"God did it"

[Atomist]

I disagree. There are plenty of things that exist as part of reality that have not yet been demonstrated or that are not self evident. We humans are really very ignorant, Atomist.

Name some.

 

[Madhuri]

Name some.

Are you serious? You believe that scientists have discovered everything there is to know about reality? Well then, I guess it's weird that they are still doing constant research...

 

[i-M-p-A-c-T--]

These questions are the reason that I explore spirituality, but I would not argue that they imply a God exists. I never said that.

i understand, just clarifying why these don't imply, or prove God existence. The fact that we're unable to answer them.

How do you define spirtuality?

 

[Atomist]

Are you serious? You believe that scientists have discovered everything there is to know about reality? Well then, I guess it's weird that they are still doing constant research...

That's not what I'm arguing... I'm saying name something that we claim to exist that isn't demonstrated or self evident. I'm not saying that other stuff that exist but hasn't been demonstrated to exist doesn't exist... but I'm saying there is no reason to believe it.

 

[darkendless]

Name some.

Absolute zero temperature of -273 degrees ceslsius.

We've never got within 0.00012 dehrees of the temperature. Therefore, we don't actually know that all matter ceases to move at that point. All we have is a very old graph.

 

[Atomist]

Absolute zero temperature of -273 degrees ceslsius.

We've never got within 0.00012 dehrees of the temperature. Therefore, we don't actually know that all matter ceases to move at that point. All we have is a very old graph.

Well we don't even know if absolute zero actually exist... but it's demonstrated that we can get very close to it. Not only that the laws of thermodynamics suggests that it can't exist.

 

[darkendless]

Well we don't even know if absolute zero actually exist... but it's demonstrated that we can get very close to it. Not only that the laws of thermodynamics suggests that it can't exist.

Particles do slow down as they approach that temperature, their vibrations do become laboured. My point is since we havn't actually been to that temperature we don't actually know if they stop. We've assumed a linear relationship without proof.

 

[Madhuri]

i understand, just clarifying why these don't imply, or prove God existence. The fact that we're unable to answer them.

How do you define spirtuality?

I personally see Spirituality as the exploration of Spirit- or the journey of discovering Self. It's an internal, individual path.

And of course those questions do not prove God's existence. But one's desire to know truth/reality or our confusion about our own existence is why people seek. We seek in religion, in spirituality, in science. I guess we follow the path that seems to give us the most satisfactory answers.

 

[Atomist]

Particles do slow down as they approach that temperature, their vibrations do become laboured. My point is since we havn't actually been to that temperature we don't actually know if they stop. We've assumed a linear relationship without proof.

I don't see how it addresses my point. all I have to do is redefine "demonstrated" to "suggested with evidence".

 

[darkendless]

I don't see how it addresses my point. all I have to do is redefine "demonstrated" to "suggested with evidence".

..... and thats the problem. Everything is so technical. Change a single word and theres a completely different meaning.

 

[Atomist]

..... and thats the problem. Everything is so technical. Change a single word and theres a completely different meaning.

yeah... well I just defined it poorly in the first place... my bad... god still doesn't fall under my revised definition, but stuff like absolute zero does. So it's all well and good.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I've discussed religious beliefs with alot of theists, and it always seem to boil down to this: "I can't explain blah blah blah, therefore God did it"....

Are there any real rational explanations as to why we should believe in God(s)? because if there are, i'm dying to know them...: hamster :

Nope....

 

[i-M-p-A-c-T--]

I personally see Spirituality as the exploration of Spirit- or the journey of discovering Self. It's an internal, individual path.

is there an reasoning behind this? or did you just figure "i don't know", therefore i'll just believe i do, and call it spirtuality...?

I guess we follow the path that seems to give us the most satisfactory answers.

no, i follow the path that gives me TRUE answers, not answers that make me feel good about believing i know something, when in reality i still don't know ,and have closed my mind to searching for the truth, by accepting anything...

 

[Madhuri]

is there an reasoning behind this? or did you just figure "i don't know", therefore i'll just believe i do, and call it spirtuality...?

no, i follow the path that gives me TRUE answers, not answers that make me feel good about believing i know something, when in reality i still don't know ,and have closed my mind to searching for the truth, by accepting anything...

Why are so many of you atheists so spiteful? You take the worse possible meaning out of everything and assume that everyone else is stupid.

You say that you have chosen the path that gives you the true answers. Wouldn't that qualify as the 'most satisfactory'? I didn't say anything about feeling good.

 

[Atomist]

Why are so many of you atheists so spiteful? You take the worse possible meaning out of everything and assume that everyone else is stupid.

There is an easy answer to this question. Try living in a conservative christian dominated community as an atheist.

 

[Madhuri]

There is an easy answer to this question. Try living in a conservative christian dominated community as an atheist.

Not everyone is a conservative Christian.

 

[Atomist]

Not everyone is a conservative Christian.

never said that... but it's a very frustrating and mentally scarring experience for many.

 

[Madhuri]

never said that... but it's a very frustrating and mentally scarring experience for many.

Sure, I can empathise with that. But it's important to remember that when speaking with people of other perspectives that you can't make the same assumptions of belief or reason for belief.
In fact, having a pleasant and reasonably open-minded conversation with some religious people who aren't judging you might help to alleviate some of that scarring.

 

[i-M-p-A-c-T--]

Why are so many of you atheists so spiteful?

I'm sorry if you subjectively feel i presented myself in a "spiteful" manner. I'm not here to offend anyone in anyway, neither do i feel "scarred"...i must point out however, you seemed to have avoided my question with a strawman. Are you going to answer it?

You take the worse possible meaning out of everything and assume that everyone else is stupid.

i never made such a claim. Another strawman. If your spirtuality has some other meaning please share...

You say that you have chosen the path that gives you the true answers. Wouldn't that qualify as the 'most satisfactory'? I didn't say anything about feeling good.

I can't really say i chose a certain path. I simply believe in believing in things that are rational and consistent with reality, well i guess i did chose to do that.
The path i have chosen is satisfactory, not the answers themselves...
in the answer you give yourself, such as spirtuality, that somehow makes you feel good to believe in it, other-wise you wouldn't right? there is no other basis to...

btw i'm not being "spiteful" or hostile, just a friendly discussion. I'm not upset or anything...

 

[Atomist]

Sure, I can empathise with that. But it's important to remember that when speaking with people of other perspectives that you can't make the same assumptions of belief or reason for belief.
In fact, having a pleasant and reasonably open-minded conversation with some religious people who aren't judging you might help to alleviate some of that scarring.

I was addressing your question that so many atheist are spiteful and explained why they are... I don't think I come off as spiteful... and I think I'm pretty open minded... so it obviously doesn't apply to me. But I'm just saying.