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The Burden of Proof
#1
The Burden of Proof
In respect to religious claims, the burden of proof rests solely on the person or persons making the claim. If a person were to make an extraordinary and improbable claim. Their claim, would be subject to immediate scrutiny and ridicule and in turn, would be responsible for the burden of proof.

The scientific method requires evidence supporting a hypothesis or the reverse (A hypothesis that supports evidence) before it can become a theory, and even more, irrefutable evidence to make it a law. It, however, does not say that if a person says “pigs can fly.” Now, prove me wrong. Or that the people who didn’t make the claim have to provide evidence to the contrary, and if they can’t, then the former must be true. This is circular reasoning and it is the basis of every theological debate. Theist know the burden of proof rests with them. They don’t have any proof, nor could they, because their whole proposition is based on faith. This is why they always try to pass the buck when it comes to the burden of proof. Theologist have the ability to reason just like anyone else, they just refuse to do so in this one area of faith. For example:

If I were to say to them: “ Pigs can fly! ” And they said: “Did you see them?” And I said: “Well, uh, no.” And they said: “Do you know someone who did?” And I said: “Well, uh, no.” And then they said: “Do you have any evidence?” And I said: “I don’t have any evidence but, (wait for it) what I do have is a collection of books. These books contain many stories of miraculous things. Some of which are virgin births and resurrections and other suspensions of the laws of physics and of nature. Which are also without evidence. These books were written by numerous unknown authors two thousand years ago. These authors did not witness or have first hand knowledge of the events but, instead, wrote down folklore accounts, passed down by word of mouth for generations after the supposed events took place. They were then translated into many different languages over the next two millennia and picked through by various groups of people who added or subtracted from the already inaccurate accounts.” Then to have the audacity to say, “Take my word for it because I know it in my heart to be true.”

They would think I was a crackpot, and rightly so. This is precisely what religion asks of it’s followers. I think that all unfounded claims and especially these extraordinarily unfounded claims deserve the utmost scrutiny. But, somehow in our credulity, society has given license to these claims in the pretense of not “offending” anyone. The Constitution of the United States of America grants people the right to believe in whatever they choose. It also affords and protects the right of people to not be made to believe as others do. It also grants freedom of speech and of the press. It, however, does not grant the right of people to not be “offended”. This is one of the greatest amendments if not the greatest (probably why it’s the


first) and that makes it different from any other constitution in the world. The men who wrote this infallible document were fighting against a totalitarian, despotic regime where the monarchy was, and still is, the head of the church. A church that oppressed all other beliefs or disbeliefs and was founded on the morals of Henry VIII. The authors of the constitution were well aware of the dangers of allowing the ruling class into religion and religion into politics. This is explicitly why we must keep religion out of government and schools and courts. It should have no influence on medicine or science or politics. Humanity and solidarity and science should be the only principals “preached”. For without these, the species is doomed to extinction. Remember the “Golden Rule”: Do unto others as you would have done unto you. (One of many ideas plagiarized by the Bible from centuries before it’s time)
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#2
RE: The Burden of Proof
While we're keeping religion out of all of those places, perhaps we should keep the pitfalls of religious thought, infallibility for example, out of our idea of the constitution. It's a minor nitpick. Welcome aboard btw.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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#3
RE: The Burden of Proof
Hello there.

Ever heard the phrase "preaching to the choir?"

The atheists around here already know the theists are fools. The theists think every god except their own is false and they won't be persuaded by appeals to reality.

Relax and enjoy yourself. You are among friends for the most part and you'll identify the enemy soon enough.
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#4
RE: The Burden of Proof
The for the most part is because there are as many 1-time-shitter atheists as there are theists... and I don't look well upon either.

Please give me a home where cloud buffalo roam
Where the dear and the strangers can play
Where sometimes is heard a discouraging word
But the skies are not stormy all day
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#5
RE: The Burden of Proof
(August 19, 2011 at 1:10 am)Rhythm Wrote: While we're keeping religion out of all of those places, perhaps we should keep the pitfalls of religious thought, infallibility for example, out of our idea of the constitution. It's a minor nitpick. Welcome aboard btw.

I see your point. I have such a great respect and admiration of the constitution though. I do see it as infallible and it upsets me to no end to see religious fundamentalists and zealots try and screw it up with their superstition. Thank you for the welcome.
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#6
RE: The Burden of Proof
Quote:I do see it as infallible and it upsets me to no end to see religious fundamentalists and zealots try and screw it up with their superstition.

No human idea is infallible. That is why the constitution was deliberately designed to be a living document.Hence the amendments such as the Bill Of Rights.

My understanding is that the US constitution can only be amended by a 2/3 vote of Congress,the representatives of 'we the people' and not by narrow vested interest.

Of course you have every right to be upset, stamp your little foot if it will make you fee better.. What you do not have is a right NOT to be upset. Cool Shades
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#7
RE: The Burden of Proof
(August 19, 2011 at 3:00 am)padraic Wrote:
Quote:I do see it as infallible and it upsets me to no end to see religious fundamentalists and zealots try and screw it up with their superstition.

No human idea is infallible. That is why the constitution was deliberately designed to be a living document.Hence the amendments such as the Bill Of Rights.

My understanding is that the US constitution can only be amended by a 2/3 vote of Congress,the representatives of 'we the people' and not by narrow vested interest.

Of course you have every right to be upset, stamp your little foot if it will make you fee better.. What you do not have is a right NOT to be upset. Cool Shades

2/3 vote of congress. This is exactly why people need to be aware of the people they elect into these positions and the superstitions they may or may not believe in. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
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#8
RE: The Burden of Proof
Equally Anti religious claims shoulder the same burden. IOW : STFU Big Grin
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#9
RE: The Burden of Proof
Frodo desperately needs this to be true..lol. He's a smart guy though, and he knows it isn't
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Reply
#10
RE: The Burden of Proof
Well then fr0d0, prove to me that there isn't an invisible, ten foot, naked woman with breasts the size of my head floating 1000 yards in the air above you. If you can't, then that must be proof it exists.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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