SkepticalOne's avatar

SkepticalOne

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Posted in:
it is better to call newborns agnostic than atheist
Atheism is not a neutral position IMO so I would say agnostic if any. 

Broadly defined, atheism is a neutral position (ie. Non belief in god), and agnosticism describes knowledge not belief. The terms can overlap.
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it is better to call newborns agnostic than atheist
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@linate
atheist means to reject god.

Atheist is one who does not believe in a god. Agnostic is one who has insufficient knowledge to know if a god exists. These terms can overlap.
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What is a god?
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@drafterman
Yes to god.

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What is a god?
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@keithprosser
Given the ambiguity and or incoherence of the term "god", the question of the existence of such a being is meaningless

[...]does an atheist have to dispbelieve in reality because Mopac calls reality a god?

No, of course not! Reality exists. Calling it "ultimate reality" is nothing more than an attempt to build unevidenced things/beings into what is evident and verifiable.

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Bible Study: The Command of Jesus
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@Mopac
This will not be a topic to debate the [...] validity of the bible,

In that case, you should not call this a Bible study. 
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Fossils
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@ronjs
Floods are not known to organize much less organize by complexity. If you were to find a human fossil in the same strata as a dinosaur fossil then a flood could be considered. However, we dont find this. What we find is simpler organisms in lower/older strata and more complex organisms in shallower/younger strata. A flood does not explain this.






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How do you cross the street?
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@keithprosser
Let's call it an experiment... ;-)
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How do you cross the street?
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@keithprosser
HAHA!!  Maybe!!
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How do you cross the street?
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@Mopac
And all you have as an argument is striving over words.


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How do you cross the street?
I know you are wrong because ...

...of something that is not evidence.


Your beliefs and intuitions may seem compelling to you, but they mean nothing to anyone not inside your head. 





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How do you cross the street?
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@Mopac
You *believe* I'm wrong.  


Meh.  


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Blasphemy, Islam & Prime Minister Khan.
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@keithprosser
Words: FREE SPEECH!
Actions: You're free to speak (and think) as you like...so long as it doesn't challenge our religious beliefs.

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How do you cross the street?
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@Mopac
Equivocation is not evidence of god(s)...and if it were, why would it be evidence for your god and no one else's?
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Blasphemy, Islam & Prime Minister Khan.
It should be noted, blasphemy laws are not exclusive to Islamic countries.
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How do you cross the street?
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@ethang5
There is no verifiable evidence of god(s). If there were, then it (and not beliefs of "thousands upon thousands") would be front and center.

If you have verifiable indisputable evidence for god, Id love to see it. Otherwise, your updated form of 'lightning is evidence of Zeus' will be dismissed.

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How do you cross the street?
Actions are driven by beliefs.
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How do you cross the street?
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@janesix
I dont claim to know your beliefs cause harm, but if you found they did then the OP is applicable.
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How do you cross the street?
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@Mopac
And if none of these sources even existed, it is simply true that there is nothing else that even comes close to being worthy of being called God.

So, your 'evidence' boils down to an argument from incredulity?  That's quite an unimpressive (and illogical) argument.






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How do you cross the street?
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@Mopac
Reality and truth exist. On this we agree. However you arbitrarily duct tape "God" to these for no discernable reason. 

Assertion is not evidence, Mo.

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How do you cross the street?
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@janesix
If your belief causes no harm to others, then it really makes no difference. However, if it does, then "good enough for me" is no justification.
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How do you cross the street?
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@janesix
Your standard of evidence is not consistent. 

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How do you cross the street?
...look both ways before crossing? Me too. Making informed decisions based on verifiable indisputable evidence is a strategy that works.

However, when it comes to the subject of god, this standard of evidence cannot be met. If belief were to come without negative consequences (to the individual or society), then this wouldnt be a bad thing. Unfortunately, this all to often is not the case.

That being said, if something is believed true on insufficient evidence* AND this belief causes harm, should not it be tossed away? The alternative is equivalent to crossing the road without the benefit of the senses. 

*Belief in god is held on insufficient evidence and often in the face of evidence to the contrary. (Fundamentalism, literalist interpretations, Young Earth Creationism, etc)



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What are you listening too?
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@Polytheist-Witch
Good thread!







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I feel like a human
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@vagabond

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I feel like a human
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@vagabond


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Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia: A Response to Steven Pinker
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@Kasmic
The observation that we live in a deeply racist, Sexist and homophobic society does not imply that we have made no progress. Nor could it be inferred from such a position that progressivism is a waste of time. 

