(August 20, 2016 at 10:56 pm)jmoney_419 Wrote: So, for this thread i'm mostly talking about the conversations when you're talking about your views on religion. And, whoever you're talking too actually brings up a good point or something that makes you stop and think? Also, sorry in advance if this has already been asked.

Many things make me think, some more than others.  Where God/gods is concerned what is most thought provoking is how to reason with folks who have imbibed the Kool-ade.

(August 20, 2016 at 11:00 pm)ScienceAf Wrote:

(August 20, 2016 at 10:56 pm)jmoney_419 Wrote: So, for this thread i'm mostly talking about the conversations when you're talking about your views on religion. And, whoever you're talking too actually brings up a good point or something that makes you stop and think? Also, sorry in advance if this has already been asked.

Yeah... forgive me but I was almost convinced that aliens have visited Earth...
My dad told me a list of symptoms of alien abduction and I had almost all of them.

Turns out...

ALMOST ALL MY FRIENDS HAVE DEM.

AND IT'S A MEDICAL CONDITION.

e.g...

Sleep paralysis,
Fear of being watch by shadowy creature,
Fear of looking at weird shaped aliens (or creeped out)
Random scars
Time loss
etc...

Forgive me...

We did abduct you. You're now on Planet and will soon meet the mind worms.

Sometimes I think about the implications of an argument I'm making against someone else's position and realizing that the implications aren't flattering for my own position. Then I have to think hard and determine whether or not I'm just engaged in special pleading or not.

The most troubling is when I raise the objection that you can't discern the truth from a feeling or an experience. It raises the question of whether or not my positions aren't simply based on my own feelings and experiences. My rational response is that none of us can be sure that good reasons led us to our conclusions, but the emotional side of me wants to believe that my conclusions are different, that they ARE based on knowably good reasons.

(August 20, 2016 at 11:35 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: Deism, when I first heard of it as a boy. I still think it's the most reasonable possibility (however remote) for any deity.

Same here. When I was in my late 20ies, I mingled a bit with wiccans. The ten rules of witchcraft made much more sense to me than the christian commandments. Much more benevolent, much more logical.

From the other side, I do not know a single believer who doesn't struggle with the Problem of Evil.

If by 'struggle with' you mean 'ignore it in the fervent hope that it will go away', then I agree.

Boru

(September 14, 2016 at 2:27 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: From the other side, I do not know a single believer who doesn't struggle with the Problem of Evil.

When I was a theist, I had a much bigger problem with "divine hiddenness" than the problem of evil.

But they are both problematic for theists.

I hear things that make me stop and think all the time. Good points and bad from all sides. If you never hear anything that makes you stop and think that's probably a bad sign for you.

(September 14, 2016 at 2:27 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: From the other side, I do not know a single believer who doesn't struggle with the Problem of Evil.

It's pretty apparent that Drich doesn't.

(August 20, 2016 at 10:56 pm)jmoney_419 Wrote: So, for this thread i'm mostly talking about the conversations when you're talking about your views on religion. And, whoever you're talking too actually brings up a good point or something that makes you stop and think? Also, sorry in advance if this has already been asked.

Every point makes me stop and think, or I wouldn't be bothering to answer it.  Most points make me stop for a very short time and think very little.  A long, elaborate point will make me stop longer, and think more.