(December 16, 2019 at 5:06 pm)zebo-the-fat Wrote:

(December 16, 2019 at 4:13 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: You do understand that atheists disbelief in the existence of ALL gods, even deist or pantheist gods, not just those gods associated with specific religions, right?

The only criteria I have to use, is has a god been demonstrated to exist. Until that occurs, I don't care what individual religions claim.

It doesn't require the assessment of specific religions to understand that NO god has ever been demonstrated to exist. In fact, religious leaders, holy texts, believers claims, can all be dismissed, until a god is demonstrated to exist. Only after a god is demonstrated to exist, can we then begin to try to discern if it a god of a specific religion, and described in any religious book.

I don't believe in your god for the same reason I don't believe in Zeus, Odin, Ra or pixies

Nac mac Feegle. Gie ye sich a kicken!  Big jobs!!

Boru

(December 12, 2019 at 4:53 pm)maxolla Wrote: New to this site and actually atheism.  I’m here to know more about atheism and how people convert to it.  My questions are below.  If you have time please take a moment to help me understand more of the atheist view.  These questions are intended for those who espouse the atheist view but if you are from another belief system feel free to answer.

What do you consider as prime reality?

What is the purpose of history or does it serve  a purpose?

How did human existence begin?

What is morality?

Where do you decide what is right and wrong?

What do you believe in with absolute certainty?


Thanks in advance.

Max

1. I’m not sure what you mean by “prime reality”. Could you be more specific?

2. The quick and dirty answer is that empathy drives the foundations of my moral sense.

3. I don’t believe anything with absolute certainty. As a rational skeptic, my positions are always tentative, and will change based on new information.

Quote:empathy drives the foundations of my moral sense.

This is SO going on a t-shirt.

Boru

Quote:What do you consider as prime reality?

This statement is vague 

Quote:What is the purpose of history or does it serve  a purpose?

Those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it 

Quote:How did human existence begin?

Evolution from earlier life 

Quote:What is morality?

“what we ought to do above all else.

Quote:Where do you decide what is right and wrong?

This question is poorly worded 

Quote:What do you believe in with absolute certainty?

It likely exists

You have to wonder about the shit that stands as an obstacle to the common human empathy.

For an "assignment" in "class", you know.

(December 16, 2019 at 6:28 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: The best way I've heard this explained is that mutation is the raw material on which evolution operates.  I was told to imagine a rockslide damming a small stream.  Eventually, a new pond ecosystem would form.  The rockslide is the mutation and the ecosystem is the resultant evolution.

Made sense 40 years ago, makes sense now.

Boru

Oh, so you WERE there!



But yes

(December 16, 2019 at 4:13 pm)Simon Moon Wrote:

(December 16, 2019 at 9:00 am)Klorophyll Wrote: I meant that nonreligious people tend to judge entire religions by very superficial criteria.

You do understand that atheists disbelief in the existence of ALL gods, even deist or pantheist gods, not just those gods associated with specific religions, right?

The only criteria I have to use, is has a god been demonstrated to exist. Until that occurs, I don't care what individual religions claim.

It doesn't require the assessment of specific religions to understand that NO god has ever been demonstrated to exist. In fact, religious leaders, holy texts, believers claims, can all be dismissed, until a god is demonstrated to exist. Only after a god is demonstrated to exist, can we then begin to try to discern if it a god of a specific religion, and described in any religious book.

What would be a proper demonstration of existence? What would a God have to do to prove to you that it existed?

(December 17, 2019 at 1:09 pm)maxolla Wrote:

(December 16, 2019 at 4:13 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: You do understand that atheists disbelief in the existence of ALL gods, even deist or pantheist gods, not just those gods associated with specific religions, right?

The only criteria I have to use, is has a god been demonstrated to exist. Until that occurs, I don't care what individual religions claim.

It doesn't require the assessment of specific religions to understand that NO god has ever been demonstrated to exist. In fact, religious leaders, holy texts, believers claims, can all be dismissed, until a god is demonstrated to exist. Only after a god is demonstrated to exist, can we then begin to try to discern if it a god of a specific religion, and described in any religious book.

What would be a proper demonstration of existence? What would a God have to do to prove to you that it existed?

According to the bible people could barely leave their homes without encountering a sign or messenger from god.

Now the best he can do seems to speak through multiple contradictory individuals or images on toast.

Has he grown bored, run out of ideas, or just doesn’t exist?

(December 17, 2019 at 1:13 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote:

(December 17, 2019 at 1:09 pm)maxolla Wrote: What would be a proper demonstration of existence? What would a God have to do to prove to you that it existed?

According to the bible people could barely leave their homes without encountering a sign or messenger from god.

Now the best he can do seems to speak through multiple contradictory individuals or images on toast.

Has he grown bored, run out of ideas, or just doesn’t exist?

Where are you referring in the bible “according to the bible people could barely leave their homes without encountering a sign or messenger from god”? The Bible writings span four thousand years of human history with relatively few interactions with God.

Back to the question. What would convince you of the existence of God? What could he do to “prove” his existence to you?

(December 17, 2019 at 1:09 pm)maxolla Wrote:

(December 16, 2019 at 4:13 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: You do understand that atheists disbelief in the existence of ALL gods, even deist or pantheist gods, not just those gods associated with specific religions, right?

The only criteria I have to use, is has a god been demonstrated to exist. Until that occurs, I don't care what individual religions claim.

It doesn't require the assessment of specific religions to understand that NO god has ever been demonstrated to exist. In fact, religious leaders, holy texts, believers claims, can all be dismissed, until a god is demonstrated to exist. Only after a god is demonstrated to exist, can we then begin to try to discern if it a god of a specific religion, and described in any religious book.

What would be a proper demonstration of existence?  What would a God have to do to prove to you that it existed?

Those are good questions. I don't know the answer but so far all of my experience with religion has failed to provide that proof. I would imagine a being worthy of the title "God" would be able to provide proof OR it has a plan in obscuring itself and would would be benevolent enough to NOT condemn me for my failure to believe.


I provide a reverse Pascal's Wager:

God is purposely obscuring Themself so as to occlude all possible experience that They exist

By design you are not meant to experience God

When you die and are before the Fountain you will be asked if you believe in God, if no, you will get into the full monty Cliborg (My God doesn't believe in heaven or hell instead They have Cliborg), if you say yes you will be asked to prove God exists and when you CAN'T as you couldn't your whole life, you will be sent to...

...Cliborg lite a dimmer version of Cliborg but still pretty great because my God isn't a lame douch nozzle

SO by believing in God without any good reason you are condemning yourself to Cliborg Lite but no worries because it is still pretty great.

QED