Future of religion

[Neutraligon]

faith-belief without, or in contradiction to, evidence.

Thanks.

This clears things up a bit because IMO faith is a general belief in the existence of something, ignoring the evidence part.

Sorry no, that is not how faith is used, at all.

[Laka Strolistandiler]

Once again I’ll quote a well known cleric, saying “Пути Господни неисповедимы”- we can’t understand the ways of God. That’s why he didn’t leave an hint for us that he exists.

Well then do you believe that you are not a brain in a jar? After all, according to the brain in a jar theory this can’t be either proven right or wrong. The same is true for my religious beliefs.

And I also believe in them just because that’s comfortable for me. Without religion my life would’ve been much much worse, most likely wouldn’t exist at all, TBH. But yet again I digress.

If there is no evidence that god existed then there is no reason to think one does exist. I do not know if I am a brain in a jar, however, since all my senses tell me I am not a brain I have no choice but to live as if I am not a brain in a jar.

But there is no real evidence proving that you are not a brain in a jar. According to this theory, all of the senses of the brain are perfectly simulated by the computer. Theoretically a brain could think or even decide that i5s inside a jar, however there is little to no way of proving it wrong.

[Laka Strolistandiler]

Thanks.

This clears things up a bit because IMO faith is a general belief in the existence of something, ignoring the evidence part.

Sorry no, that is not how faith is used, at all.

Again, differences between English and Russian definitions, vocabularies and shit.

[Terra Nova Sapientia]

Religion is in decline, yes but I also think that Atheism isn't rising at the same rate as Religion declining. People (the Majority) kinda believe in both ways like putting Human Evolution and Jesus' Miracles at the time of the Roman Empire within the same timeline of history. Both sides have things that can't be debunked like the existence of God. Science has no way of trying to debunk nor prove God's existence while Religion can't even pinpoint the exact description of God and/or isn't even certain if there is only one god or more. The Debate of Consciousness still heats up between Scientists and Creationists whether where it came from and how is it formed. Agnosticism is on the rise because of the rising number of evidence in which Science debunks Religion while there's still a lot of uncertainty about things Science can't explain as Religion offers answers about it. People are losing their faith but not able to completely abandon it because of a lot of uncertainty about it. Agnosticism arises in between the colliding beliefs of Religion and Science that produce ambiguous ideas about the purpose of life, the afterlife, etc...

People are uncertain about it because both conflicting ideas are considered "legitimate" so they find themselves in between wondering which one is true.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Wasn't that in the commandments?

I didn’t said that I agree that I believe in the existence of horse is a religion. Again, I suppose that I’ve mistranslated what I wanted to say from Russian.

So what was it that ate my loofah?

[Isles of Eamhna]

But there is no real evidence proving that you are not a brain in a jar

as you are the one that is making a claim that is contrary to that which is observable, the burden of proof is falling heavily on you here, friendus

[Laka Strolistandiler]

But there is no real evidence proving that you are not a brain in a jar

as you are the one that is making a claim that is contrary to that which is observable, the burden of proof is falling heavily on you here, friendus

I don’t understand, please explain your point- it’s either that I’m too stupid to understand what you meant by that or my limited knowledge of English or a combination of these things

[Vikanias]

If there is no evidence that god existed then there is no reason to think one does exist. I do not know if I am a brain in a jar, however, since all my senses tell me I am not a brain I have no choice but to live as if I am not a brain in a jar.

But there is no real evidence proving that you are not a brain in a jar. According to this theory, all of the senses of the brain are perfectly simulated by the computer. Theoretically a brain could think or even decide that i5s inside a jar, however there is little to no way of proving it wrong.

Your a brain piloting a bone mech with meat armour.

[Neutraligon]

If there is no evidence that god existed then there is no reason to think one does exist. I do not know if I am a brain in a jar, however, since all my senses tell me I am not a brain I have no choice but to live as if I am not a brain in a jar.

But there is no real evidence proving that you are not a brain in a jar. According to this theory, all of the senses of the brain are perfectly simulated by the computer. Theoretically a brain could think or even decide that i5s inside a jar, however there is little to no way of proving it wrong.

Correct, there is no evidence that I am not a brain in a jar, however, I have no choice but to act as if I am not because all my senses tell me I am not.

[HISPIDA]

But there is no real evidence proving that you are not a brain in a jar. According to this theory, all of the senses of the brain are perfectly simulated by the computer. Theoretically a brain could think or even decide that i5s inside a jar, however there is little to no way of proving it wrong.

