Comments

  • The meaning and significance of faith


    That doesnt really make sense. Its like saying “the reason for me walking to the store is reason itself”.
    You gave a non-answer to my question.
  • The meaning and significance of faith
    utility is the value. it's necessary unless you want to remain a very serious skeptic your entire life. you will have to make jumps if you want to believe e.g. that certain historical events happened or that the news you read is accurate.Moses

    I don’t think this is true. Those are not leaps of faith, or faith based conclusions. Just because you trust the reliability of something doesnt mean you are taking it in faith. The opposite in fact is true, you have specific reasons for believing certain historical events happened or if the news is accurate. Not faith based at all, but based in the past reliability of historical research or news program.
    Anyway, you said the value of faith is its utility. Its utility doesnt make it true or false, and when faith is given as a reason for belief it is a matter of whether its true or false not whether or not it is useful. Lies have utility too, but that doesnt mean they are true.
    So I think you have made a false equivalence.
  • The meaning and significance of faith
    You'll see rhetoric which discounts the role of faith all the time. I could dig up quotes from the new atheist movement of the 2010s or with many atheists today. There are tons of quotes which discount the role of faith. I just don't see where we're going with this. It's an epistemological matter. I'm sure I could dig up some quote from Dawkins or Penn Jillette or Ricky Gervais... it's a constant theme.Moses

    People are dismissive of faith because they see it as a meaningless placeholder term, with no real value except to avoid accountability for a belief in god that has no other defense.
    Maybe they are wrong though…what is the value of faith?
  • The meaning and significance of faith


    I dont think they do. Hope and optimism were part of 1, not 2 but you posted as though you thought hope and optimism were in 2 as well. So how did you get there?
  • The meaning and significance of faith
    So you want to discuss definition 1? How would that relate to faith as it appears in judeo christian tradition which is actually part of definition 2?
  • What is essential to being a human being?


    Exactly my point. How can having a body be definitive of being a human when all kinds of clearly non-human things have bodies?
    So apparently it does need to be more complicated than that.
  • Bannings
    :up:
  • Bannings
    T Clark was banned?
  • Internal thought police - a very bad idea.
    Sees so, but on the other hand how did it happen that, at least in the US, the most fragile delusional lunatic deems that is ok to say and what is not, while virtually all sane people cater to their demands.M777

    I wouldnt agree that its “”fragile delusional lunatic”, at least not just on one side of this debate. Sadly most people on both sides of any given debate in the US operate in this fragile deluded state. There are two opinions for most people stateside these days, your opinion and the opinion of your sworn enemies.
    There is a complex answer to how that happened, but its the way it is.

    Than again it is understandable, as a normal person would not spend his time trying to get those lunatics fired, while the lunatics might try doing it to the sane person.M777

    Well one of those people is an activist whose hobby it is to go after people and the other a person trying to navigate the treacherous waters the activist has created.
  • Internal thought police - a very bad idea.
    I'd say I am amazed by how easily seemingly grown up people would bend over backwards to cater to some hypothetical bullies.M777

    They are not “hypothetical”, it is a very real social concern. There are, right now, people waiting, searching, for anyone to “speak their mind” in the wrong way so they can met out social justice. You answer someone in the street today, maybe you end up jobless tomorrow cuz some self important douche appointed themselves the arbiter of opinions. Then they will say something along the lines “ freedom of speech doesnt mean freedom from consequences” or something equally as blind and dumb.
    You are right though, it is an act of cowardice.
  • Internal thought police - a very bad idea.


    :lol:
    You took the time to write that comment. Lol
    You never cease to amuse me you self important douche bag.
    :lol: :lol:
  • If I say "I understand X" can I at the same time say "X is incoherent"?
    I can understand that "a round square" is incoherent by juxtaposing the concepts round and square. I get that.

    But I can't understand what a round square is. It's ununderstandable.
    ZzzoneiroCosm

    Right, there are two different things to understand. The sentence, and the concept of a round square.
  • If I say "I understand X" can I at the same time say "X is incoherent"?


