RE: I have some questions for the posters here.
June 23, 2021 at 4:55 pm
(This post was last modified: June 23, 2021 at 4:57 pm by HappySkeptic.)
(June 23, 2021 at 4:30 pm)Frank Apisa Wrote: I am convinced that in discussions about REALITY...especially in discussions about whether gods exist or not)...the words "believe" and "belief" are used as a disguise for "guess." I understand why theist do it. It makes more sense for them to say, "I 'believe' there is a god" than to say, "I guess there is a god."
Not sure why people who use atheist as a descriptor do it. Easy for them to say, "MY guess is there are no gods." No big deal.
In any case, I do not do guessing on the issue...so I do not do "believing."
If you insist, however, I am willing to make a guess. I promise I am doing this legit. I am going to toss Mr. Coin in a second. Heads, I will guess there is at least one god; Tails I will guess there are no gods. (My wife and I use Mr. Coin to settle difference in pool picks during the NFL season, so it gets lots of work.)
I flipped...TRULY...and it came up HEADS. I hereby guess there is at least one god.
Makes as much sense as what the theists and atheists do on the issue.
Beliefs are real things. It is something the mind does.
A belief is a conditional acceptance of some statement or concept, as true. It can be based on evidence, or it can be based on emotion. It is always based on incomplete information, because we can't know anything for certain. But, beliefs exist, and they are vital to our ability to make choices in the world.
Our mind has a belief network that allows us to make choices. With a science background, I have "belief" in most tested scientific theories (despite knowing that they will be overturned by something better one day). I believe that I can't change traffic lights with my mind. I also believe that a deity isn't going to throw me in hell for not believing in Him (despite not knowing for certain).
Beliefs aren't about certainty -- the are a tentative acceptance of an idea, so that we can live our lives and make choices.
Beliefs are positive actions. You can't tentatively accept something you've never heard about, and therefore I can't believe in unknown gods. It makes no sense. If I did believe that there is a god, but it is unknown, I'd be praying or thanking the unknown god. I have no such beliefs.
If you make choices based on the possibility that gods exist, then you are not an atheist. If you decide to break a Mosaic law, and you think "hey, God might exist, therefore I probably shouldn't", then perhaps you do believe in god to some degree.
If you live your life without a care about divine punishment, divine commands, or divine intervention, then you don't believe in gods!! Then you're an atheist.
