(June 24, 2013 at 6:24 pm)pocaracas Wrote: yeah... the atheist has no justification for the fact that all electrons behave the same, all protons behave the same, all neutrons behave the same, all photons behave the same... maybe it's because an electron is an electron and there's no reason for an electron to behave differently from another electron, is there?
The behavior of electrons doesn't change with time.... because... I don't know... It's a good thing they don't, though. Why should they change?
But, in spite of my not knowing that, it does not mean there must be an entity keeping all electrons in the Universe behaving... keeping all protons in the Universe behaving, keeping all neutrons in the Universe behaving, keeping all photons in the Universe behaving, etc, etc, etc.
You do not know? Then why do you assume that the behavior of electrons observed yesterday or today will allow us to make predictions about how they will behave in the future? Keep in mind, without this principle, science is impossible.
(June 24, 2013 at 5:34 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote: Our senses and memory are generally reliable, yes... but we are aware that they fail, and have hence established the peer review process to eliminate (it's more like minimize) any bias or faulty evaluation by the scientists.
How do you know they are generally reliable? I missed your demonstration of that.
Quote: In the "atheistic Universe" we acknowledge that our senses and memory work in a given way and proceed to deal with them like that. Again, we put no assumptions on how electrons, ions, proton, neutrons, photons keep working the way they do as time goes by. But we do note that it's a good thing they do... memory and senses are just electrons and protons and neutrons working together in a particular way...
Do you not have to assume your memory and senses are reliable in order to claim that you know how the memory and senses function? Wasn’t that knowledge gained through your senses and retained in your memory?
Quote: Now, how on Earth did you come across the info that there is an entity capable of controlling all those particles and keep them behaving like they do?
It’s a crucial part of my view of reality, which is Christian. The Christian God has promised to uphold His creation in a predictable and uniform manner (Genesis 8), so these sorts of questions do not create problems for Christians. All electrons repel one another because that’s part of God’s uniform governing.
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It renders your theism very similar to his.
Which leads to the question: why would your version be the most accurate representation of reality, and not his?
They’re not very similar though, the concept of Allah undermines our ability to deduce logically, the concept of Yahweh establishes our ability to deduce logically. If Allah existed I’d have the same philosophical problems you’re struggling with above.
(June 24, 2013 at 6:36 pm)Stimbo Wrote: Since I consider all patriarchal religions to be inherently parasitical in nature, the hierarchy of which appropriating for themselves the power and the wealth they deny to their followers, I don't actually care who they were or which brand they chose to go by.
You’re espousing a conspiracy and yet you cannot identify the conspirators, or even tell me anything about them; that is not going to get your very far.