    Its not binary, you can both understand the sentence is that incoherent and not understand the incoherent bit at the same time. You are understanding the part that communicates something incoherent and recognizing that what is being communicated is incoherent. Its not either/or.
  • If I say "I understand X" can I at the same time say "X is incoherent"?


    You would understand it is incoherent. Indeed, wouldn't understanding something be a prerequisite for knowing it is incoherent?
  • How to answer the "because evolution" response to hard problem?
    The thing of the inner sensations of "what it's like" is the thing to be explained. Evolution giving rise to "what it's like" doesn't explain why there is a "giving rise to what it's like", only the advantages to an organism for having it.schopenhauer1

    There are lots of things evolution created that we cannot answer in the same way as you describe above. I don’t see why consciousness is a special case.
    Just because we cannot identify that “why” doesnt mean evolution isnt the answer. The way we find out is through science. Thats our go to for answers, reliable as it is.
    Isnt the question why wouldnt evolution be the answer? It has been reliable and good enough for every other trait the human body has, why not that one?
  • Can there be a proof of God?


    More accurately, your imagination.
  • Can there be a proof of God?


    Obviously, but you are forgetting those lower dimensions. In 2D you dont even need the Planck scale hypersphere. Dark energy is the result of a 4D transmission of thermodynamical time from 3D AND 2D. Thus far your model hasn't accounted for that. With that addition you now get a recursive hyperbolic curvature which not only compensates for emergent 3D space and thermodynamical time playing hanky panky but also brings the Hickson-Ray variable to address the extra dimensions into perpendicularitude with each of the dimensions emerging after 3D space which by my count is 7D.
    So indeed the question is, why 5D? And of course the answer is it isnt 5D, its 13D.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism

    “Objection your honour, the prosecution is not responsible for the defences review of the charges.”

    It was a back and forth of like, 2 posts. I cant help you if you can’t track an exchange that short.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism
    It is not a non-sequitor, as it follows and relates to what you said about no longer allowing theists to bring their theism into institutions--even while at the same time suggesting that atheists should push their atheism into institutions.whollyrolling

    I didnt say that, you aren’t really listening. Most of what you said wasn't about me but some atheist bad actor you have in your head. Keep looking. I was trying to initiate an actual discussion but youre just here to trade snide talking points with snide atheists. Happy hunting.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism
    Completely untrue.whollyrolling

    Yes it is, but I’m a sucker for numbered points so lets see what your refutation is…
    1 “not all theists share their belief with others.“
    I didnt claim all theists do. In fact if you actually read my post you will see I specifically account for the possibility of theists who aren’t interested in pushing their beliefs on others. I offered that you yourself might be one of these folks.
    So no refutation here…lets keep going.
    2 “theism can be a rational conclusion.“
    I’m not sure about that, perhaps something to be discussed but certainly not a refutation. “Completely untrue” you said. So far, you have not supported this assertion.
    3 “ theism is not necessarily associated with a specific religion, or religion in general.”
    Sure, theism is belief in god. No necessary structure to theism. Agreed. Never said otherwise. When do you get to the part where what I said is untrue?
    4 “ if theism is associated with a religion, or with religion in general, then a person is exercising their individual rights by making such an association and by practising it.”
    What are you responding to? Are you sure its something I wrote? I never said anything about association or practice. Who you associate with and what you practice are not my business. The point I was making was it becomes my business once a theist inserts their beliefs outside those domains, specifically in the laws governing how we live.
    5 “ theists are no more capable of tearing theism out of themselves than atheists are capable of tearing atheism out of themselves, and anyone who expects either of these outcomes doesn't respect anyone's individual rights--not their own, a theist's, or an atheist's--and could just as easily lose their own rights as remove them from someone else. ”

    Depends on what you mean by tearing it out. Ive known both theists and atheists who have flipped their views. Again though, you are talking as though i made some contrary claim. I don’t think I did.
    6 “ everyone has autonomy, an atheist can choose, an atheist is not some special category of human incapable of choice.”

