Where are you on Dawkins scale?

madaz · Jan 31, 2013

1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

2.Have you ever transitioned along the scale?

3.If yes please share with us the reasons why you made the transition?

4.Where do you think most atheists reside on this scale 5-7?

5.Where do you think most theists reside on this scale and why?

Lord Emsworth · Jan 31, 2013

7! = 5040

Doesn't make sense? Think again; Ignosticism can do that.

madaz · Jan 31, 2013

Lord Emsworth said:
7! = 5040

Doesn't make sense? Think again; Ignosticism can do that.

Well done

essentialsaltes · Jan 31, 2013

1 - I'd say I'm a 6.5

"I cannot know for certain, but I believe no gods exist."

2 - When I was a child, I was probably a 3. It's hard to put myself on the scale, since I was too young to think about these things properly. Although my family were not regular churchgoers, I guess I absorbed that we all believed in a god.

3 - Let's say I matured and learned who I am as a person, because it would be too insulting (and not entirely true) to say I grew up and got educated. When I finally realized I didn't believe in any gods, it was probably a leap from 3 to 5. Further thought has slowly ratcheted me toward my current position.

4 - Who knows?

5 - I think honest thoughtful theists hover around 1.5 to 2. The theists who claim to be 1's I often think are only saying so because of insecurities and are actually 3's. Or higher. (For the same reason, when I hear someone loudly proclaiming to be 100% heterosexual, I get a little suspicious that there are some insecurities there.)

Sectio Aureo · Jan 31, 2013

madaz said:
1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

6

madaz said:
2.Have you ever transitioned along the scale?

Yes

madaz said:
3.If yes please share with us the reasons why you made the transition?

Because my previous position no longer made much sense.

madaz said:
4.Where do you think most atheists reside on this scale 5-7?

I guess a 6

madaz said:
5.Where do you think most theists reside on this scale and why?

I guess between 1 and 2 because I dont know many theists who claim there probably is a god but I expect most would not admit being a 2 or 3.

brightlights · Jan 31, 2013

madaz said:
1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

At this point I would consider myself a 1.

2.Have you ever transitioned along the scale?

Yes. Over the past 12 years I have shifted from 5 to 1.

3.If yes please share with us the reasons why you made the transition?

At first personal need, then unexpected experience, then consistant experience, then a fundamental shift in perception.

4.Where do you think most atheists reside on this scale 5-7?

5.

5.Where do you think most theists reside on this scale and why?

5. Most theists probably don't really believe.

Elioenai26 · Jan 31, 2013

Archaeopteryx · Jan 31, 2013

madaz said:
1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

At 5 or 6.

2.Have you ever transitioned along the scale?

I have transitioned from 2, 3, 4 to 5 or 6.

3.If yes please share with us the reasons why you made the transition?

I don't think I can pinpoint the precise reason for the shift. I read more widely, and this perhaps lead me to examine my theism more critically at each step. Eventually the realisation dawned on me that I was no longer a theist. I was reluctant to admit it to myself though because, at the time, the word 'atheist' still had a negative connotation for me.

4.Where do you think most atheists reside on this scale 5-7?

Probably at 6.

5.Where do you think most theists reside on this scale and why?

Either 1 or 2.

Davian · Jan 31, 2013

madaz said:

1) On deities referred to by the label "God" to date, I would be a 7, although I do not self-identify as an atheist. There is always someone trying to put something new under that old label. It may not be 100% tomorrow.

2) I transitioned form apatheism to ignosticism without ever thinking that "God" was anything other than a character in a book, so, no.

3) I would credit the transition I did make to an increased knowledge of how the world around us works, particularly on the subject of consciousness.

4&5) I couldn't hazard a WAG.

Loudmouth · Feb 1, 2013

1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

6

2.Have you ever transitioned along the scale?

When I was a child I was at a 1. My transition was like a child who believes in Santa Claus and then grows up to see the folly in such beliefs.

3.If yes please share with us the reasons why you made the transition?

For the same reason that you do not believe in Santa Claus, or Zeus.

