(December 10, 2019 at 9:46 pm)Atomic Lava Wrote:(December 10, 2019 at 3:08 pm)Simon Moon Wrote: So, as a follow up to my post #19, let me ask you a question. This will relate to belief, not knowledge.
Given that 'belief' is defined by cognitive scientists and philosophers of mind as, the psychological state in which one accepts a premise or proposition as being true. In other words, if one accepts a premise or proposition as being true, they can be said to believe said premise or proposition.
Also, given that belief is a binary mental state*, i.e., one either accepts a premise or proposition as being true, or they don't accept it as being true, do you accept the premise that a god exists as being true?
*I have yet to have someone coherently explain how one could possibly be in some middle ground between accepting a premise as being true, and not accepting it as being true, simultaneously.
Very interesting. I don't think I am arguing that there is a God. However all I am saying is I am not all knowing - therefore I don't know everything. So how can I possibly know for sure if there is one or not? Of course that is my attitude towards it. And I have mets lots of people throughout my lifetime that share this same approach as well. You make some great points. I respect your thoughts. You seem like a good guy.
You completely missed what I was asking.
I specifically asked about a belief or disbelief, not about what you claim to know or don't know. Do you understand the difference between knowledge and belief?
I also do not claim to know that there is no god, as I also am not all knowing. Atheism is not a position about knowledge, it is a position concerning belief.
In fact, the vast majority of atheists do not claim to know there is no god. This even applies to guys like: Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Matt Dillahunty, and all the most famous atheists. None of them claim to know that a god does not exist.
I am asking what you believe or disbelieve.
Are you convinced that a god exists?
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
