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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:20 pm
(This post was last modified: April 14, 2025 at 6:21 pm by BrianSoddingBoru4.)
(April 14, 2025 at 5:53 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: (April 14, 2025 at 3:33 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Speaking for myself, I’m not ‘hostile’ to the idea. I simply reject it because there are better explanations and arguments for a non-deliberately created universe.
What are they? Most atheists I've encountered here and elsewhere only engage in relentless attacks of God or a Creator and therefore submit naturedidit. The argument seems to be we don't know how the universe came into existence but it did and then fortuitously it caused all the circumstances necessary for human life to exist no god necessary. That may seem like a tall glass of water buts its more sensible than thinking the universe was intentionally caused to exist.
Quote:I do, however, admit to being hostile to you.
That's perfectly understandable. You wouldn't be the first.
Quote: Your argument seems to be based on misrepresentation of what science and scientists have to say, you make up your own definitions for words, you deflect when asked questions, and you reject the facts presented to you. Your arguments are weak, logically flawed, and poorly presented.
You mean the claim that 81% of Americans believe is true is the flawed one? I list 5 facts that persuade me (and I believe most people) that we owe our existence to a Creator. I don't even rule out the possibility the Creator is a scientist in another universe.
1. The fact the universe exists
2. The fact life exists
3. The fact intelligent life exists.
4. The fact the universe has laws of physics, is knowable, uniform and to a large extent predictable, amenable to scientific research and the laws of logic deduction and induction and is also explicable in mathematical terms.
5. The fact that in order for intelligent humans to exist requires a myriad of exacting conditions including causing the ingredients for life to exist from scratch.
These are the facts any hypothesis or theory hopes to explain. At some point everyone asks themselves why is there something rather than nothing? How did life begin? How did a planet that allows our existence come to be? Because the universe exists, earth exists and we humans exist, it raises the question was our existence intentionally caused or the result of happenstance? Isn't that a reasonable question? If we could observe another universe and saw it was chaotic and lifeless no one would suggest it was intentionally caused. In our universe intelligent life does exist and the universe is not entirely chaotic. Its dominated by laws of physics which we can trace back to being the cause of our existence. Do you agree or disagree we owe our very existence to the laws of physics?
Theism is a hypothesis that seeks to explain the 5 observations. Atheism isn't an attempt to explain the 5 observations its mostly just a repudiation of the theist hypothesis. That's probably the reason why its not very popular. Even if one decides a Creator doesn't exist we're still left with an unsatisfactory answer to the 5 questions. Naturedidit for no reason and its none of your business anyway.
If I were arguing in favor of atheism, I'd use a much lighter approach. I wouldn't disparage belief in a Creator. Why should I? I don't know for a fact it only took natural forces to cause a life creating universe. Nobody knows that. As for the universe I'd say its a black box how it came about and we have to accept it as a brute given. I'd probably argue some laws of physics would emerge in any universe and we're fortunate to be in one that allowed our existence. I'd point to evolution as an explanation for how life once started became more complex. I would point to multiverse as a potential solution to our universe having precise properties for life to exist. The fact this universe exists is evidence other universes exist.
Numbers 1-5 don’t support your belief in a creator. Citing what 81% of what Americans believe as support for your belief is a fallacy - argumentum ad populum. You’re not doing yourself any favours.
I’m not going to rehash the other thread in this one.
Boru
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:20 pm
(April 14, 2025 at 6:07 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: (April 14, 2025 at 4:19 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: I'm not hostile to the idea of a creator. I disagree with your conclusion based on your many errors of reasoning. I feel a distinct antipathy towards you based on your rudeness and lack of integrity.
Don't worry, you'll live.
No, just standing my ground and not putting up with the shit that was being hurled at me.
Read the room. The audience here isn't looking to hear the same story over and over again. Most of us left religion after careful consideration.
As for shit being hurled at you...what you have gotten is rather mild. It's not like you were being all that civilized.
I am sure there are seekers looking for what it is you are selling....they don't tend to hang out here.
I'm your huckleberry.
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:27 pm
(April 14, 2025 at 6:20 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: (April 14, 2025 at 5:53 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: What are they? Most atheists I've encountered here and elsewhere only engage in relentless attacks of God or a Creator and therefore submit naturedidit. The argument seems to be we don't know how the universe came into existence but it did and then fortuitously it caused all the circumstances necessary for human life to exist no god necessary. That may seem like a tall glass of water buts its more sensible than thinking the universe was intentionally caused to exist.
That's perfectly understandable. You wouldn't be the first.
You mean the claim that 81% of Americans believe is true is the flawed one? I list 5 facts that persuade me (and I believe most people) that we owe our existence to a Creator. I don't even rule out the possibility the Creator is a scientist in another universe.
1. The fact the universe exists
2. The fact life exists
3. The fact intelligent life exists.
4. The fact the universe has laws of physics, is knowable, uniform and to a large extent predictable, amenable to scientific research and the laws of logic deduction and induction and is also explicable in mathematical terms.
5. The fact that in order for intelligent humans to exist requires a myriad of exacting conditions including causing the ingredients for life to exist from scratch.
These are the facts any hypothesis or theory hopes to explain. At some point everyone asks themselves why is there something rather than nothing? How did life begin? How did a planet that allows our existence come to be? Because the universe exists, earth exists and we humans exist, it raises the question was our existence intentionally caused or the result of happenstance? Isn't that a reasonable question? If we could observe another universe and saw it was chaotic and lifeless no one would suggest it was intentionally caused. In our universe intelligent life does exist and the universe is not entirely chaotic. Its dominated by laws of physics which we can trace back to being the cause of our existence. Do you agree or disagree we owe our very existence to the laws of physics?
