When we speak solely of the beliving in one or more gods and souls that will keep on existing after death, bringing the meaning of existance into a more spiritual level, I think that's a perfectly reasonable behaviour, far from illogical. Just change the word faith with hope. Cause even if not believing in anything is my own view of life, it's a rather depressing cinical point of view. Hope is probably one of the most logical of human feelings.
Imho.
meh, believing in things without evidence is still illogical, and that's the bottom line.
I even have certain beliefs that are illogical, but I realize they are and openly admit that they are, but I rarely speak of them. (have to do with universal origins, and an abstract of quantum physics).
Not trying to contradict or argue without hearing exactly you're thoughts on quantum physics, but I don't think quantum physics is illogical.
Counter intuitive yes, but it is reality so therefore must be logical. We just have to adjust our understanding of what is logical to encompass the events that occur at the quantum level.
hence why I said an abstract, and idk I may be right about my opinion, I like to think I am on it, but I realize I have no proof on it, which was the point of bringing it up, not trying to say quantum physics is by any means not how it is, but my limited understanding of it, and my own thoughts on it are probably not accurate.
(understand?)
Yes, but it is still worth discussing things like that. When talking about a level of reality that is foreign to what we are used to, even seemingly ridiculous ideas should be considered before they are rejected.
Not long ago all of quantum mechanics would have seemed like pure insanity.
Just because I don't believe in some/certain gods, doesn't mean I don't believe in any. Even if you are correct and I am technically an atheist (which I'm not agreeing to) your reasoning is still flawed.
Even the most stridently religious of you is an atheist towards Ra, the Sun God. You're atheist about Quetzalcoatl, Athena, Saturn, Zeus, Odin, or any other of the thousands and millions of gods and goddesses who have come and gone throughout human history.
And you don't give them a single waking moment of thought or careful contemplation to their non-existence. You do not engage in "the religion of not believing in Imahmana Viracocha." There are no weekly meetings. There's no political movement. You just don't give it any consideration whatsoever.
Atheists are precisely the same way -- they just add one more god to the list.
Not even Christopher Hitchens (the most publicly virulent anti-religious person I can recall offhand) wants to outlaw religion, nor would consider a religious person an impossibly flawed, evil being who does not deserve to hold elected office or be invited into one's house. He just wants religion to leave him alone.
Yet the stigma against atheists in our society is so strong, publicly proclaiming yourself to be one is akin to proclaiming yourself an agent of Lucifer. It is impossible to achieve any elected office in this country after such a pronouncement. Many studies have shown that the hatred towards atheists in this country is more widespread and vitriolic than even the hatred towards militant Islam.
When we speak solely of the beliving in one or more gods and souls that will keep on existing after death, bringing the meaning of existance into a more spiritual level, I think that's a perfectly reasonable behaviour, far from illogical. Just change the word faith with hope. Cause even if not believing in anything is my own view of life, it's a rather depressing cinical point of view. Hope is probably one of the most logical of human feelings.
Imho.
meh, believing in things without evidence is still illogical, and that's the bottom line.
I even have certain beliefs that are illogical, but I realize they are and openly admit that they are, but I rarely speak of them. (have to do with universal origins, and an abstract of quantum physics).
Not trying to contradict or argue without hearing exactly you're thoughts on quantum physics, but I don't think quantum physics is illogical.
Counter intuitive yes, but it is reality so therefore must be logical. We just have to adjust our understanding of what is logical to encompass the events that occur at the quantum level.
hence why I said an abstract, and idk I may be right about my opinion, I like to think I am on it, but I realize I have no proof on it, which was the point of bringing it up, not trying to say quantum physics is by any means not how it is, but my limited understanding of it, and my own thoughts on it are probably not accurate.
(understand?)
Yes, but it is still worth discussing things like that. When talking about a level of reality that is foreign to what we are used to, even seemingly ridiculous ideas should be considered before they are rejected.
Not long ago all of quantum mechanics would have seemed like pure insanity.
I would like to hear your ideas.
I think the universe has a cyclical pattern of imploding and exploding, that the big bang is just a re-exploding, that matter has always existed.
