Religion

DetlefK

(16,670 posts)

20. Are you misunderstanding me on purpose?

Wed Jun 20, 2018, 10:54 AM

Jun 2018

One kind of belief is built on evidence.
When the evidence is not clear-cut, you make a probalistic estimate. What are the odds that the dog ate the homework?

The other kind of belief is not built on evidence.
* You can believe in God without ever having seen any evidence to support that claim.
* You can believe in Zeus without ever having seen any evidence to support that claim.
* You can not believe in a hundred different gods without ever having seen any evidence to support the claim that they do not exist.
* You can still believe in God even if I disprove one of your religious claims.

EVIDENCE DOES NOT PLAY ANY ROLE WHATSOEVER IN RELIGIOUS BELIEF. IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF THINKING.

Let's make it clear with an example. Assume that you believe in God. What evidence would it take to convince you that God is not real?
* If you do have an answer, then you believe in God's existence because you have seen some kind of hard evidence that has lead you to the conclusion that God existing has a higher probability than God not existing.
* If you don't have an answer, then you have proven my point that religious belief doesn't care about evidence.

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Stop playing word-games already. Atheists "believing" is not the same as theists "believing". [View all] DetlefK Jun 2018 OP

Yes. Croney Jun 2018 #1

But equivocation is one of the apologist's most powerful rhetorical weapons. trotsky Jun 2018 #2

All apologetics rely on word games of some sort. Act_of_Reparation Jun 2018 #3

Or, more accurately: "Will it go 'round in circles?" MineralMan Jun 2018 #4

I'd argue this one is worse, though. Pope George Ringo II Jun 2018 #23

I am sure someone will find a quote somewhere edhopper Jun 2018 #5

It's a favorite straw man among the least honest believers. Pope George Ringo II Jun 2018 #6

What does believe mean? guillaumeb Jun 2018 #7

Not, it's not. Because the word has two meanings with two exclusionary premises. DetlefK Jun 2018 #8

Neither belief is provable. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #9

Why is neither belief provable? marylandblue Jun 2018 #12

Faith exists. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #14

Your opinion. marylandblue Jun 2018 #15

Of course. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #18

No one disputes that faith exists. marylandblue Jun 2018 #19

So you are saying god is non-existant? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #45

What a misunderstanding on your part. eom guillaumeb Jun 2018 #48

Oh, I misunderstood you? Lordquinton Jun 2018 #52

What I said: guillaumeb Jun 2018 #58

Are you misunderstanding me on purpose? DetlefK Jun 2018 #20

That poster is performing for an audience. Mariana Jun 2018 #24

And what audience are you playing for? eom guillaumeb Jun 2018 #49

The one that only exists in your imagination. nt. Mariana Jun 2018 #50

So insightful. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #51

Thanks! nt. Mariana Jun 2018 #53

Identical reasoning to those who equate the "theory" of creationism with evolution theory Major Nikon Jun 2018 #22

Know why it's a sticky wicket attempting to talk to you guys? sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #25

Gee, thanks for that Major Nikon Jun 2018 #27

I do believe you're welcome. sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #30

You veered off topic. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #36

False Major Nikon Jun 2018 #38

You can't prove that. Act_of_Reparation Jun 2018 #44

They are two different types of atheists, both don't believe it deities marylandblue Jun 2018 #10

One has a certain belief. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #11

So? They are different types of atheist marylandblue Jun 2018 #13

And each type, in the absence of proof, believes that their position is correct. eom guillaumeb Jun 2018 #16

Is there a type of person who believes they hold incorrect beliefs? marylandblue Jun 2018 #17

😘 sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #26

:pals: marylandblue Jun 2018 #28

I believe.... sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #29

So your emojicons are a real miracle! Can you do more? marylandblue Jun 2018 #31

They only manifest when I'm a behaving chick 🐤 or sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #32

🤗😉I've performed a miracle! I am applying for sainthood.😇 marylandblue Jun 2018 #47

"A day late and a dollar short" is what I seem to be. sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #55

My fat thumbs were accidently divinely guided to the emos on my phone keyboard marylandblue Jun 2018 #56

Not aware of your thumbs? 😊 sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #57

You on my list, you lovey-duvvers. 😉 Buds! sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #33

The difference is that they care about proof. Theistic believers do not. DetlefK Jun 2018 #21

No, they care about what they see as proof. guillaumeb Jun 2018 #37

Are you trying to redefine "proof"? What definition are you using? DetlefK Jun 2018 #40

You went right off the rails there. Voltaire2 Jun 2018 #34

Assumes he was ever on the rails Major Nikon Jun 2018 #39

explain to me qazplm135 Jun 2018 #59

One who says that there are no deities guillaumeb Jun 2018 #60

not remotely an answer to the question I asked qazplm135 Jun 2018 #61

At least you got a non-sequitur instead of a canned response Major Nikon Jun 2018 #62

There is no positive evidence that deities do not exist. DetlefK Jun 2018 #42

Don't ask me, I am not a hard atheist. marylandblue Jun 2018 #43

It's the same point. Igel Jun 2018 #35

That makes religious belief meaningless and pointless. DetlefK Jun 2018 #41

Is this your brother-in-law? trotsky Jun 2018 #46

I've said this before and pissed off a theist arguing like this TlalocW Jun 2018 #54