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I came accross this one on a blog somewhere, so I thought I'd air it on here for comments:
If you believe in any religion, you must (by definition) not believe in other the hundreds of other faiths scattered around the planet. Therefore, no matter what you believe, you are an atheist by the estimate of the other faiths. For example, if you believe in the Christian god, then you cannot be a buddhist. Therefore the buddhist could call you an unbeliever, and vice versa.
So are we all atheists?
Is this a teenager's blog? Linky please..
According to a TD poll conducted earlier this month, very few here are willing to admit to being a member of any faith.
There were two distinct groups represented in the poll:
1. Posters who checked ALL available choices (there were 10).
2. Posters who claimed no faith.
In my opinion, personal faith is not a popular topic for discussion among Teak Door members. Disparaging others' faith without divulging your own, however, receives higher interest. :rolleyes:
So only someone who believes in nothing can be a proper theist?
Why the blue face, tp?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkkmadness
Found it - it wasn't a blog - it's from a quote by Richard Dawkins: http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/38909.html
He's a bit old to be a teenager.
Texpat: I am an atheist myself - no belief in any god at all.
Cos we know we're all going to hell........:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Texpat
Which is why I don't usually post in this area.
Religions just seem too creepy to me. All the robes and rituals and recitals are just hocus-pocus. And I spent a fair share of time in a similarly ritualistic environment (military).
The main difference I guess is that religion is based largely on unknowns -- blind faith. It's not my bag.
Military ceremony and silly traditions of promotions and change-of-command and formal parties is more of the same. Sort of enforcing desired behavior and emphasizing discipline. I never participated unless I absolutely had to, and only then because they paid me to do it.
I don't consider myself atheist or agnostic or anything. Just non-religious.
Of course someone who believes in (any) god, is not an atheist.
But most people believe most others follow a false belief.
Similar to the fact that everybody is a foreigner almost everywhere. This does not mean we are all foreigners.
Exactly. Beliefs are personal and I don't need to join a club with a lot of dogma and ritual to express it. It needs to be done via my actions not a bunch of talk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Texpat
Much better to be Christ like than a Christian, or Buddha like than a Buddhist, or whatever. They all have a common root.
One does not have to believe in a god or supreme power to be a righteous individual.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zedhex
At first I thought your question was a joke or just stirring the pot. But I now realize that you are serious.
I feel like you've totally missed the point to religion.
Religious people feel that there is more out there than just what you can perceive with your senses. Many feel that this implies that there is therefore a "God". (This does not include the "Philosophy" of Buddhism, since it doesn't address religious issues of creation and God etc... Although for convenience it is called a religion)
Religious people agree to follow a creed of morality because they believe that there is more to life than merely animalistic behavior and that there is something after-life.
Everyone has a slightly different view of "God" or "allah" or "Vishnu" or "PraOng" or "Elvis Prestley" or "Oprah".
Just because one person thinks that their God is the "Real God" and that all the others are false Gods doesn't make someone an athiest. An Athiest doesn't believe that any "God" exists. A "Thiest" is defined as someone who believes in the existence of God even if that God is viewed as false by everyone else. Most people on this forum are agnostic because they wisely and humbly admit they just aren't sure and haven't been convinced one way or the other. I can respect that.
Personally, I feel that I have encountered enough evidence to make me comfortable with the existence of a "God".
Clearly what people find confusing is separating the "Belief" with its "followers." Many people have met wackos of every religious pursuation and that is a real turn off. But I think that seekers of truth often find lots of ground that they can agree on.
Personally, I agree with what I've found in the Christian Bible but I am grateful for everyone who has a different opinion and can openly discuss it without blowing you up in the name of their "God."
Sooooo... I'll try to keep an open mind about the premise of this thread which seems like a "false belief system" to me.
Have you also had close encounters with aliens?Quote:
Originally Posted by wandering
Anyone who believes in 'God' is lonely.
Religion killed god.
Well Said!Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
^ but you're evil :)
only because I'm better at it than being good.
^ excellent :)
Excellent, evidence of the existence of God, the world has been waiting thousand of years for this and now it appears a teakdoor poster has it. Please, please, please share your evidence with us, this could completely change the world. Ayatollahs, epopts, rabbis and high priests everywhere are eagerly awaiting your reply.Quote:
Originally Posted by wandering
He was behind the couch the whole time is what I heard.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
as are the nonbelievers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rattanaburi
I am sure that there are millions of people out there who could respond to you the way that I will. My experiences are personal. You might consider my respnse to be urban legend and unverifiable. That's fine by me. I know what I've seen. I have seen things that can only be explained as "miracles". I realize that you will scoff at this. That's ok. Your experiences have been different. Let me suggest that you "give God a chance to prove Himself personally to you."Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0bExcellent, evidence of the existence of God, the world has been waiting thousand of years for this and now it appears a teakdoor poster has it. Please, please, please share your evidence with us, this could completely change the world. Ayatollahs, epopts, rabbis and high priests everywhere are eagerly awaiting your reply.Quote:
Originally Posted by wandering
First select something that you want that would be utterly impossible but within reason. Don't just say I want peace in the Middle East or I want a Ferrari. I mean tell God that you don't want cancer anymore and bug "God" about this every day. Or whatever. Who knows, you might just back me up next year about your very coincidentially positive experiences with prayer. I, and many people I know, have experienced lots and lots of things so wonderfully improbable that I can only attribute to "something?" "God" that is beyond what is readily observable with the senses. Have fun mocking. But try it out anyway.