Pinker would agree. Here is the quote in context:


"But it's in the nature of progress that it erases its tracks, and its champions fixate on the remaining injustices and forget how far we have come. An axiom of progressive opinion, Especially in universities, Is that we continue to live in a deeply racist, Sexist, And homophobic society—which would imply that progressivism is a waste of time, Having accomplished nothing after decades of struggle.

Like other forms of progressophobia, the denial of advances in rights has been abetted by sensational headlines."

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God is real
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@Outplayz
Well, like you said, it's false unless he meant to say they are not respected by him!

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God is real
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@Mopac
If god is not a "who, then you accept god as an "it", yes? If so, do you consider yourself to be a pantheist?

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God is real
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@Outplayz
I was wondering the same thing.  
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God is real
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@Mopac
Your argument (if it can be called an argument) is pure semantics and equivocation.  We already have words for the "Truth" and the "Ultimate Reality" (truth and reality) and your conflation of these with "God" is arbitrary and meaningless.

You'll need something more than a dictionary to establish the existence of gods.
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God is real
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@Mopac
"Dragon" and "Pixie" are in the dictionary too, but it takes more than a definition to legitimately suggest (much less validate) the existence of these things or gods. 

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God is real
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@Vaarka




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What does un-designed look like?
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@EtrnlVw
V is asking by what criteria design is determined.  Without something "un-designed" to compare suspected designed things to, there can be no legitimate declaration of design ...or a designer.  In other words, Paley's watch can only be recognized as designed if the rock it is sitting on is not design.


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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@ethang5

God needs no "proof".

If this is true, then what purpose does your solar 'lightbulb'  argument (in the context of this thread) serve? 




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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@ethang5
Untrue. I was proofing the creation of the sun, not proofing God.

This is blatant dishonesty. 

No one has to assume creation. You and I and the ground on which we stand are creation
It's true a painting needs a painter, a building a builder, a creation a creator, etc., but we first need to know said thing is a painting, building, or creation. Show existence in general (or the sun) is a creation, and then (and only then) can talk about the necessity of a creator be legitimate.


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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@ravensjt
This is different than what you originally said unless you erroneously hold atheism to be a claim against the existence of god(s). 

That being said, you're clarification is accurate and reasonable.

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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@ethang5
Your logical proofs assume creation and a creator. You're assuming a creator when trying to proof a creator. Its fallacious reasoning.
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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Agreed, but you were objecting to a question and not a statement. 



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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@Polytheist-Witch
...and, thus, my question.
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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@Polytheist-Witch
Raven, as I understand him, appeals to ignorance of the universe as an argument for god and against atheism. I've asked how this is not a fallacy. I've not called him ignorant, and if I had, it would be true, as I'm sure he would acknowledge since he admits the ignorance we all have.

This is hardly arrogance. Arrogance is (among other things) admitting no ignorance - which is not done with sincere questions.
 

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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@Polytheist-Witch
Since when is a sincere question an argument?
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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@ravensjt

And although it may seem futile to assign a percentage to the likely hood of a "God-like" being in the Universe (or any "Universe") when considering how vast (endless) the Universe is, the chances seem high enough to me to make the stance of Atheism faulty (imo)

How is this not an argument from ignorance? 

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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@secularmerlin
In that case I don't think any god(s) necessarily involved

Agreed.

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How many gods does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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@secularmerlin
I don't know how many gods are required, but you can be sure there will be at least one human involved. :-P


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Who's who? New usernames, old users.
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@Castin
I knew I should have gone with "Slim Shady" instead of Skepticalone..what was I thinking?! 
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Who's who? New usernames, old users.
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@RationalMadman
Let's give Casten...er...uh... I mean 'the imposter' a chance to admit their innocence...er..uh..guilt.

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Who's who? New usernames, old users.
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@RationalMadman
This imposter has also hacked my account on DDO....the fiend!  ;-)




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Who's who? New usernames, old users.
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@Castin
I'm Casten...you imposter.
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Why Trump is really Hitler.
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@Greyparrot
[...] still waiting on what Trump has done that you consider as a totalitarian president.

I stated Trump 'seems to have an affinity for totalitarianism' not that he was a "totalitarian president", and what I've provided should be sufficient.


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Why Trump is really Hitler.
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@Greyparrot




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