NationStates

New DeCapito wrote:

Ifreann wrote:There are plenty of monotheists. Ask one of them.

I am. I'm asking the people of Nationstates to answer me.

You might have said something to make it clear that that sentence wasn't addressed to me specifically, but rather the thread generally.

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Valaran wrote:

Dyakovo wrote:Just answer the question.

That's is my answer though. I don't know if there is a god,

No one asked what you know. You were asked whether you believe.

and I don't have a strong belief either way.

Then you're an atheist.

I believe there could be a god (though probably not the christian one).

Yeah, I know its not satisfactory, but things are rarely yes/no.

This is, though. You either believe or you don't. There's no other option. You might not know the answer, and it might change over the course of your life, but there are only two answers.

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Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

What's bleak about it? What's illogical about it? What about it doesn't make sense to you?

Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

I'm sorry, but...

Atheists take the views of science. Science works because it is based on facts that can be proven to be right.
Theists, let's say Christians, take the views of God, and the Bible. They are expected to simply believe that God exists. The Bible may appear to be evidence to God, but not every book is non-fiction.

This argument is why I cannot believe in God.

Tagmatium wrote:

Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

It's neither particularly bleak, or particularly illogical.

Personally, I find the idea of a god-created universe illogical, but there we go.

I cannot buy into that this all basically happened at random. It's too precise. And the fact that the Bible and Science are quite similar in their explanations, with the Bible being a figurative reading, making it easier for early men to understand.

New DeCapito wrote:

Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

I'm sorry, but...

Atheists take the views of science. Science works because it is based on facts that can be proven to be right.
Theists, let's say Christians, take the views of God, and the Bible. They are expected to simply believe that God exists. The Bible may appear to be evidence to God, but not every book is non-fiction.

This argument is why I cannot believe in God.

I'm Christian. I take the views of God, the Bible AND Science. They blend quite well.

Asterdan wrote:

Tagmatium wrote:It's neither particularly bleak, or particularly illogical.

Personally, I find the idea of a god-created universe illogical, but there we go.

I cannot buy into that this all basically happened at random. It's too precise. And the fact that the Bible and Science are quite similar in their explanations, with the Bible being a figurative reading, making it easier for early men to understand.

It makes a lot more sense to me that it's just random shit.

I find the idea of someone or something willing it into existence a bit laughable.

Tagmatium wrote:

Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

It's neither particularly bleak, or particularly illogical.

Personally, I find the idea of a god-created universe illogical, but there we go.

So the universe doesn't exist then?

*If the pantheist view was the majority anyway .

New DeCapito wrote:

Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

I'm sorry, but...

Atheists take the views of science.

Some do. Some don't.

Asterdan wrote:

Tagmatium wrote:It's neither particularly bleak, or particularly illogical.

Personally, I find the idea of a god-created universe illogical, but there we go.

I cannot buy into that this all basically happened at random. It's too precise. And the fact that the Bible and Science are quite similar in their explanations, with the Bible being a figurative reading, making it easier for early men to understand.

No.

The Big Bang Theory: The universe came into existence billions of years ago, and since then, the world as we know it today has formed.
Genesis: God created a man from the ground. He then created a woman from one of his ribs. A talking snake came to them and they ate a fruit which made them intelligent.

Benuty wrote:

Tagmatium wrote:It's neither particularly bleak, or particularly illogical.

Personally, I find the idea of a god-created universe illogical, but there we go.

So the universe doesn't exist then?

*If the pantheist view was the majority anyway .

If it doesn't exist, how am I communicating to you?

Tagmatium wrote:

Benuty wrote:So the universe doesn't exist then?

*If the pantheist view was the majority anyway .

If it doesn't exist, how am I communicating to you?

Clearly we exist outside of it *nods*.

Atheists are just people who believe in one less god than religious people.

Ifreann wrote:No one asked what you know. You were asked whether you believe.

It was a way to explain my reasoning for my later points rather than the answer.

Then you're an atheist.

Not having a strong opinion on religion & atheism would not equate to being an atheist for me. (I should have clarified in my previous post and said opinion, not belief)

This is, though. You either believe or you don't. There's no other option. You might not know the answer, and it might change over the course of your life, but there are only two answers.

I'm saying I don't know if I believe.

By your view then, agnostics have to be theists or atheists? The definition is so abolsute that ambiguity must fall on the atheistic side?

New DeCapito wrote:

Asterdan wrote:
I cannot buy into that this all basically happened at random. It's too precise. And the fact that the Bible and Science are quite similar in their explanations, with the Bible being a figurative reading, making it easier for early men to understand.

No.

The Big Bang Theory: The universe came into existence billions of years ago, and since then, the world as we know it today has formed.
Genesis: God created a man from the ground. He then created a woman from one of his ribs. A talking snake came to them and they ate a fruit which made them intelligent.

Big Bang Theory: Created by a Catholic.
Genesis: Figuratively written so that men could understand it thousands of years before genetics were even thought of.

