Why atheists and agnostics come to this forum?

[Bob the Unbeliever]

It's what Rey says to Palpatine in Star Wars. My God doesnt allow torture, and then he cast suffering aside for antagonizing YHWH.

Again, you absolutely reject the bible's words.... even the words of Jesus.

How nice.

But. You prove without a doubt, that with FAITH? You can literally believe anything.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Faith and knowledge.

Well the skeptic values the latter just as much as you do, but for the former might require a little more evidence than you will accept. So more about how high we place the bar than anything else.

 

[Altfish]

With respect: I have a personal question. I am surprised that you feel you can make a difference by arguing here about these things. I guess it might be possible, but it seems like there is a low probability. I've seen some of the threads in political discussions, and I've never seen a lot of changed minds. What I see is people digging in and doubling down. Is this not what you see? Actually it seems like its a game to those who enjoy political arguments. Do you enjoy these conversations about politics in the long threads?

If you reread my original post you will see that it says nothing about changing people's minds.
I talk about understanding what religious people are thinking. I want to try to understand why evangelical Christians who take their lead from Jesus meek and mild; can support Trump, guns, deny climate change etc.

 

[Mock Turtle]

And you are not.

Well I never will despise our animal nature and our brotherhood/sisterhood with all other creatures - me, I just play the A.S.S. to hide my inferior intellect (which I do know is true, and I wish I was brighter).

Blasted auto-censoring - A.S.S. is the name of a ****ing animal!

 

[Brickjectivity]

If you reread my original post you will see that it says nothing about changing people's minds.
I talk about understanding what religious people are thinking. I want to try to understand why evangelical Christians who take their lead from Jesus meek and mild; can support Trump, guns, deny climate change etc.

Ah! I have an opinion on that last quandary. Its because many have stopped listening to opposing and differing opinions in church. Preachers only say what is expected of them, and congregations don't invite difficult or objectionable speakers. There is no forum. Its, if you will, perfected idolatry. It has drastic effects on politics. Thus your question is answered, but feel free to stick around for as long as you like!

 

[MonkeyFire]

Those two are mutually exclusive. If you have actual knowledge? You don't need faith.

Meanwhile, with FAITH? You can literally believe in magic: Such as flaming, speaking shrubbery, talking snakes, magic fish-lunches, telepathic wish-granting zombies and other nonsense.

Actually you can't know the truth if you dont believe.

 

[MonkeyFire]

Again, you absolutely reject the bible's words.... even the words of Jesus.

How nice.

But. You prove without a doubt, that with FAITH? You can literally believe anything.

I believe war, and hate are the sin of man. All the killing in the bible is a result of original sin. Not to hard to understand...

 

[McBell]

Actually you can't know the truth if you dont believe.

Please be so kind as to present an example.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Actually you can't know the truth if you dont believe.

That literally makes no sense! Actual facts never require belief! The only thing that requires belief are things for which there are no facts!

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

I believe war, and hate are the sin of man. All the killing in the bible is a result of original sin. Not to hard to understand...

Again: You are believing in things that simply are not biblical. But there you go!

With faith, you can literally believe in anything you wish!

 

[Mock Turtle]

Actually you can't know the truth if you dont believe.

Perhaps some of us would rather not know the truth than simply believe we know the truth.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Perhaps some of us would rather not know the truth than simply believe we know the truth.

Agreed: I had to hit "winner" here. Then? I had to undo that... so I could hit "Winner" a second time.

 

[MonkeyFire]

That literally makes no sense! Actual facts never require belief! The only thing that requires belief are things for which there are no facts!

Faith is to knowledge as fire is to light.

 

[MonkeyFire]

Perhaps some of us would rather not know the truth than simply believe we know the truth.

Faith is defined as total trust and confidence in something. If I believe something it is inherently known.

 

[Trailblazer]

Faith is defined as total trust and confidence in something. If I believe something it is inherently known.

That is true, but what you know is only known to you.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Faith is to knowledge as fire is to light.

No. It is not. Faith is insisting something for which there is no rational reason to think is real, is real in spite of no evidence.

Faith is irrational. So no.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Faith is defined as total trust and confidence in something. If I believe something it is inherently known.

Again, no. You can have faith that Universe Creating Pixies made the world. And you'd have zero reason to think that was true-- but with faith-- you can believe that it is true.

 

[MonkeyFire]

No. It is not. Faith is insisting something for which there is no rational reason to think is real, is real in spite of no evidence.

Faith is irrational. So no.

Faith is the reason for life by being both hope and happiness.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Faith is the reason for life by being both hope and happiness.

Nope. Not for anyone Paying Attention. I'm happy-- and I'm without faith. I have hope-- again, without faith.

So nope.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Faith is defined as total trust and confidence in something. If I believe something it is inherently known.

Well you have more faith in your own ability to discern truth (and knowledge) than I do so good luck to you - but perhaps you are still more likely to take the words of others, even and especially from the past, than I am ever likely to do.