    Just another non-sequitor. Nothing you said supports your claim that what I said was “completely untrue”.
    I think a civil person would apologize for such a clearly false disparagement.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism
    That's because they have something to share. Atheists, on the other hand, don't.Hillary

    Your admission of guilt is noted, I rest my case.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism
    The real atheists should not call themselves atheists or even engage in god debates. The real atheist just shuts up and lives life.Hillary

    If only that were true, but sadly theists have never been content to keep their willful delusions to themselves. As long as theists insist on bringing theism with them to courtrooms, institutions and in the actions of elected leaders then an atheist has no choice but to engage.
    I’ll make you a deal though, if you are not that type of theist. You get all the theists to respect the separation of church and state and ensure no theistic inspired action affects people not of that particular theistic belief and Ill make sure no atheist ever talks about or engages about god ever again. :wink:
  • Criticism of identity and lived experience
    Is it possible you misinterpreted my words and drew an erroneous conclusion?ZzzoneiroCosm

    Yes of course its possible.
  • Criticism of identity and lived experience


    It becomes philosophical cuz you put the points in numerical order?
    And yes, im making a judgement. Being judgemental. So?
    I didnt judge you for being judgmental, you might say i was judging you for being self a righteous twat. In fact, i did.
  • Criticism of identity and lived experience


    Your judgement of Jackson. Jumped to conclusions about his character. He doesnt know how to be a person? He has an agenda?
    All because his question didnt suit your own position, your own agenda.
    Every post you’ve made so far reveals your self righteousness. The twat part comes from your dismissive attitude towards a mere question. Positions so easily threatened are seldom solid ones.
    So ya, self righteous twat seems appropriate based on the evidence.
  • Criticism of identity and lived experience


    Well, its obvious you know how it feels to be a self righteous twat. So theres that.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism
    Theism does not relate to atheism. Atheism relates to theism. Theism is not an attack on atheism. Theists defend theism from the attacks of atheists. Where's the hypocrisy then.Gregory A

    The hypocrisy I was referring to was a theist being offended by an atheist while at the same time constantly saying the same sorts of things about atheists, and of course more broadly speaking the religious have done far more offensive things to atheists than anything someone like Dawkins has ever done to theists. Its hypocrisy.
    Because of this perceived “attack” in theism its impossible to have a real conversation across the isle when one or both parties come in with a chip on their shoulders.
  • Which comes first? The egg or the Chicken?


    Yes, egg. Im curious if your reasoning is the same as mine though. Care to share?
  • The Invalidity of Atheism


    I suspect trolling is as common amongst theists as it is amongst atheists. That is, its hard to imagine they actually believe everything they are saying. My guess is they are angry because they feel insulted by atheists, which in itself is a staggering hypocrisy.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism


    :lol:
    That was as solid a rebuttal as anyone could ask for. Too bad it will be dismissed out of hand.
    Made me laugh though.
    The level of projection at work in this thread is psychologically remarkable. One guy remarked how important this thread must be to atheists cuz its 18 pages (at the time)…from the person whose making 90% of the posts with two other of gods special children. The disingenuous and dishonest discourse doesnt seem like the way jesus would have done it.
  • The Invalidity of Atheism
    Creatures with the power of creation.EugeneW

    I see. What kind of creation do you mean? Like spontaneous creation out of nothing or would a human being creating a song or painting or a baby in their wombs count?
    Do you believe in multiple gods then?
  • The Invalidity of Atheism


    Because they want to. .
  • The Invalidity of Atheism


    What is your definition of a god?
  • The Invalidity of Atheism
    Zeus does existEugeneW

    Ok, so do you believe in all gods or are you going to rely more on something like “Zeus exists as feature of greek mythology”?
  • The Invalidity of Atheism


    Sure, what method did you use to show Zeus doesnt exist? Ill just use that one.
  • Does just war exist?
    So what you actually mean given your caveat at the end of the OP is that declaring war is unjust, not that war is unjust. Right?
  • The Problem of Evil


    They aren’t out of context, those questions illustrate the possibilities you asked for.