by seekchristonly 194 Replies latest watchtower bible
It's stating that the claims believers make regarding the existence of gods is lacking substantive evidence. NOT a personal belief system.
Yes, evidence is lacking and most of the testimony is anecdotal, subjective and/or hearsay. There is no smoking gun. That doesn't mean a shot wasn't fired.
But unless more substantial evidence is presented, the court rules not guilty of the charge of creating this mess.
lol
Except it isn't a 'feeling on the existence or non-existence of gods'. It's stating that the claims believers make regarding the existence of gods is lacking substantive evidence. NOT a personal belief system.
Not singly, but as a part of the person's personal belief system. Yes.
Hey, I don't believe there are fairies or unicorns. It hasn't been proved either way though, so believing there are not fairies or unicorns is part of my personal belief system or if you prefer, system of beliefs. Every person who can think has a system of beliefs.
So my unbelief in the belief of gods (nonsensical statement) is part of my system of beliefs? No. Simply, it does not follow. It's an illogical concept to begin with.
Of course it is. Such a statement is a conviction, is it not?
No. A conviction of a lack of evidence? Yes.
No. A conviction of a lack of evidence? Yes.
Yes, of course.
No. Simply, it does not follow. It's an illogical concept to begin with.
Yes, you have decided that you don't believe in God. You have a belief that there is no god(s). It is not something anyone can prove right now, so you have faith that your conclusion is correct. And it goes in your file with whether you believe capital punishment is right or not, or whether you believe kids should be spanked or if there are aliens out there somewhere or Yeti's hiding from us in the woods.
I believe there is/are no god(s). I have no belief in god(s). Niether you nor I can say there are no gods. There is no way to prove there are no gods. So we can say we believe there are no gods. We can say we believe gods or yetis don't exist. We can't prove it either-- right now.
I find this profound quote of John Lennon's to be worth pondering.
"I BELIEVE IN EVERYTHING until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists even if it is in your mind. Who's to say that dreams...aren't as real as the here and now?" ***John Lennon***
Words have meaning because they describe difference. If everything was 'red' there would be no word for 'red' as its meaning is derived by being able to say 'not green or yellow or blue...' To simply equate all possible thinking states as beliefs we negate the need for the word however we recognise linguistically that there are states of disbelief. Disbelief is not a subset of belief it is its opposite. Atheism isnt a belief in no gods. It is to be without theism. What I have mentioned before and what some people are straining to prove is that some atheists believe in anti-theism or are opposed to theism. Hitchens wrote one of his books on this. Most atheists I have met believe in humanism in one form or another so if you wish to talk about belief or belief systems that could be a fruitful avenue of discussion rather than trying to argue that my(others) lack of Ganesh statues and a rejection of the literalness Odin is an an example of believing in something.
The motivation to define atheism as a faith based belief (a refinement of belief indicating that it is not supported by observed evidence and for the religious is seen as a virtue and mark of committment) can only, I suppose, come from a recognition that faith is an inherantly unsupportable position and is always at risk from new experience. If positions that are anti-theist OR threatening to faith can be shown to suffer this same fundamental weakness , faith, then presumably they can be dismissed. Ironically fundamentalists often present great examples of critical skepticism but they only ever apply it to threats. They have the skill but not the wisdom to use it fairly.
The belief that ther is a God is only relaised when we are finished this earthly life. It has no proof or requires evidence.It's purely based on faith in the things tocoem ie everlasting life in the spirit
seekchristonly/themaccauk/troll why are you repeatedly switching between two accounts?
FHN,
That is not the only position to take, No theist has provided any empirical evidence to support a belief in gods therefore I reject that belief. In exactly the same way that I see no evidence for santa claus, the tooth fairy or trolls. As I said earlier in this thread you are merely trying to equate your faith in unsubstantiated claims with my skepticism for that belief. They are not the same and never will be. Its almost as if you are ashamed of your faith.
