Belief and Knowledge

[Mister Agenda]

Lots of reasons to believe stuff without actual knowledge. Perhaps you are told something by someone you trust who has or should have actual knowledge.

That's actual knowledge. It's probabilistic, but you have a basis to trust them and think they know what they're talking about based on prior knowledge.

Perhaps you believe something because it conforms with your world view. Abiogenesis conforms to an atheistic world veiw which is why they believe it.

Why 50% believe it, according to you, and that seems to have affected your stance on our positions not a whit. I think it's the most likely scenario because I have enough biology and chemistry to follow the scenario, and evaluate the hypotheses. I consider it probable that one or a combination of abiogenesis hypotheses is the best explanation for the origin of life on our planet, probably with a lot of modification needed. Abiogenesis is not fanciful, and it's based on what we actually know. However, there is insufficient evidence yet to justify concluding that it's definitely the case. There may never be sufficient evidence for us to know exactly what happened over 3 billion years ago to start off life. But there are numerous possible discoveries that could have falsified the idea already, and we've found nothing inconsistent with a natural origin for life. If I had to bet, I'd go with abiogenesis, as every other proposition for the origin of life I've been exposed to has much less going for it; but I don't have to bet. I'm willing to wait and see, or live with not knowing.