(August 31, 2012 at 12:04 am)idunno Wrote: I think here's where I roll out the cheesy line, "He's interested in you"
And this is where I roll out "Not demonstrably so to my satisfaction".
Incidentally, I used to be a serious christian (as were many of our members), I gave it up in the late 1980's - but these days, even if I were absolutely convinced that the christian god exists as described in the bible, and as many denominations worship, I would not be a christian. Christianity has nothing to offer me, I have no use for salvation, and have no desire for eternal life or heaven.
(August 31, 2012 at 12:04 am)idunno Wrote: I don't think it is a sound argument if the claim is that the existence of God and evil are mutually exclusive.
I don't either, for some definitions of "god". That's why I'm not particularly interested in the topic without first clearly and specifically defining what we mean by "god" and his claimed properties first. Oh, and "evil" as well, and any other terms with definitions that are often abused.
I've seen far too many arguments (particularly over the implications of things such as free will, omniscience, and such) degenerate over fundamental differences and shifting definitions of what is meant by those terms.
I'm not a fan of moving goalposts (intentional or not), debating ill-defined arguments, or arguing against strawmen or incorrect assumptions about what I (or others) believe, and I'll quickly bow out of one that heads in that direction. Frankly, most of the arguments and apologetics are unoriginal and I've seen them batted around online in one form or another since the 1980's.
(August 31, 2012 at 12:04 am)idunno Wrote: Vinny, if you aren't a poe and truly want to encourage more rigorous thinking (and I'd humbly suggest irenic approach to the debate) among your fellow atheists you may have to lose that accent and change your approach.
On this, we are in violent agreement.
