Evidence that "Atheism" is not a sound belief

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by magnifier661, Jan 25, 2012.

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  1. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Not to put them down in any way; but it seems that way. Yes, they do know that it could be a possibility; but they choose not to make it a possibility; because they don't want to know if the possibility is true.
     
    magnifier661, Jan 26, 2012
    #181
  2. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Those are the only logical camps I know of.
     
    magnifier661, Jan 26, 2012
    #182
  3. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    What about the camp that might state that life simply "is", and that whether it evolved or was created is essentially irrelevant? Is that position inherently illogical?
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jan 26, 2012
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  4. TradeNurkicNow

    TradeNurkicNow piss

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    Like every important discussion, this apparently can be summed up in a youtube video

    [video=youtube;sNDZb0KtJDk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNDZb0KtJDk[/video]
     
    TradeNurkicNow, Jan 26, 2012
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  5. ABM

    ABM Happily Married In Music City, USA!

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    I thought that's what I was stating here?:

     
    ABM, Jan 26, 2012
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  6. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    My primary problem with that video is the suggestion that belief necessitates certainty. Those on Mags' side of this debate would suggest that you can believe something to be true without being completely certain. In fact, that is the foundation of our civil legal system. Criminal defendants must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt (95% certain), whereas civil litigants need only provide a preponderance of evidence (51% certain).

    I think in order to have a valid discussion on the notion of belief/disbelief, it might be valuable to define the term "belief" in those terms. Must one be "certain" of something to believe it, or simply consider it to be more likely than the alternatives?
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jan 26, 2012
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  7. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Both your statements expressed a view on the history of life (either "created" or "always existed"). The third I posited expressed indifference to said history (neither possibility matters).
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jan 26, 2012
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  8. TripTango

    TripTango Quick First Step

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    No, I actually did not prove your point -- you proved mine.

    I have just introduced you to the idea of pillywiggins, therefore you must take a stand on their existence! Either prove that they don't exist, or else admit that they must! Anything else is illogical!
     
    TripTango, Jan 26, 2012
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  9. TripTango

    TripTango Quick First Step

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    Have you ever wondered why flowers bloom? Then you have wondered about pillywiggins. You just didn't know what to call them yet!
     
    TripTango, Jan 26, 2012
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  10. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    That was put very eloquently. I will give him that much...

    But read the comment from FHomeBrew. I think it is quite the rebuttle.

    And from reading this; I suspect he is somewhat an agnostic of sorts; but he defends that atheism is in fact a belief.
     
    magnifier661, Jan 26, 2012
    #190
  11. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    That's an obvious distortion, Trip. No Theist says that an atheist must disprove God in order to not believe in Him. The contention is that once introduced to the notion of pillywiggins, one will naturally flow to one side or the other of the belief spectrum, and that to simply claim ignorance is intellectually dishonest.

    As for me and my house, we do not believe in pillywiggins.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jan 26, 2012
    #191
  12. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Well actually no, since I am in the "topic" of atheism not being a sound belief. If you want to make another thread about pillywiggins; then I will be more than happy to debate it on that thread.
     
    magnifier661, Jan 26, 2012
    #192
  13. Eastoff

    Eastoff But it was a beginning.

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    I didn't want to get into that.
     
    Eastoff, Jan 26, 2012
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  14. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

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    I've always been a pretty strong apillywigginist.
     
    RR7, Jan 26, 2012
    #194
  15. ABM

    ABM Happily Married In Music City, USA!

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    Good point.

    Ever heard of the Great Zamboni? The Great Zamboni could walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls pushing a wheelbarrow in front of him. In fact, sometimes he would put his dog in the wheelbarrow for fascination effects. He successfully did this on many, many occasions.

    One day, the Great Zamboni was putting on his regular show, but on this day he decided to amp things up a bit. He was a real showman. He shouted out to the crowd, "Who believes the Great Zamboni can walk across Niagara today!?" The crowd cried out, "We believe, Great Zamboni! We believe!" He then shouted out again, "Then WHO believes the Great Zamboni can walk across Niagara behind a wheelbarrow with his pet dog Zoey inside?!" Again, the crowd cried out, "We believe, Great Zamboni! We believe!" Finally, he shouted, "Then WHO believes the Great Zamboni can walk across Niagara behind a wheelbarrow with a human inside?!" This time, the crowd cried out in even greater fervor, "We believe, Great Zamboni! YES, we believe!!!"

    The Great Zamboni then quietly asked.........who will be my first volunteer?
     
    ABM, Jan 26, 2012
    #195
  16. Pokemanzdood

    Pokemanzdood Member

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    The whole beginning of the universe isn't my realm of expertise, that whole debate I'll leave up to theoretical physicists and whatever origin explanation a person has.
     
    Pokemanzdood, Jan 26, 2012
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  17. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    So you can respect that is the angle I am at right now; with my first 3 questions?
     
    magnifier661, Jan 26, 2012
    #197
  18. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Your avatar is distracting. I fear her.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jan 26, 2012
    #198
  19. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    I know! I was thinking about that a few days ago when he posted a response. I was like "Okay, I don't want to meet her in some dark alley!"
     
    magnifier661, Jan 26, 2012
    #199
  20. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Is it just a coincidence that she and your fiancee have the same hair? :)
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jan 26, 2012
    #200
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