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December 11, 2018 at 11:40 am (This post was last modified: December 11, 2018 at 11:42 am by Simon Moon.)
(December 11, 2018 at 8:01 am)Agnostico Wrote: Now we're talking. I was about to post a new topic on a thread but thanks Nakara for providing some food for thought.
I like the analogy, its the best one I've heard.
If I ask "do u believe there is a God?" there is yes, no or I don't know. Three options, not 420.
Sorry, but belief does not work that way.
Belief is defined by cognitive scientists and analytic philosophers as, the psychological state in which one accepts a premise or proposition as being true (or likely true).
Belief is a binary mental state. Either one accepts the premise that a god exists as being true, or they don't accept that premise. There is no 3rd possibility.
If one responds "yes" to the question, "do you believe (accept as being true) at least one god exists", they are a theist. Any other answer to that question is atheism.
"I don't know" is not an answer to questions about belief. It is an answer to questions about knowledge.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
(December 11, 2018 at 6:01 am)ignoramus Wrote: Huggy thinks we all belong to a hive mind... Yeah, because we all exercise the same logical common sense.
You weren't serious were you? If your were then please explain why there is a thread with atheists trying to argue that Denmark's government is secular?
(January 6, 2015 at 8:52 am)Fidel_Castronaut Wrote:
(January 6, 2015 at 8:50 am)Huggy74 Wrote:
(January 6, 2015 at 8:36 am)Fidel_Castronaut Wrote: And finally, no, not 'capiche' you pigeon. Your links don't marry up to the data presented by abaris just a couple of posts ago:
And you ignored that all the top 10 states are secular.
Answer my question re: what you think secularism is (we all know you think secular = atheist but I want you to say it), and reply to the rebuttals, or GTFO.
Quote:You weren't serious were you? If your were then please explain why there is a thread with atheists trying to argue that Denmark's government is secular?
Because in practice it is
Seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy -- myself.
December 11, 2018 at 12:52 pm (This post was last modified: December 11, 2018 at 1:01 pm by Huggy Bear.)
(December 11, 2018 at 12:04 pm)Amarok Wrote:
Quote:You weren't serious were you? If your were then please explain why there is a thread with atheists trying to argue that Denmark's government is secular?
Because in practice it is
^^^
See what I mean...
In practice Denmark has a state religion.
In practice, the Church of Denmark is funded by taxpayer money.
In practice, newborn children are automatically enrolled in the church.
If the U.S. which is ACTUALLY secular started doing any of those things, atheists would lose their minds, yet somehow it's considered secular when Denmark does it.
What was Ignoramus saying about atheist logic again?
December 11, 2018 at 1:07 pm (This post was last modified: December 11, 2018 at 1:20 pm by Amarok.)
Quote:In practice, the Church of Denmark is funded by taxpayer money.
And how much sway does that church have on everyday government affairs or on it society in general ?
Quote:In practice, newborn children are automatically enrolled in the church.
And how much control does the church have on their lives how many even go to church how much sway does the church enforce ?
Quote:If the U.S. which is ACTUALLY secular started doing either of those things, atheists would lose their minds, yet somehow it's considered secular when Denmark does it.
While both these things are bad the Dutch church doesn't have any pragmatic sway over the everyday lives of their citizens . Contrast this with the US were the religious have actual sway over their citizens lives and the government . Show me a Dutch political debate were religious themes are common .
Quote:What was Ignoramus saying about atheist logic again?
Well he was clearly right and you were clearly wrong because contrasting the Dutch with the US it's clear the Dutch church is a dead vestigial organ while the power of the religious lobby has never been stronger .
Quote:Things that are legal in the netherlands
Abortion
Same Sex Marriage
Euthanasia
The Dutch Church opposed them all and lost and have stayed pretty quite .In America the religious right lobby is in full gear to repeal it .
Seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy -- myself.
(December 11, 2018 at 1:07 pm)Amarok Wrote: The Dutch Church opposed them all and lost and have stayed pretty quite .In America the religious right lobby is in full gear to repeal it .
I find it ironic that European countries have state sponsored religions with secular societies while America threw religion out into the street where the mind virus seems to have evolved into an aggressive and virulent strain.
I theorize that where religion is fat, protected and given a subsidy, it has no incentive to find ways to gain popular appeal and therefore support. Give American fundy churches their due, they know how to market themselves, don't they? So all the boring churches died out and the ones that knew how to appeal grew to fill the market niche.
To my European freethinkers who resent their tax dollars supporting an institution they don't believe in, just think of it as a small price to pay for an inoculation against the mind-virus of religion and witness across the pond what can happen without it.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
(December 11, 2018 at 8:01 am)Agnostico Wrote: There is no problem with remaining undecided to the question of a belief in a God or in no Gods
Eg: Do I believe fighter A will win the fight? No
So I must believe fighter B will win the fight? No
I simply don't know who will win the fight. They have similar records, similar age and style. Even the bookies can't split them.
I don't have to lay any bet if i don't want to