That's very nice but it's not evidence, is it? Not in any sense normally contained in the word "evidence" anyway. I said nothing about my experiences, by the way. Is your assumption that you know something about me based on the same kind of "evidence" as you claimed for the existence of God?Quote:
Originally Posted by wanderingI am sure that there are millions of people out there who could respond to you the way that I will. My experiences are personal. You might consider my respnse to be urban legend and unverifiable. That's fine by me. I know what I've seen. I have seen things that can only be explained as "miracles". I realize that you will scoff at this. That's ok. Your experiences have been different. Let me suggest that you "give God a chance to prove Himself personally to you."Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0bExcellent, evidence of the existence of God, the world has been waiting thousand of years for this and now it appears a teakdoor poster has it. Please, please, please share your evidence with us, this could completely change the world. Ayatollahs, epopts, rabbis and high priests everywhere are eagerly awaiting your reply.Quote:
Originally Posted by wandering
First select something that you want that would be utterly impossible but within reason. Don't just say I want peace in the Middle East or I want a Ferrari. I mean tell God that you don't want cancer anymore and bug "God" about this every day. Or whatever. Who knows, you might just back me up next year about your very coincidentially positive experiences with prayer. I, and many people I know, have experienced lots and lots of things so wonderfully improbable that I can only attribute to "something?" "God" that is beyond what is readily observable with the senses. Have fun mocking. But try it out anyway.
I obviously don't know anything about you. That's not my point. I am trying to say that I can assume that all humans on earth have had different experiences which may impact on their views of the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
And you are right that my experience is not "scientific evidence." What I said is that it was personal evidence to me in the same way that it is evident to me that you are more interested in fighting than dialoguing. In fact, your hostile style of writing is similarly rhetorical to that of an imman or a televangelist wanting to pick a fight.
Give me an Ay-MENN! Can you feel the love, touch the screen, touch the screen, HALLELUJAH, oh yeah, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by wanderingI obviously don't know anything about you. That's not my point. I am trying to say that I can assume that all humans on earth have had different experiences which may impact on their views of the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
And you are right that my experience is not "scientific evidence." What I said is that it was personal evidence to me in the same way that it is evident to me that you are more interested in fighting than dialoguing. In fact, your hostile style of writing is similarly rhetorical to that of an imman or a televangelist wanting to pick a fight.
Your experience is not evidence in any sense whatsoever. Never mind, as you were, carry on, your tribal sky-deity may be able to explain the difference between evident and evidence to you next time you attempt to bribe him with prayer.
Isn't the lack of evidence one of the most important things about Faith?Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
^^
you're an atheist aren't you Bob.
:)
Personal experience and perception can be very compelling.
It is not "scientific" evidence, as pointed out already.
Of course, with the piss-taking and animousity prevalent here, I doubt there will be any details forthcoming.
Seems this "religion" forum is a playground for militant atheists to spout their platitudes.
It seems to me that you have confused the definition of the word "proof" with the word "evidence."Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
evidence:
something which provides ground for belief or disbelief:
A thing or things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment:
Plainly visible; to be seen:
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief; "the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling"
Evidence in its broadest sense includes anything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion.
And, no, I didn't ask a diety:
I asked Google.
:rofl: Brilliant, have a green!Quote:
Originally Posted by wandering
Good for you. The definition is accurate, with that in mind please demonstrate the truth of your assertion that there is a God. What grounds do you have for this belief and how is it plainly visible? If you'd like the evidence for the causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer I'd be happy to provide you with links, that, at least, is not a matter of faith.Quote:
Originally Posted by wanderingIt seems to me that you have confused the definition of the word "proof" with the word "evidence."Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
evidence:
something which provides ground for belief or disbelief:
A thing or things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment:
Plainly visible; to be seen:
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief; "the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling"
Evidence in its broadest sense includes anything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion.
And, no, I didn't ask a diety:
I asked Google.
We're not talking about faith. He claimed to have evidence.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon
What's a diety, a God with a weight problem?Quote:
Originally Posted by panama hat
No, I'm not.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon
Compelling? Yes. Irrelevant too. Compelling isn't necessarily true. Sure it's not scientific evidence, but what kind of evidence is it? Forensic evidence, as in "the body of Christ"? Specifically what type of evidence are we talking about here?Quote:
Originally Posted by spiff
And, as I said just up there^, I'm not an atheist, it is of course an easy assumption to make, isn't it? So much easier than dealing with any of the more difficult or complex aspects of belief and disbelief and the many shades of gray in between. Could you point out some militant atheist platitudes on this thread? I seem to have missed them, the only platitude that really stands out is the one about dismissing those you don't agree with as "militant atheists".
good lord.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrB0b
I think am.
This issue is debated all over the world. Here are some articles that explore the possibility of a link between prayer and healing.
NLR Special Report: The Astonishing Healing Power of Prayer : National Lyme Report
Link between Faith, Health and Healing ( Our forefathers believed it some of us...)
Faith Healing – FREE Faith Healing Information | Encyclopedia.com: Find Faith Healing Research
POWER OF PRAYER AND HEALING, THE | Chart | Find Articles at BNET
^
well, now we know you is mental.
^I knew it from the start :rolleyes: