(April 10, 2010 at 7:30 am)Pippy Wrote: It's not an exercise in trying to understand though, it's an exercise in self righteousness and delusion. I can be self important and deluded too!

I don't understand why you guys disbelieve. It is like this universe, this reality, is all a free lunch too you. Oh it's all by chance, blind luck, there is no mystery here.

This school of Atheism (the I'm right, you're wrong school) is best captured in the Million monkeys paradox. You guys seem to beleive that a million monkeys on a million typewriters in a million years would eventually punch out a Sonnet. That randomness can create something of absurd complexity. I choose to disagree. But it gets tiring with the youngins rabbling around the room banging pot lids together pretending that I have a mental deficiency because I choose to disbelieve in the million monkey paradox. We hear you Tav, you think you're smarter/better than some of us, I get it. Move on.

To answer your question, the same thing that made you an Atheist made me a Theist. I saw most of modern popular Atheism as disinformation intent on control. Dawkins is full of shit. So I beleive. Same as reasoning 'the bible is full of shit' (something you could get me to agree with you on) and then using that as evidence to disbelieve in god.

The thing that is wrong with religion is the control, and the division. It is not belief in God that flies people into towers, in fact a belief in God would dissuade someone from such a course of action. It is fanaticism. It is thinking you are right and everyone else is wrong. It is thinking you are better than other people. That is the flaw. And modern Atheism, in many incantations (although it can be polite and respectful) is rude and self righteous. You demand the right to think what you will, and scorn anyone who doesn't think what you think. Consider the double standard there. So go on and on about your hatred for god and his followers, but try to realize you have been compromised. This whole argument is part of the trick. I choose to be unimpressed and curt with you, but respect you right to think freely, as I demand the right to also think freely myself.

thank you for your interest,
-Pip

I disagree with all of the above.

Quote: Pippy Wrote: It's not an exercise in trying to understand though, it's an exercise in self righteousness and delusion. I can be self important and deluded too!

I don't understand why you guys disbelieve. It is like this universe, this reality, is all a free lunch too you. Oh it's all by chance, blind luck, there is no mystery here.

This school of Atheism (the I'm right, you're wrong school) is best captured in the Million monkeys paradox. You guys seem to beleive that a million monkeys on a million typewriters in a million years would eventually punch out a Sonnet. That randomness can create something of absurd complexity. I choose to disagree. But it gets tiring with the youngins rabbling around the room banging pot lids together pretending that I have a mental deficiency because I choose to disbelieve in the million monkey paradox. We hear you Tav, you think you're smarter/better than some of us, I get it. Move on.

To answer your question, the same thing that made you an Atheist made me a Theist. I saw most of modern popular Atheism as disinformation intent on control. Dawkins is full of shit. So I beleive. Same as reasoning 'the bible is full of shit' (something you could get me to agree with you on) and then using that as evidence to disbelieve in god.

The thing that is wrong with religion is the control, and the division. It is not belief in God that flies people into towers, in fact a belief in God would dissuade someone from such a course of action. It is fanaticism. It is thinking you are right and everyone else is wrong. It is thinking you are better than other people. That is the flaw. And modern Atheism, in many incantations (although it can be polite and respectful) is rude and self righteous. You demand the right to think what you will, and scorn anyone who doesn't think what you think. Consider the double standard there. So go on and on about your hatred for god and his followers, but try to realize you have been compromised. This whole argument is part of the trick. I choose to be unimpressed and curt with you, but respect you right to think freely, as I demand the right to also think freely myself.

thank you for your interest,
-Pip


I disagree with all of the above.

Every word?

(April 9, 2010 at 9:08 am)tavarish Wrote: what I got is vague and generalized rhetoric and wild claims, like "no one can be convinced of God's existence".

The question to you about your reasoning for lack of belief is far easier than the opposite question, as you could answer "well I just haven't considered it at all" - which a believer could never proffer... because belief implies thought, whereas non belief encompasses lack of thought.

I find your responses equally evasive and rhetorical. It's failing to address answers like the one above that marks your boundary. If you accepted that then you could progress logically to believe in God. But maybe you're going to block that.

(April 8, 2010 at 10:49 am)tavarish Wrote: I have a few question for the theists on this forum.

What is your definition of God?

What convinced you that God exists?

You can describe a specific event, revelation, or series of events that led you to your belief.

What is your definition of God?
Creator of all things.

What convinced you that God exists?
The creation.

You can describe a specific event, revelation, or series of events that led you to your belief.
My life's journey.

(April 11, 2010 at 9:07 pm)The Piper Wrote:

(April 8, 2010 at 10:49 am)tavarish Wrote: I have a few question for the theists on this forum.

What is your definition of God?

What convinced you that God exists?

You can describe a specific event, revelation, or series of events that led you to your belief.

What is your definition of God?
Creator of all things.

What convinced you that God exists?
The creation.

You can describe a specific event, revelation, or series of events that led you to your belief.
My life's journey.

What specific revelations occurred in your life's journey to solidify your faith?

(April 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm)Disinter Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:07 pm)The Piper Wrote:

(April 8, 2010 at 10:49 am)tavarish Wrote: I have a few question for the theists on this forum.

What is your definition of God?

What convinced you that God exists?

You can describe a specific event, revelation, or series of events that led you to your belief.

What is your definition of God?
Creator of all things.

What convinced you that God exists?
The creation.

You can describe a specific event, revelation, or series of events that led you to your belief.
My life's journey.

What specific revelations occurred in your life's journey to solidify your faith?

Nothing specific. Just life in general.

(April 11, 2010 at 9:19 pm)The Piper Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm)Disinter Wrote: What specific revelations occurred in your life's journey to solidify your faith?

Nothing specific. Just life in general.

So you were born christian?

(April 11, 2010 at 9:21 pm)Disinter Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:19 pm)The Piper Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:09 pm)Disinter Wrote: What specific revelations occurred in your life's journey to solidify your faith?

Nothing specific. Just life in general.

So you were born christian?

How do you come to that conclusion?

(April 11, 2010 at 9:23 pm)The Piper Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:21 pm)Disinter Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:19 pm)The Piper Wrote: Nothing specific. Just life in general.

So you were born christian?

How do you come to that conclusion?

You said life in general. So actually the real question would be were you a christian fetus once?

(April 11, 2010 at 9:29 pm)Disinter Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:23 pm)The Piper Wrote:

(April 11, 2010 at 9:21 pm)Disinter Wrote: So you were born christian?

How do you come to that conclusion?

You said life in general. So actually the real question would be were you a christian fetus once?

The answer to that is simple. No.

I became a christian when I was 21.