Benuty wrote:

Tagmatium wrote:If it doesn't exist, how am I communicating to you?

Clearly we exist outside of it *nods*.

Indeed.

The Holy Therns wrote:My thought is that it is strange you'd capitalize it in the title but not in the post.

Because that's how titles work?

Asterdan wrote:

Tagmatium wrote:It's neither particularly bleak, or particularly illogical.

Personally, I find the idea of a god-created universe illogical, but there we go.

I cannot buy into that this all basically happened at random. It's too precise.

So you believe in intelligent design, then?

Westerplatte wrote:Atheists are just people who believe in one less god than religious people.

Or 2. Or 3. Or 12. Or 2 million.

Asterdan wrote:

New DeCapito wrote:No.

The Big Bang Theory: The universe came into existence billions of years ago, and since then, the world as we know it today has formed.
Genesis: God created a man from the ground. He then created a woman from one of his ribs. A talking snake came to them and they ate a fruit which made them intelligent.

Big Bang Theory: Created by a Catholic.
Genesis: Figuratively written so that men could understand it thousands of years before genetics were even thought of.

Thank you for bringing me to my second point.

The Bible was created thousands of years ago so that early men understood why they existed. If the Bible had been created in, say, 2000, it would have been laughed at.

I am an atheist. I spend about as much time thinking about it as i do about my lack of belief in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Underpants Gnomes.

Valaran wrote:

Dyakovo wrote:Just answer the question.

That's is my answer though. I don't know if there is a god, and I don't have a strong belief either way. I believe there could be a god (though probably not the christian one).

Yeah, I know its not satisfactory, but things are rarely yes/no. (sorry)

I didn't ask if you had knowledge about a deity's existence, I asked if you believed one (or more) existed (which, BTW, is a question that is yes/no).

Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

Please tell that to Denmark, a country made of predominantly atheists, and very many happy people. I also refer you to Sweden, Finland. All countries with atheist majorities and very liberal governments and good healthcare and education.

It seems to me you're confusing atheism with religion. Atheists don't persecute gays or kill apostates. Atheists don't judge people for masturbating or judge those born outside of marriage. Atheists don't thank Jesus for the efforts of doctors & nurses or modern medicine.

Valaran wrote:

Ifreann wrote:No one asked what you know. You were asked whether you believe.

It was a way to explain my reasoning for my later points rather than the answer.

Then you're an atheist.

Not having a strong opinion on religion & atheism would not equate to being an atheist for me. (I should have clarified in my previous post and said opinion, not belief)

This is, though. You either believe or you don't. There's no other option. You might not know the answer, and it might change over the course of your life, but there are only two answers.

I'm saying I don't know if I believe.

By your view then, agnostics have to be theists or atheists? The definition is so abolsute that ambiguity must fall on the atheistic side?

It's not a question of whether you're convinced of his existence or not, it's a question of whether you believe in him or not, of which there is no middle ground.

New DeCapito wrote:

Asterdan wrote:
Big Bang Theory: Created by a Catholic.
Genesis: Figuratively written so that men could understand it thousands of years before genetics were even thought of.

Thank you for bringing me to my second point.

The Bible was created thousands of years ago so that early men understood why they existed. If the Bible had been created in, say, 2000, it would have been laughed at.

If the Bible had been created in, say, 2000, it would not be written in that language. It would have a more scientific explanation because we'd be able to understand it more.

Eastern Equestria wrote:

Asterdan wrote:
I cannot buy into that this all basically happened at random. It's too precise.

So you believe in intelligent design, then?

Basically, yes. Evolution and all that, except with a guiding hand.

I am religious for many reasons. The first reason is that when one looks at nature and its infinite complexities, how everything is being held together by a system so mighty yet fragile, and so complex, how everything is interconnected and the functioning of the whole universe seems to balance on the head of a pin, it seems almost self evident that there is something else out there. Additionally, near death experiences and unexplainable events that have happened throughout time, indicate clearly that there is a god and an afterlife. People who have been completely dead on the table with no brain functioning have remembered hovering over their bodies, and have recounted quotes said by the medical professionals while dead. People who have near death experiences almost always become deeply religious. Also, I have heard the argument that human beings assign meaning and symbolism to life when in reality there is none because the human brain has evolved the capacity to do so where other animals have not, and it is what makes us human in a sense. However this is a selfish view that assumes humans have a capacity to sense something that other beings don't without real evidence, and it perpetuates the idea that there is nothing beyond the human mind. This idea has been consistently proven wrong in different ways throughout history. I feel that one has to make a consistent effort to deny the existence of a god. It's not something you reason, it's something you can sense.

I apologize if my argument was not eloquent. I am running on high stress and little sleep.

Asterdan wrote:Athiesm is a bleak, illogical outlook on life, that makes little to no sense.

Actually, the illogical position is to believe something which has no evidence exists.