Atheism (2)

Dave Ellis · Jun 18, 2012

Baam said:
Honestly I am leaning towards theist. Because *I DO* know his character overall. I just am held up because I don't know *EVERYTHING*

Theism has nothing to do with if you think you can know his character.

createdtoworship · Jun 18, 2012

quatona said:
Please reread my question. Of course you needn´t answer it - but answering a different question comes across as evasion.

evasion is possible, because it comes across as rude to promote theism in an athiest forum.

createdtoworship · Jun 18, 2012

KCfromNC said:
Just like atheists don't state that god(s) exist. What's your point?

someone said that atheism was a belief and agnosticism was knowledge,

but if it's a belief then it must believe something, not have a lack of belief.

createdtoworship · Jun 18, 2012

KCfromNC said:
Atheists have the same evidence that they are atheists as you have that you're a theist.

I have been told that atheism is a lack of belief

hows that fit in with evidence, all they can talk about is "lack of evidence"

Skavau · Jun 19, 2012

gradyll said:
I have been told that atheism is a lack of belief

hows that fit in with evidence, all they can talk about is "lack of evidence"

Atheists have a lack of belief in God due to the lack of evidence for God.

Dave Ellis · Jun 19, 2012

gradyll said:
someone said that atheism was a belief and agnosticism was knowledge,

but if it's a belief then it must believe something, not have a lack of belief.

No, Atheism is a lack of belief.

Atheists have not accepted any god claims as valid.

Dave Ellis · Jun 19, 2012

gradyll said:
I have been told that atheism is a lack of belief

hows that fit in with evidence, all they can talk about is "lack of evidence"

If you have no evidence, how can you justify a belief in anything?

The only intellectually honest position to take is to lack belief until evidence has been presented which makes a belief justifiable.

Eudaimonist · Jun 19, 2012

I have no evidence of the existence of fire-breathing dragons. Until I do, the rational thing to do is exclude such a belief from my worldview. There simply is no point in agnostic hand-wringing on the subject.

After all, I'm not going to be frightened of leaving my home in the morning to go to work just in case fire-breathing dragons might exist. When I have evidence that this is a danger, I will be more careful.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Dave Ellis · Jun 19, 2012

gradyll said:
evasion is possible, because it comes across as rude to promote theism in an athiest forum.

It's not rude to promote theism in an atheist thread at all....

In fact, it is rude to not answer a question that's been repeatedly asked of you.

Going Merry · Jun 19, 2012

What do any of you get out of discussing this with believers / unbelievers? Entertainment? Conversion? Usually I forum with objectives in mind. To learn of others faiths while bolstering my own faith, and perhaps converting if it is possible for some here.

Eudaimonist · Jun 19, 2012

Baam said:
What do any of you get out of discussing this with believers / unbelievers? Entertainment? Conversion? Usually I forum with objectives in mind.

1) I like intellectual conversation
2) I want to challenge stigmas that atheists have in American culture
3) I try to turn the light of reason up a notch in people I encounter
4) I enjoy learning new things

I'm not here to convert anyone. I have no interest in that, and I wouldn't even know how.

eudaimonia,

Mark

quatona · Jun 19, 2012

gradyll said:
evasion is possible, because it comes across as rude to promote theism in an athiest forum.

To whom does it come across as rude?

There are plenty of things that tend to strike me as rude in your approach - however, answering a question certainly wouldn´t.
Besides, I haven´t asked you to answer the question in an "athiest" (sic!) forum, I asked to answer it right here.

Dave Ellis · Jun 19, 2012

Baam said:
What do any of you get out of discussing this with believers / unbelievers? Entertainment? Conversion? Usually I forum with objectives in mind. To learn of others faiths while bolstering my own faith, and perhaps converting if it is possible for some here.

Entertainment is part of it, a good civil debate can be quite enjoyable.

However, It makes me more knowledgable on the topic, exposes me to more arguments for and against Christianity and Theism, and enhances my critical thinking skills. So, it also is a benefit to me from an intellectual standpoint.

I don't really expect to come on here and convert anyone. However if that is a side-effect of my debating on here, that would be great as well.

I think religion in general is one of the most misguided, destructive forces in civilization as we know it. Doing my part to cause more skepticism towards it, if not turn people away from it would be quite fulfilling.

However, I also am aware many religious people are not willing to listen to anything that disagrees with their preconceived notion of God and the World. Coming on here with the intention to convert people would likely only cause frustration for me.

So, to answer your question... I come on here for enjoyment, and to better my knowledge and debating skills. If I convert a few people along with that, so be it.

EDIT: Eudaimonist made a great point about changing the stigma against Atheists as well. That would also be a reason why I'm here. There's an awful lot of misunderstanding, bigotry and hate directed at Atheists by Christians. Engaging in peaceful debate and discussion will give Christians a better understanding of our positions and perhaps change their minds about us as people.

createdtoworship · Jun 19, 2012

quatona said:
To whom does it come across as rude?

There are plenty of things that tend to strike me as rude in your approach - however, answering a question certainly wouldn´t.
Besides, I haven´t asked you to answer the question in an "athiest" (sic!) forum, I asked to answer it right here.

no thanx

createdtoworship · Jun 19, 2012

Dave Ellis said:
It's not rude to promote theism in an atheist thread at all....

In fact, it is rude to not answer a question that's been repeatedly asked of you.

no thanx

createdtoworship · Jun 19, 2012

Dave Ellis said:
If you have no evidence, how can you justify a belief in anything?

The only intellectually honest position to take is to lack belief until evidence has been presented which makes a belief justifiable.

then athiesm is NOT a belief

createdtoworship · Jun 19, 2012

Dave Ellis said:
No, Atheism is a lack of belief.

Atheists have not accepted any god claims as valid.

you BELIEVE in no evidence for God right?

createdtoworship · Jun 19, 2012

Skavau said:
Atheists have a lack of belief in God due to the lack of evidence for God.

so there is no POSITIVE evidence for athiesm then!!!

because it's a lack of belief,

due to a lack of evidence,

so it's just negatives, no positive anything.

KCfromNC · Jun 19, 2012

gradyll said:
someone said that atheism was a belief and agnosticism was knowledge,

Not in this thread. Atheism is a lack of belief and agnosticism is a specific set of beliefs about [the possibility of] knowledge about god(s).

KCfromNC · Jun 19, 2012

gradyll said:
I have been told that atheism is a lack of belief

hows that fit in with evidence, all they can talk about is "lack of evidence"

I wasn't talking about evidence for or against gods. I was talking of evidence that one can know one's beliefs. If you're talking about something different you'll need to be more clear.

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