If somebody wants me to accept something as true that I am sceptical about the way to do so is by providing proof or evidence or failing this logic or reason. Anything else is not acceptable
And an argument from emotion might be true but I would still require something else to confirm it. I have a very simple methodology when it comes to assessing truth claims. If they can be
validated I accept them. If they cannot be validated I reject them. If they can / cannot be validated I keep an open mind. Though sometimes I will accept or reject a truth claim on the basis
of probability but never on emotion alone. However as I am human and so therefore fallible I cannot afford to be complacent. No one is immune from it and so for me it is an eternal work in
progress. The easiest person to fool is yourself and so even if you are naturally inclined to be more logical than emotional you are still susceptible to confirmation bias or subjective reasoning

I am not impressed with post-NDE claims. Would a person in this state be a credible witness in court? Would you want a person who is hypoxic and unresponsive to bear witness against you? I work as a Registered Nurse. I have performed CPR and have seen people after CPR/defibrillation . Talk about a bad hair day. You are a fucking wreck after this occurs.

Right. Someone is in about the worst position possible to give credible evidence.

It's just when the "evidence" lines up with some peoples' beliefs, they just accept it without question because it's convenient to do so. And because they can't get evidence through any proper channels.

Asking me to prove that a bunch of magic stuff/meeting God didn't happen is a huge argument from ignorance. No one with any integrity should ask such questions.

When someone is knocked on the head, they may see stars. That doesn't mean we should rely on their testimony, when studying astrophysics...

Perfect.

Little Rik Wrote:

Chad32 Wrote:I'm actually surprised by that. And no, I wouldn't care. The brain does crazy things when it's dying, and I figure the "I saw heaven" stories were just because that's where the thoughts went to when the brain was malfunctioning.

This kind of falls into the category of people converting because they're in some sort of vulnerable position in life. Very rarely do you have people living happy, independent lives, convert to religion. Unless it's a very liberal form of religion, or they just say they're religious to get people to leave them alone.

Other people having experiences is not something that would convince me to convert. The all knowing, all powerful, and all present being in the sky knows how to get me on his side, if he wants a relationship with me so badly.

Once again you guys are not answering the question.
I am not talking about people who had an NDE in general.
I am very very specific and ask if one of you which is a respected atheist in this forum would come back in here after an NDE experience saying that he-she was wrong all the way........what would you do?
Change, not change or what else?  

And the very first reply you got answered that question. Why do you waste our time like this?

(June 21, 2016 at 4:09 am)robvalue Wrote: You could change the question to every atheist on the forum suddenly turning up with stories about meeting God. Any stories. I don't care. Evidence or GTFO. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and anecdotes are terrible evidence. Absolutely terrible. For anything except the mundane, they are next to worthless. Even huge numbers of anecdotes are worthless. For mundane claims, sure. For relatively unimportant claims, sure. I'll settle for anecdotes from people I trust. But not for claims regarding stuff not even understood by science. My wife tells me stories about ghosts and other such weirdness. I believe she believes them, but I don't believe her conclusions are correct.

Roberto.  

Let me saying something about science or the physical science that you mean.
The consciousness is something abstract not something physical therefore it is obvious that
the physical science is unable to understand it.
The only way to understand consciousness is by practicing yoga meditation.
There have been researches on meditation as I already show in this thread

http://atheistforums.org/thread-43495.html

but it is all related about the way that the brain react to meditation not as to how a person feel
about the change within.

Quote:I'd be interested to investigate what exactly has gone on to make all these atheists lose their shit at once. I'd suspect some other explanation. But I simply wouldn't know.

And to prove a point, if all the theists in this forum turned up one day with stories of how they went outside the universe or some shit and saw there was no god, would little Rik believe them on weight of numbers? And become an atheist?  I'm thinking no. I'm thinking he'd want evidence, all of a sudden.

Wrong again Roberto.  

Forget about what would happen IF and take in consideration what has gone on so far with NDEs.
So far people of all background (theists, atheists, non theists and not atheists) that have gone through
a real NDE confirm that God exist and the other dimension is the real MaCoy.

Yeah...stuff's not true just because you say it. I thought you have figured that out by now.

Why should I forget if? If that happened, would you change your mind?

The answer is no, isn't it. This whole thread is a hypothetical so why are you immune?

Also, you've got your answers to the poll but you won't comment on it. Why is that?

(June 21, 2016 at 10:48 am)Little Rik Wrote: Let me saying something about science or the physical science that you mean.
The consciousness is something abstract not something physical therefore it is obvious that
the physical science is unable to understand it.

Science encompasses more that the physical. It can address the abstract in some cases, your claim here notwithstanding. It's true we don't have a scientific understanding of the mechanism of consciousness right now, but that doesn't mean it will be forever impermeable.

(June 21, 2016 at 10:48 am)Little Rik Wrote: The only way to understand consciousness is by practicing yoga meditation.

For you. That idea that your ideal solution is the only way any other of the seven billion people on Earth can arrive at self-understanding reeks of overweening ego.

None of us are scared to answer hypothetical questions, so why is it so hard for Rik?

Your belief system really is fucked if it takes that little to stump you.