Theism is a hypothesis that seeks to explain the 5 observations. Atheism isn't an attempt to explain the 5 observations its mostly just a repudiation of the theist hypothesis. That's probably the reason why its not very popular. Even if one decides a Creator doesn't exist we're still left with an unsatisfactory answer to the 5 questions. Naturedidit for no reason and its none of your business anyway.
If I were arguing in favor of atheism, I'd use a much lighter approach. I wouldn't disparage belief in a Creator. Why should I? I don't know for a fact it only took natural forces to cause a life creating universe. Nobody knows that. As for the universe I'd say its a black box how it came about and we have to accept it as a brute given. I'd probably argue some laws of physics would emerge in any universe and we're fortunate to be in one that allowed our existence. I'd point to evolution as an explanation for how life once started became more complex. I would point to multiverse as a potential solution to our universe having precise properties for life to exist. The fact this universe exists is evidence other universes exist.
Numbers 1-5 don’t support your belief in a creator. Citing what 81% of what Americans believe as support for your belief is a fallacy - argumentum ad populum. You’re not doing yourself any favours.
I’m not going to rehash the other thread in this one.
Boru Once again citing his , Bare assertions , Arguments from ignorance, Arguments for incredulity , and as you point out argumentum ad populum oh and plenty of strawmen.
"Change was inevitable"
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Also he is of course throwing out his baseless naturedidit line a thing no one believe in or states and is just an attempt at a false equivalency not accepting magic as a explanation doesn't automatically mean you think nature did it and buying his fine tuning nonesense doesn't get you there either.
"Change was inevitable"
Nemo sicut deus debet esse!
“No matter what men think, abortion is a fact of life. Women have always had them; they always have and they always will. Are they going to have good ones or bad ones? Will the good ones be reserved for the rich, while the poor women go to quacks?”
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:39 pm
(April 14, 2025 at 2:50 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: I can understand the hostility to religious people who get in your face and tell you to turn or burn. Those people drive me nuts. In my case I'm not offering any salvation or condemnation. I'm not preaching to anyone, I'm not quoting scripture. I haven't been involved in any organized religion in close to 20 years. All I'm doing is defending why I claim the universe was intentionally caused to exist by a Creator. I have pointed to known facts which support my claim. Interesting I get virtually no responses detailing the facts and reasons why atheists believe the universe and life came about without the aid of a Creator. Mostly they defend their claim by relentlessly bashing any theist ideas. It always sounds so personal. Often animus and rancor is involved. I tend to throw it back.
Isn't it true that neither theists or atheists know for a fact what they think is true, is true? Isn't it a bit goofy to be getting our hackles up over an issue both sides concede is unknown? Is it plausible the universe came about unwittingly like all the natural things we see around us? Sure. Is it ironclad fool proof that happened? No because no one actually knows how the universe came into existence. No one knows what it takes to cause a universe or exactly what it takes to cause life.
I don't declare its a fact our existence was intentionally caused. I certainly could be wrong. Its an opinion not based on faith, but on the known facts. It could be true we live in a multiverse and if some direct confirmation comes forth, I would have to tip my hat to those who claimed as much. It would explain the most puzzling fact we know about the universe. That it takes a lot of just so properties, conditions just for stars, solar systems, planets and galaxies to obtain. It seems most atheists I run into don't care for multiverse theory despite the impressive number of reputable scientists who often talk about it as a matter of fact. I'm guessing two reasons. One, they don't concede (or don't want to concede) that the universe is on the absolute razors edge of being life friendly. Not just life friendly but having stars, galaxies and planets. They don't want to believe in something minus direct evidence.
Likewise few atheists give the simulation hypothesis much attention after all it too would involve intelligent design. I'm not onboard either but I can't flat out reject it. Our own simulations get closer to mimicking reality that they can't be distinguished from reality. With the exponential power in computing in another 50-100 years scientists will probably be able to create virtual people who aren't aware they are virtual and live in a virtual habitat. Amusingly enough those virtual people will no doubt question if there existence was intentionally caused or was unintentionally caused by 'natural forces'. If that happens would atheists concede that reality was intentionally caused to exist?
Do you assert claims that you feel that you are not justified in believing?
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:46 pm
He continues on his assumption ladened credulity quest
"Change was inevitable"
Nemo sicut deus debet esse!
“No matter what men think, abortion is a fact of life. Women have always had them; they always have and they always will. Are they going to have good ones or bad ones? Will the good ones be reserved for the rich, while the poor women go to quacks?”
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I wish that he'd stop blaming atheists and stop blaming his invisible friend. You don't see us claiming that god's arguments are rubbish or that god's a troll. It isn't god that tells me what to believe or how to think. I'll go on record as stating that god is preferable, on account of being absent and silent. Typical theist can't own his mistakes.
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 6:58 pm
(April 14, 2025 at 6:07 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: (April 14, 2025 at 4:19 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: I'm not hostile to the idea of a creator. I disagree with your conclusion based on your many errors of reasoning. I feel a distinct antipathy towards you based on your rudeness and lack of integrity.
Don't worry, you'll live.
No, just standing my ground and not putting up with the shit that was being hurled at me.
The fair rebuttals and questions to your unsupported musings? Oh no! What a brave soul you are, how do you manage it.
"For the only way to eternal glory is a life lived in service of our Lord, FSM; Verily it is FSM who is the perfect being the name higher than all names, king of all kings and will bestow upon us all, one day, The great reclaiming" -The Prophet Boiardi-
Conservative trigger warning.
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RE: Why are atheists hostile to a belief in a Creator?
April 14, 2025 at 7:10 pm
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Boru
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