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Pink invisible unicorns are actually less probable than FSMs and Jewish deities.. they're logically impossible.I'll quite happily say that I'm not going to exclude the possibility of any gods, insofar as I'm not going to exclude the possibility of an invisible pink unicorn, or the flying spaghetti monster.
They're all just as likely as the other.
That categorises all atheists. You may as well commend grass for being green (yellow grass notwithstandingThere are a couple of [true] atheists here who are willing to admit that they believe in one God less than Christians do.
I would argue that making that assertion makes you something other than an atheist, and frankly, that particular claim is (IMO) as dubious as the claim that there is a god. Of course, that is only if is defined to be outside and beyond the universe since we can not make claims about that which is completely imperceivable to us. If, on the other hand, god is defined to exist within our perception, than that conclusion can be argued rationally.
How can something be pink (i.e., emitting a particular spectrum of EM radiation) and invisible (i.e., emitting an empty spectrum)?
Do you think it is equally dubious to assert that there are no ghosts?
Pink invisible unicorns are actually less probable than FSMs and Jewish deities.. they're logically impossible.
How can something be pink (i.e., emitting a particular spectrum of EM radiation) and invisible (i.e., emitting an empty spectrum)?
I think it is right to question the belief systems handed down through thousands of years by people whose knowledge of the functioning of the universe required them to invent elaborate fictions to explain why the world is as it is, I think it is right to question the dogma of those belief systems, particularly when it leads to people being mistreated or discriminated against. At the same time I think we all need to recognise the limits of rationality, or empiricism and therefore of science. I think that if you recognise the limits of both organised religions and science you are still left in a position where it is impossible to rationally prove any metaphycial claims, and I mean metaphysical here in a broad sense to indicate anything that possibly exists outside of the physical reality in which we live.
Dangit, this is the third argument I've had about atheism vs agnosticism in like a week. As soon as I feel like having a serious argument on the internet, I am starting a thread. (It could be weeks)
As I understand it, it's entirely possible to be an agnostic atheist, which is more or less what I consider myself.
Agnosticism is simply admitting it's impossible to know for certain.
Whereas atheism is consciously not believing in a deity.
I think it's highly unlikely there is a deity, I believe blind belief in any of them to be irrational, but I can't say for absolute certain whether or not there is without evidence.
Personally, I think that for all practical purposes it is rational to act as though the fact that the supermarket that has been there and open for each and every day in the past 20 years will be still there and open today (even though there are plenty of possibilities as to why it might be closed - earthquake, bankruptcy, sudden and uannounced change of opening hours etc.). I.e. I will drive there in order to buy my food without spending much effort on doubts that it is there and open.I guess my question is why would you consciously believe something when you admit there is no proof one way or the other?
I like to have a basis for my beliefs. If I don't have a basis, I suspend belief. It seems to me that what you are describing about involves as much belief without basis as someone that believes there is a God.
I guess my question is why would you consciously believe something when you admit there is no proof one way or the other?
I like to have a basis for my beliefs. If I don't have a basis, I suspend belief. It seems to me that what you are describing about involves as much belief without basis as someone that believes there is a God.
Are you Daft? There is no such thing as "Well mannered taxi drivers" Really now!I don't believe in anything until there is proof FOR it, you can't prove something doesn't exist...if it doesn't exist. You can't provide evidence against something if its not there. If people believed in all things which weren't proven to be non-existant (Oooer, word salad probably coming up!), then we would logically have to believe in EVERYTHING. Magic, leprechauns, Big Foot, God, ghosts, Allah, Karma, Brahman, well mannered taxi-drivers, unicorns, talking goats, talking snakes, an interesting game of cricket, beer that doesn't give you hangovers...I could go on forever.
Point is, there no evidence against any of these NOT existing because they aren't there!
I guess my question is why would you consciously believe something when you admit there is no proof one way or the other?
I'm more like an agnostic atheist myself. I know for a fact that there's no way I can be sure gods do/don't exist, but my official stance on it is that I have no use for them one way or the other. I don't assert that there are no gods (I may elude to or even voice that opinion from time to time), but I'm pretty certain there aren't - and even if there are, they don't affect me at all. It's their followers I have to worry about.Am I the only atheist who does assert that there is no god?
People around here say that the number one reason people aren't christians is because of christians themselves. As in...the really religious ones who go around trying to force it on people and preaching over people like there's no tomorrow...Is it true? I'm curious.
Touche! Excellent reply. I agree totally with you. Like my father used to say: "Celibacy is best practiced in moderation"!Nope, just genetically inclined to be analytical.
Sidenote: Though rabid Christian behavior was obviously not the origin of my Atheism, it is distasteful and certainly not helpful for the Christian cause, since I only walk away rolling my eyes instead of receiving the intended message. This, of course, can be said for all dogmatic and disrespectful people defending any belief. It's one thing to be passionate, another thing to be militant.
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