Two Cabins

[Nithavela]

Considering prison populations, I'd go with the atheist.

 

[JGG]

No, he had to have gold because the scenario's about trusting a stranger you know (almost) nothing about. There needed to be something to lose, that's all.

Is it? It's clearly not about whether you would trust a stranger, as the scenario itself forces you to trust a stranger one way or another. Trusting a stranger is the foregone conclusion of the question. It's clearly about which stranger you will choose to trust based on the limited amount, and carefully chosen information you've provided: You will trust either the atheist, or the Christian. Adding the money doesn't so much give you something to lose, as is gives the stranger something to take. Given the scenario how else would the money be lost?

I have to ask: Do you really think we can't see through all of this?

 

[Nithavela]

OK, lets change the terms a little bit:

You are also informed that the atheist and the Christian in each cabin also happen to be participants in this thread.

Now what.....?

Now I'd rather freeze to death.

 

[quatona]

I was thinking that even if I were an atheist, and I had the choice of trusting a person with some beliefs about right and wrong which were rooted in the Creator of the universe (even if untrue), and trusting a person I knew nothing about, except that he may or may not have such firm beliefs, I'd trust the one who believed in a Creator.

I have always felt quite uncomfortable among persons whom I knew behaved only because commanded so. Just saying.

 

[Sectio Aurea]

Haven't you heard that Christians are scared of a big man in the sky who might punish them for doing bad things?

But Christians can repent to the big man in the sky for doing bad things.

I wouldn't trust a person who believes they possess an endless supply of "get out of jail free" cards.

 

[Chesterton]

no i am saying it is impossible to know the mind of another, the fact you are claiming to be able to do just that is unsettling.

I haven't claimed that. It's others here who are reading my mind.

I see.

But later in the thread you said:

Why the disappointment that atheists agree with stereotypes that you yourself have unapologetically contributed to? If you don't know which are true or false why are you expecting atheists to be generous? Maybe they're just agreeing with accurate observations.

Just because I was hoping they didn't believe the stereotypes as much as they indicated they do. But if they're being honest, not much I can do about it.

Is it? It's clearly not about whether you would trust a stranger, as the scenario itself forces you to trust a stranger one way or another. Trusting a stranger is the foregone conclusion of the question. It's clearly about which stranger you will choose to trust based on the limited amount, and carefully chosen information you've provided: You will trust either the atheist, or the Christian. Adding the money doesn't so much give you something to lose, as is gives the stranger something to take. Given the scenario how else would the money be lost?

Something to lose, something to take, same thing. If you and Ana think the money's critical then remove it from the scenario. You have to trust a stranger to not do any immoral act not involving money. Maybe he could challenge you to a game of cards for fun and cheat at it. Maybe he could throw you in a pit and tell you "it puts the lotion on its skin".

I have to ask: Do you really think we can't see through all of this?

You can read into it whatever your psychology or your prejudices dictate.

I have always felt quite uncomfortable among persons whom I knew behaved only because commanded so. Just saying.

Are you uncomfortable among taxpayers?

 

[quatona]

Are you uncomfortable among taxpayers?

I wasn´t aware that the choice of cabin was meant to be based on their owners paying their taxes.

 

[JGG]

Just because I was hoping they didn't believe the stereotypes as much as they indicated they do. But if they're being honest, not much I can do about it.

Actually, I think there is. For one, you could stop reinforcing these stereotypes yourself, right? Additionally, you could encourage other Christians not to reinforce these stereotypes. Why not do that?

Something to lose, something to take, same thing. If you and Ana think the money's critical then remove it from the scenario. You have to trust a stranger to not do any immoral act not involving money. Maybe he could challenge you to a game of cards for fun and cheat at it. Maybe he could throw you in a pit and tell you "it puts the lotion on its skin".

You can read into it whatever your psychology or your prejudices dictate.

Funny you should mention psychology. I just find it fascinating that you have told us that you cannot say that these stereotypes are inaccurate, unfair, unwarranted, or untrue, and that you yourself have gone out of your way to live up to them and yet, you place the responsibility of the existence of the stereotypes on atheists for believing them. It's almost as though you want to be able to do and say whatever you want, but place the responsibility for it on someone else, right?

 

[Chesterton]

Actually, I think there is. For one, you could stop reinforcing these stereotypes yourself, right? Additionally, you could encourage other Christians not to reinforce these stereotypes. Why not do that?

I try not to be like the stereotypes. I sometimes try and encourage others, but I wouldn't have any more luck than others trying to tell someone like AV how old the earth is, for example.

Funny you should mention psychology. I just find it fascinating that you have told us that you cannot say that these stereotypes are inaccurate, unfair, unwarranted, or untrue, and that you yourself have gone out of your way to live up to them and yet, you place the responsibility of the existence of the stereotypes on atheists for believing them. It's almost as though you want to be able to do and say whatever you want, but place the responsibility for it on someone else, right?

I have not told you I can't comment on those stereotypes. That's what you want, my opinion on each of those 5 things? And how have I gone out of my way to live up to them?

 

[madaz]

Everyone would choose the Christian and they know it. No one will admit this, though.

