Belief

[Ryft]

I am willing to take it a step further, however, and state that I believe that no god(s) exist. I know that some of you find that to be an irrational claim, but I disagree. I do not claim to have objective knowledge that no god(s) exist ... Belief does not require objective knowledge.

I am one of those who find that to be an irrational claim. Allow me to explain why (for it has nothing to do with knowledge, objective or otherwise).

When you say, "I believe that no deity exists," you are indicating an implicit conclusion to which you have given intellectual assent (belief). However, a conclusion is something arrived at, that is, through a process of reasoning from premises. And what critical scrutiny will demonstrate is that you have given your intellectual assent on the basis of invalid reasoning. As any number of fallacies could have been committed in that process, I cannot specify which one you have committed. But if you spell out the premises which leads to the conclusion "no deity exists," you may realize the logical error without any comment from me. Are you willing to dare a critical evaluation of your belief?

1. "_____________________________________."

2. "_____________________________________."

3. "Therefore, no deity exists."