mball said:
Bully for you.
OK...
Is it a "belief" that is dependent upon faith-based claims, or not?
Not within my estimations...no, there isn't.
Is there a "possibility" that The Easter Bunny "exists" today, right now, as a living, breathing, sentient being? Even the most ridiculously distant and remote possibility? Really?
Reason affords me a certitude of conclusion that surpasses all reasonable doubts to the contrary. ALL.
I am as certain that there are no such things as gods, as I am that I am not a frog. Or would you care to argue some "possibility" (no matter how impossibly remote) that I am, in fact, some sentient species derivative of Order Anura, Family Ranidae...that just happens to post to online forums of discussion and debate?
I can. I did. I shall continue to do so henceforth....
Now what?
Your counsel is noted.
Spare me any of your further suggestions, or consultations, or entreaties, if you please.
You're welcome to participate and contribute here by whatever means/methods you choose (within the constraints of the RF COC and forum rules).
Is that sentiment pensively considered as well enough wrought to placate your sensibilities?
Ribbit.
As you said, not within your estimations. Are you now the absolute authority on everything? If so, please tell me what I should do with my life, since you know all of the answers for sure.
Prove to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no God. You can't, no matter what you think. Many people "know" that God exists. Somebody has to be wrong. There is the possibility that it's you. Up until a few years ago you, along with everyone else, "knew" that Pluto was a planet. Guess what? It's not.
Reasonable people will allow for the possibility of error. I firmly believe that I'm right wbout the question of God. I can also admit that it's possible that I'm wrong. The difference is that I don't feel the need to worry about the small possibility of his existence. Just like the Easter Bunny or whatever else, it's not worth considering.
In normal everday life, I think it's better to just dismiss the possibility of God, because it's not worth considering, if you're an atheist. On the other hand, when having a debate about the question, I can then say that I don't have absolute proof of God's nonexistence, otherwise no one would believe in Him. Therefore, my idea is a belief.
So, no, that sentiment is not sufficiently considered.
So, when you get an attitude with someone over something that wasn't even offensive in the first place, and in fact was absolutely right, I'll call you on it. You can debate politely. I know it's a hard concept for someone who "knows" that they're always right, but try it sometime.