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Author | Topic: Does Atheism = No beliefs? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member Posts: 19517 From: frozen wasteland Joined: Member Rating: 2.9
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But we do find Santa Claus. We find him so ubiquitously that the only rational position is to by a polysantaclausist.
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Theodoric Member Posts: 7309 From: Northwest, WI, USA Joined: Member Rating: 3.0 |
I think it is rational to say we have no evidence of such a thing. But I don't think I can know there is no supernatural. I have no knowledge there is not a god. I do have knowledge that there is no evidence for such a thing.
Semantics? Hair splitting? Maybe. As for Santa Claus we can look at the literary and historical record to show its origins. So that is direct knowledge we have. Also, we know he does not visit our houses on Christmas. Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts "God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.
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Stile Member Posts: 4065 From: Ontario, Canada Joined: Member Rating: 2.9 |
Yeah, on second thought, that's probably all my point comes down to.
Agreed. If anyone cares to follow up on this line of thinking, this would probably be a better place to do such so as to not go too far off topic here.
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Phat Member Posts: 15931 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.3
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Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. –RC Sproul "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." –Mark Twain " ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith Paul was probably SO soaked in prayer nobody else has ever equaled him.~Faith :)
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Rrhain Member (Idle past 1102 days) Posts: 6349 From: San Diego, CA, USA Joined: |
Phat writes:
quote: Why? That is, why isn't "here" good enough? Instead, all you need is a sufficiently complete definition of what you mean by "god." When your definition is so vague that it doesn't actually say anything, then can it even be said to exist? But with regard to the North Pole and Santa, it's called "magic." That's the same claim that every theist has ever claimed regarding their god as to why it can't be detected where it is claimed to exist. So if that's not acceptable with regard to Santa, why does it suddenly become legitimate for god? Rrhain Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time. Minds are like parachutes. Just because you've lost yours doesn't mean you can use mine.
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Phat Member Posts: 15931 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.3 |
Lets take this line of thought over to Stiles old thread.
Message 75 Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. –RC Sproul "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." –Mark Twain " ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith Paul was probably SO soaked in prayer nobody else has ever equaled him.~Faith :)
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Stile Member Posts: 4065 From: Ontario, Canada Joined: Member Rating: 2.9 |
Right. Santa Claus used to have a physical location. God used to have a physical location.
Read that carefully. Now apply the idea to what some are trying to say about where God is now. Obviously, if someone is claiming that God exists... just "everywhere" or "you can't detect Him" or something like that... how are they making that claim? They aren't. quote: What good is "being rational" if you can't be rational enough to say you know there is no Santa Claus? So God isn't any more rational than Santa Claus. Who cares? Do you think God cares, if He exists? If you see the upsides and positives about being rational in certain situations... then use the power of rationality in those situations. But if you try to re-define the idea of rationality so that you can feel like you're getting those upsides and positives in a situation where they just don't apply... you're only fooling yourself. And then you diminish the power of "real" rationality even when used where you used to enjoy it. ...because you'll "know" (because you taught it to yourself) that "rationality" isn't all that great anyway... it can't even help you find God. Well, duh.
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Phat Member Posts: 15931 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.3 |
Unless you are talking about Jesus... and the jury is out on whether or not He will return to his prior location... Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. –RC Sproul "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." –Mark Twain " ~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith Paul was probably SO soaked in prayer nobody else has ever equaled him.~Faith :)
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Taq Member Posts: 8519 Joined: Member Rating: 3.3 |
I thought most Christians were aware of the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctum where God was said to dwell.
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jar Member Posts: 33889 From: Texas!! Joined: Member Rating: 2.8 |
Not quite right. In it was said to be a Presence of God, often a Female aspect of God and the Shekhinah is not really a Christian tradition or Biblical but certainly a useful challenge when playing Rabbinical Trivia.
I haven't won as many drinks with it as with the "Name the most Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern US States" challenge but it has paid its way. Edited by jar, : needed an n
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Stile Member Posts: 4065 From: Ontario, Canada Joined: Member Rating: 2.9 |
Heaven. In the clouds. Granted, it was a long time ago... but does that make it better or worse? The point, regardless, is that people give Santa and God descriptions that can be tested in reality. Some might be physical locations. In all cases where things can be checked, though... it comes down to the same answer. No Santa, and No God. That leaves us with all the cases where things can't be checked. If it can't be checked... what's the rational reason to think Santa or God is there in the first place? Not very rational for the idea of figuring out if they exist or not.
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Pressie Member Posts: 2102 From: Pretoria, SA Joined: |
To all you Philosophical types. I am a radical, militant atheist and I don't think that I would ever be tempted to put my male sex organ into the cloaca of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. I don't even have chimney at home . Does that count as a belief or a non-belief?
Edited by Pressie, : No reason given. Edited by Pressie, : No reason given.
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Stile Member Posts: 4065 From: Ontario, Canada Joined: Member Rating: 2.9 |
"I don't know what's going on."
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Taq Member Posts: 8519 Joined: Member Rating: 3.3 |
If you read that quote with a strong Russian accent, it sounds awesome.
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GDR Member (Idle past 182 days) Posts: 5410 From: Sidney, BC, Canada Joined: |
Just a quick question. What would you call someone who believes that there probably is an intelligent cause for our existence, but does not adhere to any specific religion, or even any particular belief in the nature of that intelligence? He isn't really theistic because he doesn't necessarily believe that this intelligence is at all involved with the world now, he isn't really a deist because he acknowledges that possibly he/she/it could be involved and he isn't an atheist either. Wouldn't agnostic fit that person better than any other term. I suggest that there is a lot of people who fall into that category. He has told you, O man, what is good ; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
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