default. And I'm sure some people are -just as some people are godless heathens by default.

I've had several crises of faith in my life. I've had tragedy and heartache and the most crushing grief. I've also been abundantly blessed.

I've read and studied theology and history and the like for nearly my whole life - starting when I was in elementary school. I've delved into various religions and beliefs - and as I best understand things at this point in my life, I believe that God is real, that He created the world and all that is in it, and that He has a purpose for my life - and everyone else's for that matter.

I believe that I am also wrong about many things - but I am not complacent about my search for truth. And I truly do try to sift through things objectively, pushing aside my pre conceived notions.

This ain't my first rodeo. I've switched horses before for that matter.

That being said, there's a lot to read out there in the big, wide world. It's a safe bet to say I won't get around to all of it.

I'm sorry but people I disagree with rarely treat me nicely. It is a bit unexpected. The only thing I would question... If we are to follow the the line of thought I was following earlier... is what do you mean by:

My faith isn't shaken

And I know what faith means but there are a lot of ways you could go with this... So what do you mean by your faith is not shaken?

 

[Autodidact]

I think these atheist tactics are horrible. They really don't tolerate dissent well. They can't get themselves organized to issue a decent fatwa, rarely manage to execute dissenters, and never really got into the spirit of either burning people at the stake or whole-hearted torture. Until we see some atheist suicide bombers, or at least a good shooting, atheism is going to continue to earn the derision of true believers everywhere.

 

[sandandfoam]

Individual atheists make sense to me. Organised atheists seem to me to be open to all the negative aspects of groups that are often objectionable in religions.

 

[Autodidact]

My faith isn't shaken, because I believe in the doctrine of free will. And I've decided not to go to bed just yet.

My husband works out of town a lot and when he's gone, I find that I stumble back into the office over and over again before finally shutting it down.

Hey, I'm doing it again right this minute! But you seem like a decent person so I didn't want to end things on a sour note. And besides that, I've made myself another cup of Earl Grey tea so the forum is stuck with me for at least another 30 minutes.

Look, I think one thing that sets me off about some atheists (not you necessarily) is that it seems that many of them assume that others have not thoughtfully considered, and rejected, atheism. It seems that a common assumption is that we're religious by default. And I'm sure some people are -just as some people are godless heathens by default.

I've had several crises of faith in my life. I've had tragedy and heartache and the most crushing grief. I've also been abundantly blessed.

I've read and studied theology and history and the like for nearly my whole life - starting when I was in elementary school. I've delved into various religions and beliefs - and as I best understand things at this point in my life, I believe that God is real, that He created the world and all that is in it, and that He has a purpose for my life - and everyone else's for that matter.

I believe that I am also wrong about many things - but I am not complacent about my search for truth. And I truly do try to sift through things objectively, pushing aside my pre conceived notions.

This ain't my first rodeo. I've switched horses before for that matter.

That being said, there's a lot to read out there in the big, wide world. It's a safe bet to say I won't get around to all of it.

Good points.

 

[logician]

Oh no, not the china teapot revolving around the sun thing again.

Canned atheism - what could we call it...

"SCAM"

Hey, that's sort of catchy...

Bertand Russell was a genius, and this argument cannot be refuted.

 

[Smoke]

Bertand Russell was a genius, and this argument cannot be refuted.

True. That's why people hate it.

 

[Kathryn]

I don't hate it - it's just ever so shop worn. And that was my point.