Religion

exboyfil

(17,862 posts)

1. I don't know

Thu Jun 14, 2018, 11:43 AM

Jun 2018

I do know that no evidence has been provided. I do think that it is culturally convenient to worship and support the faith of my family so long as it doesn't metastasize into something hurtful. I also think, so long as the beliefs of others do not encroach on the rights of others, that individuals should have freedom of conscience in their beliefs and actions.

As a scientist (actually I am an engineer) I believe that the default position should always be that there is a physical explanation for all observations. If you ever make a special pleading to the supernatural or miracles, then you immediately shut down the scientific method from further inquiry. This approach has worked well so far and has sweeped away a tremendous amount of hurtful nonsense.

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Some atheists say that they believe there are no gods or deities. [View all] MineralMan Jun 2018 OP

I don't know exboyfil Jun 2018 #1

I've always thought that it was none of my business what others MineralMan Jun 2018 #2

I believe there are no gods. You don't believe any exist. Croney Jun 2018 #3

There is a semantic difference, which some religionists try to exploit. MineralMan Jun 2018 #7

Oh. I get it. So I don't believe anything either. Croney Jun 2018 #12

I'm not an atheist. I'm an unaffiliated apatheist Major Nikon Jun 2018 #32

A fair and thoughtful description, I think. MineralMan Jun 2018 #34

"Soft" Atheism is the null hypothesis of the God question. Act_of_Reparation Jun 2018 #4

Exactly. Religionist's arguments in that regard are simply specious. MineralMan Jun 2018 #8

Just show me some gods. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #15

Exactly. Act_of_Reparation Jun 2018 #16

Repeated theme in Science Fiction is thbobby Jun 2018 #5

Cargo Cult thinking, eh? MineralMan Jun 2018 #13

Dogs think, "My human feeds me and cares for me. He must be a god." The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2018 #19

Oh, yes. Cats know the truth. MineralMan Jun 2018 #21

So then may we say you believe in Cat? The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2018 #23

When you live with a cat, there's no choice. MineralMan Jun 2018 #26

Feynman's "cargo-cult thinking" is a bit different. Igel Jun 2018 #30

Cats tolerate humans and more or less control their attacks. MineralMan Jun 2018 #35

How many nonexistent angels are dancing on the head of that pin? The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2018 #6

It is all part of a purely semantic argument made by MineralMan Jun 2018 #9

I'm not sure how pointing to the use of the word "believe" advances any religious argument. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2018 #14

Outside of the negative, "believe" is not my favorite word here either, FWIW Pope George Ringo II Jun 2018 #20

The "no gods" idea really depends on the impossibility of proving a negative Pope George Ringo II Jun 2018 #10

It's really just a technical difference. MineralMan Jun 2018 #11

Be careful what you say about Cthulhu. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2018 #17

Easy for you to say... MineralMan Jun 2018 #18

I've always been more of a Hastur fan, myself Pope George Ringo II Jun 2018 #22

I've always thought he(?) was sleeping! nt aka-chmeee Jun 2018 #24

Now, yes. But not forever... The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2018 #25

I don't like the word "believe" marylandblue Jun 2018 #27

Logicians know about such words. Bretton Garcia Jun 2018 #28

Yes. It's like many other words in that way. MineralMan Jun 2018 #29

There so such thing as divinity... LakeArenal Jun 2018 #31

... Major Nikon Jun 2018 #33

I'd go a step further and say that all evidence has been disproven Lordquinton Jun 2018 #36

So when you make your own statements, guillaumeb Jun 2018 #37