4.Where do you think most atheists reside on this scale 5-7?

A 6. Very few atheists are actively contemplating it. That is usually a short transition from theism to atheism. Once you start to ask questions you quickly find out that no one has answers.

5.Where do you think most theists reside on this scale and why?

1 to 2. What I have found is that theists are quite afraid of those who actually question faith.

Eudaimonist · Feb 1, 2013

madaz said:
1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

I don't much like Dawkins scale because I simply don't think of the issue of the existence of divine beings in terms of probability, or at least not in the way that he does.

As I see it, the probability of God's existence is effectively zero until I have some good reason to assign a non-zero probability, and that requires some persuasive evidence of the possibility of God's existence, of which there is none. I don't count my imagination or any uncertainty having to do with my lack of godlike knowledge as evidence of non-zero probabilities.

But that doesn't mean that I score a "7", because I do not declare that "I am 100% sure that there is no God (or gods)".

So, I am actually not represented on his scale at all! The value is undefined.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Crandaddy · Feb 1, 2013

madaz said:
1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

I think I'm a solid 2. I'm a fairly convinced theist, but I suppose there is a possibility I might be wrong. I'm very cautious about claiming absolute 100% certainty of anything. I always try to keep a reasonably open mind.

2.Have you ever transitioned along the scale?

Yes. As a teenager I had a crisis of faith where I definitely went to 3, and possibly even 4 (don't think I ever quite went to 5 though).

3.If yes please share with us the reasons why you made the transition?

Atheists often claim that education is what did away with their belief in God. For me it was just the opposite. I began studying the works of theistic philosophers, their metaphysical systems, and their theistic proofs, and I found their arguments very formidable. That's what brought me up to a 2, anyway (played a big role in it, at least).

4.Where do you think most atheists reside on this scale 5-7?

Most seem to be 5's or 6's. There don't seem to be too many 7's.

5.Where do you think most theists reside on this scale and why?

I think most are 2's or 3's. There might be a few 1's, but I think it's very difficult to reach that level of certainty about anything if you really subject it to serious critical scrutiny.

KCfromNC · Feb 1, 2013

Which god(s) are we talking about here?

Fenny the Fox · Feb 1, 2013

1.Where do you rate yourself on the Dawkins 1-7 scale?

I would say around 2, as a "de-facto theist". I cannot prove existence, but I personally feel a very strong inclination that God exists.

2.Have you ever transitioned along the scale?

I would say not so much, honestly.

4.Where do you think most atheists reside on this scale 5-7?

I would assume most would be around 6, since one can neither prove nor disprove existence of a deity but can easily feel the same level of assurance and inclination that one does not exist.

5.Where do you think most theists reside on this scale and why?

Likely in the same category as myself, I would hope - as a rational and seeking human should be if they are inclined to believe.

keith99 · Feb 1, 2013

I'd say 5.5.

But I'll adjust depending on the definition of God used. There are some weaker definitions of God where it seems to me one gets pushed toward 4.

If we are talking about an old man whith a white beard who judges us all I'm thinking I go to 6.9 or so.

I freely admit/claim that 1 and 7 are for those who refuse to admit they might be mistaken.

yasic · Feb 1, 2013

For an abrahamic God, I would say a 6.5
For a 'general personal' God I would say a 6.0
For a deistic God I would say a 4.5

madaz · Feb 1, 2013

KCfromNC said:
Which god(s) are we talking about here?

Very good question.

See the post above for an example of multiple ratings.

Davian · Feb 2, 2013

KCfromNC said:
Which god(s) are we talking about here?

The list says God-with-a-capital-G, so I answered appropriately. I guess the other gods will have to wait for another thread.

Eudaimonist · Feb 2, 2013

KCfromNC said:
Which god(s) are we talking about here?

The God of the Anglican church, silly.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Crandaddy · Feb 2, 2013

Eudaimonist said:
The God of the Anglican church, silly.

eudaimonia,

Mark

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Where are you on Dawkins scale?

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