Christians may have a proclivity towards the Christian cabin and it is these same Christians who will not admit it but I doubt very much that everyone would choose the Christian cabin.

 

[JGG]

I try not to be like the stereotypes. I sometimes try and encourage others, but I wouldn't have any more luck than others trying to tell someone like AV how old the earth is, for example.

Convincing Christians that atheists are not immoral god-hating bottomfeeders, who seek to destroy religion, conquer the world and eat babies is certainly an uphill battle, but that's why most atheists seem to be around here. Something worth doing is something worth doing even if it's hard.

I have not told you I can't comment on those stereotypes. That's what you want, my opinion on each of those 5 things?

You can comment now. Are they inaccurate, unfair, unwarranted or untrue?

And how have I gone out of my way to live up to them?

Read through your comments on this thread you have created, and try to imagine how it looks to someone who is not a Christian.

 

[Chesterton]

Convincing Christians that atheists are not immoral god-hating bottomfeeders, who seek to destroy religion, conquer the world and eat babies is certainly an uphill battle, but that's why most atheists seem to be around here. Something worth doing is something worth doing even if it's hard.

Playing the victim is so tired. Boo hoo, everyone says we eat babies. You guys whine as much as any Christians. But a few months ago I re-watched the "Four Horsemen" video. There are definitely four leading atheists spending some of their time brainstorming about how to destroy religion.

You can comment now. Are they inaccurate, unfair, unwarranted or untrue?

All five are possibly true for a minority of Christians. I don't know any Christians in real life that any of those would apply to as far as I can tell. But I hear of them in the media. Weirdos tend to attract attention and get the spotlight.

Read through your comments on this thread you have created, and try to imagine how it looks to someone who is not a Christian.

I usually do that before I post. God forbid someone gets their feelings hurt. Atheists would never hurt anyone's feelings on here, would they?

 

[lupusFati]

Everyone would choose the Christian and they know it. No one will admit this, though.

Actually I'd choose the atheist if I even HAD to choose. The Christian would probably condemn me.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Playing the victim is so tired. Boo hoo, everyone says we eat babies. You guys whine as much as any Christians. But a few months ago I re-watched the "Four Horsemen" video. There are definitely four leading atheists spending some of their time brainstorming about how to destroy religion.



All five are possibly true for a minority of Christians. I don't know any Christians in real life that any of those would apply to as far as I can tell. But I hear of them in the media. Weirdos tend to attract attention and get the spotlight.



I usually do that before I post. God forbid someone gets their feelings hurt. Atheists would never hurt anyone's feelings on here, would they?

"Stop saying that I'm stereotyping you when I'm stereotyping you! Is that too much to ask? Boo hoo, I'm trying to force a stereotype on you. Stop whining about it."

 

[Davian]

 

[Chesterton]

I could respond with some graphics which aren't so funny, due to the blood and gore.

 

[Davian]

I could respond with some graphics which aren't so funny, due to the blood and gore.

"Funny" was not the intent of that image.

 

[JGG]

Playing the victim is so tired. Boo hoo, everyone says we eat babies. You guys whine as much as any Christians. But a few months ago I re-watched the "Four Horsemen" video. There are definitely four leading atheists spending some of their time brainstorming about how to destroy religion.

Four whole atheists?! Incroyable!

All five are possibly true for a minority of Christians. I don't know any Christians in real life that any of those would apply to as far as I can tell. But I hear of them in the media. Weirdos tend to attract attention and get the spotlight.

What are you talking about? You live up to at least 3 of the 5. Are you a weirdo?

I usually do that before I post. God forbid someone gets their feelings hurt. Atheists would never hurt anyone's feelings on here, would they?

That's fine. You can live up to the Christian stereotype. But when you say atheists are less moral, that Christians are moral out of fear, or you would sooner trust anyone else except an atheist (or a Muslim) I don't see how you can pretend to be disappointed when people think Christians act out of fear, act holier-than-thou, or are hateful toward people who don't believe what they do.

 

[Chesterton]

Four whole atheists?! Incroyable!

Practically the atheist equivalent of four Popes.

What are you talking about? You live up to at least 3 of the 5. Are you a weirdo?

That's fine. You can live up to the Christian stereotype. But when you say atheists are less moral, that Christians are moral out of fear, or you would sooner trust anyone else except an atheist (or a Muslim) I don't see how you can pretend to be disappointed when people think Christians act out of fear, act holier-than-thou, or are hateful toward people who don't believe what they do.

I don't know what 3 I'm living up to. I answered the OP and gave my reason for my answer. I didn't do any of the other things you said. My answer is probably similar to the reason politicians don't come out and say they're atheists. That's on you. You need to come up with a moral philosophy which is as compelling as the supernatural compulsion we all feel.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Practically the atheist equivalent of four Popes.



I don't know what 3 I'm living up to. I answered the OP and gave my reason for my answer. I didn't do any of the other things you said. My answer is probably similar to the reason politicians don't come out and say they're atheists. That's on you. You need to come up with a moral philosophy which is as compelling as the supernatural compulsion we all feel.

Given religion's failure to settle on a coherent and consistent moral philosophy that does not simply revert to conflicting variations on "God said it!," it seems that you too need to come up with one as well.