Changing beliefs

[Chany]

I used to be a Christian, believe in free will, and be a political conservative. I changed my views in light of evidence.

 

[AV1611VET]

I used to be a Christian, believe in free will, and be a political conservative. I changed my views in light of evidence.

So you once ...

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

... and then you gave all that up to follow evidence?

 

[Rajni]

Have you ever believed something and had your mind changed by evidence? If so what?

If you have beliefs what evidence could theoretically be given to change your mind?

I used to believe in an eternal hell, until I realized that such a concept
would necessitate belief in a less-than-perfect God.

Incidentally, I was persuaded that hell doesn't exist (at least, in the
traditionally inhumane, endless sense) via the same bible which others
insist teaches it, which only further suggests that if any hell *does* exist,
it does so right between one's own two ears.





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[MikeCarra]

How much time would it take to make a scene like this?

A very long time indeed. >10,000 years. Which means YEC cannot stand.

 

[UnderstandForgive]

If god opened up the skies and proved he existed, I would still be more inclined to think I had gone insane.

 

[TLK Valentine]

It is not deceiving. It is that we do not understand. There is a very very critical difference between the two.

Indeed -- "we" don't understand that the Bible isn't always to be taken literally.

What you said can be EASILY explained by a theory which we do not understand yet.

Or by one which we do understand.

 

[Michael]

I used to believe in an eternal hell, until I realized that such a concept
would necessitate belief in a less-than-perfect God.

Incidentally, I was persuaded that hell doesn't exist (at least, in the
traditionally inhumane, endless sense) via the same bible which others
insist teaches it, which only further suggests that if any hell *does* exist,
it does so right between one's own two ears.
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FYI, you can thank Augustine for kludging/grafting the pagan concept of Hades into "Christianity". There is no such afterlife concept in Judaism. Origin taught early Christians about universal salvation, not perpetual torment.

 

[AV1611VET]

If god opened up the skies and proved he existed, I would still be more inclined to think I had gone insane.

Why would you do that, when there are scientific options to conclude it wasn't Him?

John 12:28b Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
John 12:29a The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered:

 

[MikeCarra]

It is not deceiving. It is that we do not understand. There is a very very critical difference between the two.

What you said can be EASILY explained by a theory which we do not understand yet.

Based on a couple hundred years of watching how rocks form and deposition happens such an alternative hypothesis is far, far less likely.

It is not impossible, of course, but when the alternative hypothesis has at its foundation a "need" to exist in order to align the words of a book of unknown authorship by a people not known for their technical advances but which reads almost exactly like any allegorical myth in countless OTHER ancient societies, then it makes the alternative hypothesis (as yet undiscovered) even less likely.

Why is it necessary to assume that nothing is as it seems? Well, obviously all we know and experience cannot be true when someone demands that a given allegory MUST be literally true.

 

[Dizredux]

Do you like to have a review on any of the so-called evidence? I will try not to disappoint you. I do think I am pretty realistic.

I would like to know how to explain antibiotic resistance and the twin nested hierarchy in an evidence based way that does not involve evolution.

That might have a considerable impact on my beliefs on evolution.

Dizredux

 

[lesliedellow]

If god opened up the skies and proved he existed, I would still be more inclined to think I had gone insane.

That I can believe, in spite of the professed open mindedness of atheists. Just give us the evidence, say they.

 

[Lost Angel]

I once believed that cloning of animals was impossible.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I used to be a Christian, believe in free will, and be a political conservative. I changed my views in light of evidence.

Wait, so now you are agnostic, but you DON'T believe in free will? How does that happen?

 

[PsychoSarah]

That I can believe, in spite of the professed open mindedness of atheists. Just give us the evidence, say they.

I will say that. Given me a book anyone, even the illiterate, can read. That would be a true miracle to me.

 

[Chany]

Wait, so now you are agnostic, but you DON'T believe in free will? How does that happen?

How does being agnostic relate to one's position on free will?

 

[PsychoSarah]

How does being agnostic relate to one's position on free will?

Just that normally, to not believe in free will suggests predestination, and predestination suggests some plan for existence...

 

[Chany]

Just that normally, to not believe in free will suggests predestination, and predestination suggests some plan for existence...

Uh, determinism is a popular philosophical position. Sam Harris, for example, is a hard determinist, and he's definitely not a believer in spiritual reality.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Uh, determinism is a popular philosophical position. Sam Harris, for example, is a hard determinist, and he's definitely not a believer in spiritual reality.

I said usually, didn't I? If it is determined, then what determines it?

 

[Chany]

I said usually, didn't I? If it is determined, then what determines it?

Physical causes that create and shape our genes and our environmental upbringing, particularly the social aspect of it.

Determinism doesn't require intelligence. It simply states:

Given a situation, there is only one possible outcome.

 

[TheBear]

John 12:28b Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

I got a question. How long does the glorify thing last? Apparently it has to be a repeated, (glorify again), process.

Also, what does 'glorify' mean, exactly?



(okay, that was 2 questions, i know )