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Religion

MineralMan

(151,625 posts) Fri Jul 6, 2018, 07:53 PM Jul 2018

Is belief in deities superior to non-belief in them? [View all]

I say both are equal philosophically. What say you all?

41 replies

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Is belief in deities superior to non-belief in them? [View all] MineralMan Jul 2018 OP

Actually, I have a problem with one being considered superior to the other. dhol82 Jul 2018 #1

I don't agree with you about where the problem lies. Mariana Jul 2018 #3

Don't think it's the enthusiastic support of the middle dhol82 Jul 2018 #20

Apathy? Mariana Jul 2018 #23

The question cannot be answered empirically. bitterross Jul 2018 #2

I an not frustrated. MineralMan Jul 2018 #5

If someone is dumb, then blind obedience to a godlike authority. .. Bretton Garcia Jul 2018 #38

Agreed. eom guillaumeb Jul 2018 #13

I would say that the two are roughly equal Mountain Mule Jul 2018 #4

See my reply just above yours. MineralMan Jul 2018 #6

Very few people claim to be certain there are no deities. Mariana Jul 2018 #10

But one edhopper Jul 2018 #12

Existence of a thing can be proven. Iggo Jul 2018 #32

I can't prove Flying Purple People Eaters don't exist. Act_of_Reparation Jul 2018 #39

The skeptical position is superior. Voltaire2 Jul 2018 #7

Perhaps. MineralMan Jul 2018 #8

But not from a philosophical perspective? Voltaire2 Jul 2018 #15

On what evidence do you base this assertion? guillaumeb Jul 2018 #18

That is correct skepticism is not the same as non-belief. Voltaire2 Jul 2018 #21

Skepticism in philosophy defaults to a generalized non-belief. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #22

Maybe, maybe not. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2018 #28

Either we are saying the same thing or you are being obtuse Voltaire2 Jul 2018 #30

I suppose that if one lived 5,000 years ago.... Thunderbeast Jul 2018 #9

Yes. My thinking is along the same lines. MineralMan Jul 2018 #11

The question presupposes an answer to a different question marylandblue Jul 2018 #14

Is belief in a deity superior to a "certain belief" guillaumeb Jul 2018 #16

Different question. Voltaire2 Jul 2018 #17

No, simply reframed. guillaumeb Jul 2018 #19

only if the deities are. . . Stargleamer Jul 2018 #24

If by belief in a deity(s) you mean a belief in something greater than one's self -- in2herbs Jul 2018 #25

It's easy for me to believe there is something greater than myself. MineralMan Jul 2018 #31

My bad. in2herbs Jul 2018 #34

The criminal justice system is a power greater than myself. Iggo Jul 2018 #33

Its like Hope This Alleyway Won't Kill me vs Street Smarts populistdriven Jul 2018 #26

I love that you posted this to generate a discussion... Upthevibe Jul 2018 #27

Are you talking about a generalized belief in deities? PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2018 #29

America as a melting pot comes to mind with what you say. gtar100 Jul 2018 #36

Here's something else. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2018 #37

Non-belief is a "null" value and is therefore not equal to anything. gtar100 Jul 2018 #35

In the abstract, there's at least an argument that they're equal in one dimension. Pope George Ringo II Jul 2018 #40

for me, it is the fact that I have never heard of an atheist kill anyone because demigoddess Jul 2018 #41