But do you think Yahweh could exist? I assume you think that's pretty damn improbable. In my estimation most people that call themselves combo atheist/agnostic aren't really just "belief lackers" when the actually relevant questions are on the table.
you basically said to everyone that claiming to be an agnostic was a copout...I'm an agnostic..that's about it...I told you why I identify with that term
I was just saying I think calling yourself an agnostic is avoiding the real question, I didn't intend any offense. But if you don't want to discuss it any more that's fine.
And if this mass is following their conscience, that spells trouble for those that have been fingered as the source of evil.
I choose to believe there is a God for reasons of my own. I don't need to prove or to have proof. And in the end I choose to try and live as God expects us all to, hard as it is sometimes. Because if there really is a God when the lights go out, I don't want to be caught with my pants around my ankles......
But you don't know these things if you have no evidence. Only God can be known and his works without evidence. You also have a good clue God is here, no man can do what God does.
The number doesn't matter. If the Pope is saying that your conscience is your guide to heaven that deconstructs to moral relativism. I'm assuming the Pope's meaning actually was that atheists can still get into heaven if they are "good" people (good meaning following some sort of non-malevolent standard of morality).
I love questions about life...I have leaned toward the Taoist school of thought and chosen to believe in reincarnation because I think it's more interesting than the alternative. Lao Tse didn't want religion or followers..he looked at god as an inclusive concept instead of a deity...to the Taoist monk..it's all connected and the idea is to not disturb the flow or chi of our experience. The idea of a supreme being with a reward for dying if you've followed the rules pretty much creeps me out.
I think the error would be, extending the idea of human Goodness to anyone outside the influence of society based on Christian values. When you deal with Muslims you will find this is an error. They only have this Conscience goodness for their brothers, while all other are fair game, or Kaffirs.
Statements like this always seem so bizarre to me. Me being a billionaire is more interesting than the alternative, but I don't really have the choice to genuinely believe that I am one. I can only think that I am one through self-delusion. The statement "chosen to believe in reincarnation because it's more interesting" similarly equates to willful self-delusion.
Yeah as a generalization that's obviously false, and it's also completely irrelevant to my point. Which was, according to the Pope even if they don't believe in them Atheists still have requirements to get into heaven.
The number does matter. All is not the same thing as all minus 1. You suggested they all (terrorists) follow their religious conscience. It seems to me the leaders aren't going to be strapping on explosives and blowing up a pizza parlor.