Your a brain piloting a bone mech with meat armour.

[Arkhane]

There are new, more modern ways to appear more pieus and righteous.

Religion may have diminished, but the "more righteous than thou" virtue signalling generation is still going steady.

[Laka Strolistandiler]

But there is no real evidence proving that you are not a brain in a jar. According to this theory, all of the senses of the brain are perfectly simulated by the computer. Theoretically a brain could think or even decide that i5s inside a jar, however there is little to no way of proving it wrong.

Correct, there is no evidence that I am not a brain in a jar, however, I have no choice but to act as if I am not because all my senses tell me I am not.

I disagree with the latter. If it’s more useful to believe that he is indeed a brain in a jar and act accordingly than that’s the path one can take. In my case that’s the story with religion and my belief in God.

[Endem]

That seems like going in circles, if proving is necessary, then why is it impossible? And if it is impossible then why is it necessary, if a God created the universe, why wouldn't they leave a way for people to know that they exist, if knowing that is somehow necessary. If something is impossible to prove, then as logic dictates, it most likely doesn't exist, I mean, there are no teapots orbiting the sun.

Once again I’ll quote a well known cleric, saying “Пути Господни неисповедимы”- we can’t understand the ways of God. That’s why he didn’t leave an hint for us that he exists.

Well then do you believe that you are not a brain in a jar? After all, according to the brain in a jar theory this can’t be either proven right or wrong. The same is true for my religious beliefs.

And I also believe in them just because that’s comfortable for me. Without religion my life would’ve been much much worse, most likely wouldn’t exist at all, TBH. But yet again I digress.

Making huge statements, requires a huge amount of proof, and yet religions always either place the burden of proof on the skeptics, as if God was the fact that needs to be challenged, instead of a belief that requires proof, or say that God is unknowable, if so, then we can infer that God is a paranoic that fears their creation so much it placed barriers of us ever obtaining proof of God's existence, or that it doesn't exist, in absence of proof the lack of existence is more probable.

I cannot know I am not a brain in a jar, but since every piece of evidence points to me not being a brain in a jar, then it's far likely I am in fact, not a brain in a jar. Making a theory that can neither be disproven or proven is essentially making open ended questions and asking to fill in the blanks, you know what theories are usually like that? Conspiracy theories.

[Isles of Eamhna]

I disagree with the latter. If it’s more useful to believe that he is indeed a brain in a jar and act accordingly than that’s the path one can take. In my case that’s the story with religion and my belief in God.

consider the harm one can do to others if one simply behaves as if one is a brain in a jar, and that one's actions are therefore inconsequential

[Laka Strolistandiler]

Your a brain piloting a bone mech with meat armour.

Why am I called a nazi on the forums when we have a grammar one right here?

[HISPIDA]

(Image)

Why am I called a nazi on the forums when we have a grammar one right here?

Why yes, I watched Triumph of the Comma, how could you tell?

[Laka Strolistandiler]

I disagree with the latter. If it’s more useful to believe that he is indeed a brain in a jar and act accordingly than that’s the path one can take. In my case that’s the story with religion and my belief in God.

consider the harm one can do to others if one simply behaves as if one is a brain in a jar, and that one's actions are therefore inconsequential

And I urge you to consider the usefulness of one behaving as if he is a brain in a jar because his actions are always leading to an increased results because the simulation works like this.

[Dakini]

Religion is in decline, yes but I also think that Atheism isn't rising at the same rate as Religion declining.

Duh. Most people are just becoming unaffiliated with religion now that it's more acceptable to just not be religious. Some of those people are declaring themselves atheist, but others are just more open about the fact that they don't believe in anything.

People (the Majority) kinda believe in both ways like putting Human Evolution and Jesus' Miracles at the time of the Roman Empire within the same timeline of history.

This is obviously not true since most people in the world aren't even Christian (less than 1/3rd of the global population is Christian), so most people don't believe in "Jesus's Miracles".

Both sides have things that can't be debunked like the existence of God.

There's no "both sides" here. There are multiple religions so at the very least there are multiple sides.

Science has no way of trying to debunk nor prove God's existence

Science gives zero fucks about proving or disproving God. Science is concerned with the natural world and while the concept of "God" is poorly-defined, it is typically understood to be supernatural. The idea that science and Religion are opposite sides fundamentally misunderstands the concept of science.

