(April 2, 2018 at 7:02 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote:(April 2, 2018 at 6:16 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: Islam seems true at the moment, but I haven't confirmed by reason every part of the Quran. And don't know if it's consistent yet.
So I'm not sure in that respect.
So this paragraph seems reasonable. If this was the main idea of a thread, it might do very well on an atheist forum.
Why? "Islam seems true..." this comes off as an honest statement. Then you might expound here. What makes it seem true? What gives you doubts? Being suspended in doubt between two possibilities "God exists" or "God doesn't exist" is a position that any atheist worth his or her salt has placed themselves in... at least as an intellectual exercise. Some of us (the agnostics) found no good reason to believe "God exists" and so do not believe in God. Others have found it reasonable to conclude "God doesn't exist" and so they adopted that conclusion.
If someone wants to accept the conclusion "God exists," I'm fine with that. I respect it. But they need to show the ability to put themselves in a state where they can examine both possibilities. I've seen you make posts that demonstrate that you have this capacity. I like you, MK. I think you are honestly seeking the truth, and that's what it takes to earn my respect for one's intellectual position-- nothing more, nothing less.
It is a problem when there are those short-lived theists who come to the forums claiming "they know the truth" and "we do not know." Upon close inspection of these individuals, it becomes clear that they are incapable of suspending themselves in doubt between the two options. Ergo, I don't take them as capable of having an honest intellectual discussion about such things.
You are different. You ARE capable. And I like that. And I think you have a place here. I'd hate to see you go. The problem you have is that you sometimes post esoteric stuff that is of no interest to nonbelievers, agnostics, believers or really anybody except hardcore spiritual seekers. There has to be some kind of new age Sufi forums out there for you to post that stuff and have some really interesting conversations with people. To expect a good conversation here shows that you are inconsiderate; you completely ignore the atheistic position which is stated again and again on these boards. If you want to post an esoteric thing, at least take some time to explain why someone who adopts the atheistic position ought to take it seriously.
Or better yet-- don't. Only discuss certain things here, and save the esoteric things for new age/Sufi type forums (which I'm sure exist somewhere).
Regardless, I think you and I are having a nice discussion about the foundation of knowledge and values in the other thread, so I hope to see you over there.
+1
You win the Post of the Day.
-Teresa
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