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Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

17. Hard to say exactly what his beliefs were

Reply to localroger (Reply #14)

Mon May 3, 2021, 02:35 PM

May 2021

He rejected pretty much everything metaphysical about religion which would have put him at odds with the religious establishment. Publicly declaring any support for atheism wouldn't have worked out well for him. As it was his stated beliefs were much closer to deism which is what many intellectuals did rather than publicly declare absolute atheism, which would have been disastrous for their careers and might have possibly gotten them banished or executed.

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My simple steps to atheism [View all] Goodheart May 2021 OP

my path- evolutionary psychology mopinko May 2021 #1

I certainly agree Goodheart May 2021 #10

um. mopinko May 2021 #13

I think Darwin became an atheist after his research into evolution. Walleye May 2021 #2

Don't be too hard on Isaac Cartoonist May 2021 #3

That's a distinct possibility.... Goodheart May 2021 #6

It's well documented that Sir Isaac Newton was a devout believer localroger May 2021 #14

Hard to say exactly what his beliefs were Major Nikon May 2021 #17

Newton devoted significant energy to study of the Bible localroger May 2021 #18

There are many people today who deny that animals feel pain... Goodheart May 2021 #4

A logical person might point out that the thinking in one of the steps you outlined lapucelle May 2021 #5

Which step did I illogically bifurcate? Goodheart May 2021 #7

Your "either/or" premise assumes lapucelle May 2021 #8

I shortened my language when I said there were "only two possible states of god's existence" Goodheart May 2021 #9

Life must evolve past cruelty or it will destroy itself. n/t MarcA May 2021 #11

I believe there's a time in every atheist's life, Bayard May 2021 #12

the funny part is that "independent thinking" OriginalGeek May 2021 #16

I agree. I think I "out-grew" my religion. lucca18 May 2021 #15

for me, it is the massacres that happened in Europe, where Catholics killed Protestants, demigoddess May 2021 #19

For me it's simply the lack of evidence. Archae May 2021 #20

Actually, your first step should have been SCantiGOP May 2021 #21

Sure, whatever. Goodheart May 2021 #22

After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING Omaha Steve May 2021 #23