[Neutraligon]

Correct, there is no evidence that I am not a brain in a jar, however, I have no choice but to act as if I am not because all my senses tell me I am not.

I disagree with the latter. If it’s more useful to believe that he is indeed a brain in a jar and act accordingly than that’s the path one can take. In my case that’s the story with religion and my belief in God.

So basically what you are saying is you do not actually believe, you are just acting like you do because it is useful.

[Neutraligon]

consider the harm one can do to others if one simply behaves as if one is a brain in a jar, and that one's actions are therefore inconsequential

And I urge you to consider the usefulness of one behaving as if he is a brain in a jar because his actions are always leading to an increased results because the simulation works like this.

There is no use to us to behave that we are a brain in a jar. Scientific simulations are useful to those outside the simulation, not those inside it.

[Laka Strolistandiler]

Once again I’ll quote a well known cleric, saying “Пути Господни неисповедимы”- we can’t understand the ways of God. That’s why he didn’t leave an hint for us that he exists.

Well then do you believe that you are not a brain in a jar? After all, according to the brain in a jar theory this can’t be either proven right or wrong. The same is true for my religious beliefs.

And I also believe in them just because that’s comfortable for me. Without religion my life would’ve been much much worse, most likely wouldn’t exist at all, TBH. But yet again I digress.

Making huge statements, requires a huge amount of proof, and yet religions always either place the burden of proof on the skeptics, as if God was the fact that needs to be challenged, instead of a belief that requires proof, or say that God is unknowable, if so, then we can infer that God is a paranoic that fears their creation so much it placed barriers of us ever obtaining proof of God's existence, or that it doesn't exist, in absence of proof the lack of existence is more probable.

I cannot know I am not a brain in a jar, but since every piece of evidence points to me not being a brain in a jar, then it's far likely I am in fact, not a brain in a jar. Making a theory that can neither be disproven or proven is essentially making open ended questions and asking to fill in the blanks, you know what theories are usually like that? Conspiracy theories.

As said before, attempting to understand the reasoning behind God’s actions ultimately fails due to the limitations of our minds. Even if we consider God existing, but not as a supernatural transcendal deity but as a physical, let’s say, suped advanced alien civilization would we be able to understand their actions? This is as impossible as an ant trying it understand nuclear physics- an ant will never be able to to this no matter how genius he is.

I disagree that every single piece of evidence points at you not being a brain in a jar. After all, this evidence can be simulated too.

And do you think I have a problem with conspiracy theories (especially considering that they from time to time actually turn to be true, for example Holocaust at some point was considered a conspiracy theory as well).

[Laka Strolistandiler]

I disagree with the latter. If it’s more useful to believe that he is indeed a brain in a jar and act accordingly than that’s the path one can take. In my case that’s the story with religion and my belief in God.

So basically what you are saying is you do not actually believe, you are just acting like you do because it is useful.

I believe because it’s useful. I could further elaborate in the matter of “usefulness” however this will in no way help the discussion.

And I urge you to consider the usefulness of one behaving as if he is a brain in a jar because his actions are always leading to an increased results because the simulation works like this.

There is no use to us to behave that we are a brain in a jar. Scientific simulations are useful to those outside the simulation, not those inside it.

That depends on the conditions of the simulation. Perhaps, one believing that he is a brain in a simulation that favors him could severely increase ones self-esteem or something idk I’m not a psychologist

[Just-An-Illusion]

I don't think reason can triumph in a world where people are dumb enough to believe in Jewish space lasers and QAnon.

You do know that not every religious person believes in QAnon nonsense right....?

[The Church of Satan]

It's the distinct lack of a belief in a higher power, though, something which is kinda core to the idea of religion.

There are multiple atheistic religions; Buddhism, Jainism, Satanism, Confucianism, and even non-theistic Quakers. Religion is not defined by a belief in a higher power.

[Neutraligon]

So basically what you are saying is you do not actually believe, you are just acting like you do because it is useful.

I believe because it’s useful. I could further elaborate in the matter of “usefulness” however this will in no way help the discussion.

There is no use to us to behave that we are a brain in a jar. Scientific simulations are useful to those outside the simulation, not those inside it.

That depends on the conditions of the simulation. Perhaps, one believing that he is a brain in a simulation that favors him could severely increase ones self-esteem or something idk I’m not a psychologist

So like I said, you trick yourself into belief, you do not actually believe since there is no evidence to support your belief. So basically, you are going to pull usefulness out of your ass.