I think if there was actual proof (As in a god revealing himself to EVERYONE) then I would have to accept it. But revelations like this can prove dangerous. Unless this god were to steer how and what he wanted from us as a human race, we would still have religous tensions over what this group thinks he wants and how we should do it for him and how other groups may have different ideas of what to do...fact is... there is no god, so all answers are hypothetical at best anyways... This is the 'agnostic' escape route that every Atheist must have. IF... and I mean IF a god were to rise and show his/herself, we would have no choice but to acknowledge its existence. Beyond mere 'acknowledgement' the rest would your own personal choice. JMHO.

(July 22, 2010 at 6:04 pm)The Omnissiunt One Wrote: There was quite an interesting column I read once, which argued that the religious don't actually believe what they say that they do, or at least not as fervently as they make out.

Well some think that. Such as Dan Dennett for instance. So many profess belief without actually believing, they just believe in belief, etc..

Although, I believe I also read that Sam Harris has done a neurological study of religious belief and it appears in the brain just as any other real belief.

EvF

There is no way possible that this fairy tale is real so i couldn't even imagine it.... I mean... What the FUCK.. Jack and the beanstalk is more believable than christianity or any other religion for the matter.. Religion is just a story made up too Control your mind, Wallets and life. [/font]
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Quote:There is no way possible that this fairy tale is real

Any evidence?

EvF

If Hell existed, there's no doubt it'd be overrun by atheists.

We'd conquer it.

If hell is eternal torture of the most horrible kind then we wouldn't be capable of doing any "conquering", or really anything much

Banned for assuming we're not capable of conquering hell.


oh wait... wrong thread.

(July 22, 2010 at 5:57 pm)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: I think it would have more effect on us rational atheists than the Christians. They already believed that crazy shit. The rational of us atheists that accept the proof (if it is indeed, proof) of Heaven and Hell would have to live with the fact that either we were going to suffer an eternity of Hell for non-belief/blasphemy, or, (assuming if there were also proof that the Christian God created Heaven and Hell, then "He" would have to exist as well ) rationally, accept that point so we could no longer be atheists. And maybe we would either commit suicide through despair at such a horrible theistic truth or suffer slaving our lives to a bullshit God belief that is now backed up with evidence.

EvF

Although many Christians don't believe in eternal damnation.

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(July 23, 2010 at 4:28 am)AndHeSaidLetThereBeLight Wrote: There is no way possible that this fairy tale is real so i couldn't even imagine it.... I mean... What the FUCK.. Jack and the beanstalk is more believable than christianity or any other religion for the matter.. Religion is just a story made up too Control your mind, Wallets and life. [/font]
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That isn't really what the thread is about. I know it isn't likely that such an event would occur, but we're talking about what issues would arise if they were proven to be real.

(July 23, 2010 at 4:40 am)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote:

Quote:There is no way possible that this fairy tale is real

Any evidence?

EvF

Yeah - we do have an idea when the concept of "hell" was introduced to Judaism. It was a Zoroastrian idea that spread West with the Persian empire. 530 BC is a little late for an "all-powerful" "all-knowing" "all-whatever" god to have gotten it going.

And xtianity (that religion of guilt and fear!) raised hell to an artform.

But that's not evidence that there is no possible way that heaven or hell is real. Which is what the above quote I responded to said.