(July 29, 2017 at 3:27 pm)Lutrinae Wrote:(July 29, 2017 at 3:22 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: But why are you so certain that theist folks are delusional though? Don't you think there is a chance that a theist could be right?
I guess the reason I'm saying this is because my impression has been that most atheists take the stance that there is a possibility that some sort of god or gods could exist. There just isn't sufficient evidence for them personally to be convinced of it.
It's a far jump from thinking that way to making the claim that theists are delusional.
With that being said, you have every right to tell the man that you will not pray for him because you don't believe in it. That is your choice of course. But I just don't agree with it being referred to as "fostering a delusion" if you told him yes, when you can't be sure that it is a delusion.
Delusion is not a great leap.
When you logically compare theists, who believe in something without sufficient evidence to prove its existence, with insane asylum inmates, who believe whatever crazy stuff they do without sufficient evidence to prove the existence of whatever it is in which they believe, then it is easier to understand how delusion is not a big leap.
Psychologists today are slowly beginning to compare religious beliefs to delusion; the only thing that has kept religious belief from fully being described as a delusion is the sad fact that many people adhere to this thing called religion, as though the word alone is a safeguard against insanity.
This ^^^
Couldn't have said it better myself.
And, Catholic Lady, I can assure you this guy was delusional because prayer doesn't work. Are you suggesting that his canvassing for prayers actually did anything to improve his life? That if I had prayed for him, god would have been like, 'okay then, if a 20th random person asks me, I guess I'll just stop screwing with this mentally ill person and give him everything he wants'? No, it's a societally accepted delusion that does nothing but deceive people into thinking there are forces working in their favour that aren't really there.
