Let me get to the last part first...
I've written this before and it seems to convey the sentiment: I look at the universe and see a machine. I reflect on our progress as a species, both in terms of our development of higher reasoning and in our civilization, and see some mysterious intent.
My deism is an expression of my sense of awe and wonder at the natural universe. These feelings aren't rational. I've never said otherwise. This is what I mean by "instinctive".
I've also written elsewhere that deism is a sort of truce between my skeptical mind and more lofty sentiments. I thus have a "spirituality" that is firmly grounded in the natural universe. The intro to some of my videos contains the caption: "Deism: Because the Natural Universe Is Enough".
Atheists have shared the same sense of awe. Dawkins, Harris, Sagan and even the curmudgeonly Hitchens have expressed similar feelings. They just don't "need" to use the word "God".
I hope I did better this time.
(August 7, 2014 at 3:36 pm)Blackout Wrote: Don't see this as a personal attack, just sheer curiosity from a non believer.I don't. Discussions of beliefs should never be personal. I hope I haven't upset anyone. It was not my intent.
Quote:You don't seem to hold beliefs regarding an existence after our death, post mortem, of any kind, nor do you seem to believe in ghosts, spirits, haunted houses, souls...I've not known many deists but the ones I have exchanged ideas with have a similar skepticism of spirits and the afterlife. I don't know what the correlation is but I can tell you I'm not the only one.
Quote:So why believe in the first place?Let me try to do better than I did with Napoleon.
I've written this before and it seems to convey the sentiment: I look at the universe and see a machine. I reflect on our progress as a species, both in terms of our development of higher reasoning and in our civilization, and see some mysterious intent.
My deism is an expression of my sense of awe and wonder at the natural universe. These feelings aren't rational. I've never said otherwise. This is what I mean by "instinctive".
I've also written elsewhere that deism is a sort of truce between my skeptical mind and more lofty sentiments. I thus have a "spirituality" that is firmly grounded in the natural universe. The intro to some of my videos contains the caption: "Deism: Because the Natural Universe Is Enough".
Atheists have shared the same sense of awe. Dawkins, Harris, Sagan and even the curmudgeonly Hitchens have expressed similar feelings. They just don't "need" to use the word "God".
I hope I did better this time.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
