(April 30, 2014 at 7:42 am)Kitanetos Wrote: Certainly, cogintive dissonance plays a role.
However, from having seen it first hand, I am also aware that peer validation also plays a major role.
Theists on their theistic forums are fond of spouting ill logic and congratulating themselves on the merits of each others silly beliefs more than they are of accessing the invalid arguments they view as on par with gospel.
That is why when they come here, they are confused that we cannot understand or accept their brand of logic, especially since their fellow theists think their thoughts are brilliant beyond the works of major philosophers.
We are all subject to cognitive dissonance, how, specifically, do you see this being an issue for someone who is a theist as opposed to someone who is not a theist?
MM
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions" - Leonardo da Vinci
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
