Hypothetical: Creationism becomes standard in science classes

[Ken Behrens]

Depends on what ancient species we are talking about. Complete trilobite fossils are so common, I bought a small one for $8 as a gift for my fiance. He loves fossils.

It's a good thing he loves someone who is not yet dead as well. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

 

[Ken Behrens]

Good for you. You dont qualify as many.

I've noticed.

 

[PsychoSarah]

It's a good thing he loves someone who is not yet dead as well. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Got me to smile.

 

[Ken Behrens]

You might want to let them know that the actual dictionary definition of atheist does not require a belief that no gods exist.

Most atheists don't like to be told things by Christians. I guess I could say "Loudmouth at CF says"?

 

[Ken Behrens]

Going by one of your own previous posts suggesting that people can lie or be inaccurate: unless they copy-paste, they are left to the telephone game.

Does a word mean what common use assigns to it for meaning, or does it mean what the dictionary said it used to mean?

Really, isn't relationship more important than using the right word? If we care enough to discuss, we'll develop a mutual vocabulary quickly enough.

 

[bhsmte]

Most atheists don't like to be told things by Christians. I guess I could say "Loudmouth at CF says"?

No need, just try a dictionary.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Most atheists don't like to be told things by Christians.

I'd say the other way around applies even more so. Hard for people to be nice in conversations with me when they go into it thinking all atheists are satan-worshipping sodomites.

 

[Ken Behrens]

Sure, though it's a weird way of saying it. Kinda like how it would be weird to tell people "I call myself Sarah" when they ask me my name in English, but the equivalent would be totally normal in Spanish. Me llamo Sarah literally translates to "I call myself Sarah". To a Spanish speaker, saying "me nombre es Sarah", which does literally translate to "my name is Sarah", would be viewed as weird.

What's weirder is the passive voice. Se cree. It is believed, but it reads "it believes itself".

 

[PsychoSarah]

Does a word mean what common use assigns to it for meaning, or does it mean what the dictionary said it used to mean?

Dictionary. Common use is pretty much annoying and makes communication harder, especially when the "common use" and the dictionary definition are used to almost the same degree.

Really, isn't relationship more important than using the right word? If we care enough to discuss, we'll develop a mutual vocabulary quickly enough.

I talk to a lot of people. I couldn't even succeed at trying to have a personalized dictionary in my head for all of them. That's kinda why standards of word meanings are important.

 

[PsychoSarah]

What's weirder is the passive voice. Se cree. It is believed, but it reads "it believes itself".

Have you ever tried to read a direct translation of the Old Testament to English? "Do not put other gods before me" ends up directly being "do not, my face beside other".

 

[Ken Behrens]

No need, just try a dictionary.

I did. Okay.

 

[Ken Behrens]

I'd say the other way around applies even more so. Hard for people to be nice in conversations with me when they go into it thinking all atheists are satan-worshipping sodomites.

Almost no atheists are satan worshipers. Almost no atheists are sodomites. I seriously doubt any atheists are both.

 

[Ken Behrens]

Dictionary. Common use is pretty much annoying and makes communication harder, especially when the "common use" and the dictionary definition are used to almost the same degree.


I talk to a lot of people. I couldn't even succeed at trying to have a personalized dictionary in my head for all of them. That's kinda why standards of word meanings are important.

I seriously doubt that any two people have exactly the same understanding of almost any word.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Almost no atheists are satan worshipers. Almost no atheists are sodomites. I seriously doubt any atheists are both.

Actually, most self proclaimed "satanists" are atheists, because being a "satanist" doesn't mean you actually worship the devil if you consider the actual organized group of it. Most atheists aren't satanists, though.

 

[Loudmouth]

Most atheists don't like to be told things by Christians. I guess I could say "Loudmouth at CF says"?

No one likes to be told what their beliefs are. They usually want to define what their own beliefs are. I have found that sometimes Christians like to tell atheists things like, "Deep down you really believe in God, but you just don't want to follow the rules." It's statements like that which tick atheists off.

 

[Loudmouth]

Actually, most self proclaimed "satanists" are atheists, because being a "satanist" doesn't mean you actually worship the devil if you consider the actual organized group of it. Most atheists aren't satanists, though.

Some of those groups use Satan for the snarkiness of it.

 

[Ken Behrens]

Have you ever tried to read a direct translation of the Old Testament to English? "Do not put other gods before me" ends up directly being "do not, my face beside other".

Yep. Hebrew is a whole different language root. The thought patterns are very different.

 

[Ken Behrens]

No one likes to be told what their beliefs are. They usually want to define what their own beliefs are. I have found that sometimes Christians like to tell atheists things like, "Deep down you really believe in God, but you just don't want to follow the rules." It's statements like that which tick atheists off.

I think it's better to listen. That way you find out what each one believes.

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

I have previously stated I do not know how old the earth is. If I had such evidence, I would know.

Do you agree that the white cliffs of Dover seem to indicate an age greater than 10,000 years?

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

And I think that when it comes to long ago and far away, scientists are in that category.

How can you tell, given that you reject their use of evidence?