Give me a break. Atheist BELIEVE that GOD does not exist. ATHEIST believe in non belief of GOD. It is a faith and religion just like any other.
If you can show me that 90% of the world believe in the unicorns as they do a higher power then you will convince me.
That's quite a disingenuous post for a self-proclaimed enlightened and spiritual guy like you. Truly a study in contrasts. What I find amusing is that you exhibit the same holier-than-thou façade that you seem to identify and deplore in republicans. And, in lockstep, that mask slips off effortlessly, doesn't it?
Really? So a belief is only valid if others share it, irrespective of its own merit or lack thereof? There's a cute little female lemming I'd like to introduce you to. You have so much in common. Did 90% of the world believe in Christianity, Judaism, Islam or any of the other religions when they were first introduced? No. So, you see, none of these three religions passed muster on your 90% criterion at inception. Why should mine meet a higher standard? Let's keep it "real," shall we? Or at least consistent.
Isn't it interesting, Z, that almost everyone who comes into contact with you and your intellectual dishonesty, your hypocrisy and your tactic of assertion/denial, eventually come to the same conclusions about you. Why do you think that is? By the way, Z... in your discussion of your religious beliefs in the latest ID thread, the one in which you said that you are a 'Man of God', you also said that in your opinion, children on pediatric cancer wards must have done something wrong because 'God does not make mistakes'. We asked you for some clarification regarding this statement, which seemed to us to be difficult to understand. We waited but we received no response. Can you comment on this matter, and explain how it fits in with your conception of yourself as a 'Man of God'? Thanks, Nik ---------------------------------------------------------- Member of the ET Anti Troll Brigade iustus ignarus troll
Where in my quote does it state that 90% believe in a religion ? It is about believing in an omnipotent. If you believe a unicorn is this entity then that is your choice. Let's keep it "real," shall we? Or at least stay on topic.
I am confused TK9. Where have I said I was enlightened and a "spiritual guy?" I have said I am a fallen soul, just like everyone else, who is a theist. I have no idea what mask you are talking about, and the whole "republican" red herring thingy is really out of place. Can you do nothing but attack the messenger, if you don't like the messages I put forth?
Wha?????? So all theists believe in the 'fallen soul' story? How ethnocentric of you. Also, how glaringly wrong. Even I know this isn't true and I'm not a theist. Amazingly narrow-minded comment. BTW...your confusion is a result of posting to many hypocritical arguments. You can be forgiven - anyone would become confused. I forgive you.
We are dancing around what is innate and what is learned. It's a strong definitive word. A homo sapien completely isolated from birth, not being able to interact would not necessarily perish because of an "innate" call to socialize or become a political animal. A human would surely expire should it not have an innate instinct to survive, poop, breath. In this context we were discussing what innate instincts a baby will have at birth. I simply considered we agreed neither theism nor religion would be one. So now you mean to tell me a blank slate is theism?...No? .. Then it is atheism. But to whom I ask again, you or the baby? It is a simple case. Add on connotation, additional nuances, pejorative meaning and a simple straightforward expression is turned into a game of semantics. That is why I suggest you are unable, or more likely unwilling, to consider or acknowledge the significance. Atheism as 'non-religion' is nevertheless an interestingly unencumbered understanding which obviously many people hold and many others have not even perceived. There is so much additional meaning added on to both words atheism and theism, that the original understanding of them both and therefore a certain part of the wholly legitimate perception of their meaning is lost. With God - without God, have acquired enormous attendant intense symbolization that a most basic and unequivocal understanding by the particular comprehension of two words, one in particular, appears to be escaping or is receiving an unjustified refusal of your notice completely. Such a disregard I suggest artificially fabricates an exclusion zone for particular and certain understanding. It also confusingly leaves no clear and proper explanation as to what both words can actually portray or express by the users of them in reality. That maybe to the advantage of strident procalimers of theism, who seem to rely on uncertainty as the key. But should not I think be particularly attractive to anyone who would be trying to see and understand other reasonable points of view. To in effect 'be without God' is the most normal and natural way to be for many people, same as how in an uncluttered way to be 'with God' is . I've held many a discussion with friends who don't proclaim truth right or wrong in their being 'with God'. They altogether feel it more comfortable to be that way. When intervention occurs through learning about concepts of God, to find they still are in effect ' without God', many will explain a feeling of previously unappreciated liberation and an exhilaratingly meaningful understanding to their regular state of being 'without God'. Such appreciations do not necessarily go with a desire or need to disparage those who are 'with God'. On hearing of or about God many then find being "without God" , their life is simply further understood. It does for the very reasons of human history however appear that some of those 'with God' have not even had thoughts to envision such a possibility and often appear to have learned the response reactively - - being without God is being against God. So much so as to not be prepared to separate those two ordinary arguments from one word..... something which is achieved innately by all infants.
Contradiction in terms. Believing in AN omnipotent?... what? one of many?!? So your omnipotent is more so than someone else's? Simply not possible As any God can be believed omnipotent - including Thunder's F U (peace be upon it)..... then non actually can be. Gilbert is as near as it is possible to get. Search ET for Him :eek: