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Religion

Boojatta

(12,231 posts)

19. I should revise my original question.

Reply to Angry Dragon (Reply #17)

Thu Feb 23, 2012, 11:03 PM

Feb 2012

Revised version:
If we assume that you believe that the probability that there is at least one god is exactly 42%, then can we conclude that you are an atheist?

The question does change, but it seems that the original approach to answering it might work despite the change to the question.

If you believe that it is more likely to be false than true that there is at least one god, then in particular you lack belief in a god. After all, if 42% were enough, then 58% would be more than enough and, on the same grounds that somebody alleged that you believe in a god, we would have to conclude even more strongly that you believe there is no god.

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Highlight:

Are you an atheist if you believe that the probability that God exists is exactly 42/100? [View all] Boojatta Feb 2012 OP

why don't your probabilities add up to 1? Enrique Feb 2012 #1

0 and non-0? Etc. Brettongarcia Feb 2012 #6

"Nothing is absolute" lastlib Feb 2012 #13

I made an arithmetical error. Boojatta Feb 2012 #7

Because half of 36 is actually 18, not 16 n/t dimbear Feb 2012 #9

LOL-- now there's where religion and science really CAN compromise.... mike_c Feb 2012 #2

No, more like agnostic: 'I'll believe it when I see it.' elleng Feb 2012 #3

You'd probably be an agnostic in such a case LeftishBrit Feb 2012 #4

The Red exist on the wheel edhopper Feb 2012 #5

But if it is always red, and black, then they blur together ... into purple Brettongarcia Feb 2012 #8

No they would be edhopper Feb 2012 #10

Maroon! immoderate Feb 2012 #11

*Sigh!* First, how do you get red/black = purple? Red and Blue = Purple... Moonwalk Feb 2012 #12

But? What if you leave the roulette wheel ... and discover a whole new "game"? Brettongarcia Feb 2012 #14

The question was whether one is an atheist if one believes in a certain probability of... Moonwalk Feb 2012 #23

Just to add to this...the idea of "God" is that he's everywhere and in everything.... Moonwalk Feb 2012 #27

Is this person a TAP or a PAP agnostic? NAO Feb 2012 #15

Penultimate Number in LOST; also "42" is the answer to "Life, the Universe, and Everything" NAO Feb 2012 #16

Which god?? Angry Dragon Feb 2012 #17

Good question. Good objection to the "argument from Design" Brettongarcia Feb 2012 #18

I should revise my original question. Boojatta Feb 2012 #19

Probabilities are meaningless dmallind Feb 2012 #20

Are the propabilistic tama Feb 2012 #24

Suppose that you believe god exists with probability of one, but specific gods with less than one FarCenter Feb 2012 #22

Yes. ZombieHorde Feb 2012 #21

Or? Has atheist Facebook friends. Brettongarcia Feb 2012 #25

I just read something yesterday (and I think it was from Pew) that, in terms cbayer Feb 2012 #26

Could be new data. Or? A different analytic model; but for "those of weak faith: welcome!" Brettongarcia Feb 2012 #28

Here it is. I saw it in this Washington Post article, but they don't source it. cbayer Feb 2012 #29

The big new category of religious belief: "none." Meaning? Maybe: "no religious belief"? Brettongarcia Feb 2012 #30

Believing in a probability of god does not an atheist make. cleanhippie Feb 2012 #31