I think that (like I said limited understanding of quantum physics) that some of the electrical signals in the brain, may be left in the atmosphere after people die, and is probably the only validation for ever thinking there may be a "ghost" of some kind, is the brainwaves still exist. (the documentary I watched a few years ago may be entirely wrong, and I may have gotten the wrong message from it, it was something I picked up from the public library like 6 years ago).
but like I said, these are just thoughts I like to entertain, but I lack the resources and the education to properly look into them, they're probably debunkable rather easily though.
I never claimed there is a rational reason to believe in something with no proof... What I am claimaing is that just because you have faith in something it does not eliminate your ability to think rationally... People beleive aliens exist... It's like saying that electricity didn't didn't exist before we could harness it... and believing that it did made you an irrational fool... Just because we don't currently have the means to understand something doesn't mean it doesn't exist or that we won't discover the means one day...
So you found something that gave you a place huh? Yet when others do it a different way you look down on them? Gave you the skills necassary to to do what you will be doing in the future? You mean like how many religious people go to school or learn a trade that allows them to succeed in this life? you don't think there are software engineers and biologists or doctors and all sorts of other professions that rely on the sciences that have faith? Or are they just worse than the others because they do?
Some poor choices? There are people that make some poor choices that affect them for the rest of their lives... and keep making them even... Humans aren't capable of always thinkiing logically hence our emotions... Faith is only part of a persons life... and for some it gives them an opportunity.. a place and motivation to develop the skills they need to help them succeed...
It is illogical to assume that all involved with religion to be completely irrational human beings and while capable unable to use logical thought or critical thinking because of their religion... especially with no imperical data to prove it...
When we speak solely of the beliving in one or more gods and souls that will keep on existing after death, bringing the meaning of existance into a more spiritual level, I think that's a perfectly reasonable behaviour, far from illogical. Just change the word faith with hope. Cause even if not believing in anything is my own view of life, it's a rather depressing cinical point of view. Hope is probably one of the most logical of human feelings.
Imho.
meh, believing in things without evidence is still illogical, and that's the bottom line.
I even have certain beliefs that are illogical, but I realize they are and openly admit that they are, but I rarely speak of them. (have to do with universal origins, and an abstract of quantum physics).
Not trying to contradict or argue without hearing exactly you're thoughts on quantum physics, but I don't think quantum physics is illogical.
Counter intuitive yes, but it is reality so therefore must be logical. We just have to adjust our understanding of what is logical to encompass the events that occur at the quantum level.
hence why I said an abstract, and idk I may be right about my opinion, I like to think I am on it, but I realize I have no proof on it, which was the point of bringing it up, not trying to say quantum physics is by any means not how it is, but my limited understanding of it, and my own thoughts on it are probably not accurate.
(understand?)
Yes, but it is still worth discussing things like that. When talking about a level of reality that is foreign to what we are used to, even seemingly ridiculous ideas should be considered before they are rejected.
Not long ago all of quantum mechanics would have seemed like pure insanity.
I would like to hear your ideas.
I think the universe has a cyclical pattern of imploding and exploding, that the big bang is just a re-exploding, that matter has always existed.
I think that (like I said limited understanding of quantum physics) that some of the electrical signals in the brain, may be left in the atmosphere after people die, and is probably the only validation for ever thinking there may be a "ghost" of some kind, is the brainwaves still exist. (the documentary I watched a few years ago may be entirely wrong, and I may have gotten the wrong message from it, it was something I picked up from the public library like 6 years ago).
but like I said, these are just thoughts I like to entertain, but I lack the resources and the education to properly look into them, they're probably debunkable rather easily though.
There was an episode of Through the Wormhole on Science channel that discussed the possibility of a soul that hit on ideas similar to that.
Not something that will be able to be tested for quite sometime but you aren't alone in that thought process. Some have taken it a bit further to theorize that our brains work on a quantum level & that the universe itself is a gigantic quantum computer that we are somehow woven into it.
The first theory you mentioned is called the Big Rebound, or Yo-Yo. A possibility for sure, although a theory Ive heard recently that I kind of like is that the universe itself exists through an evolutionary process of natural selection.
spit in a glass of orange juice then stir it up.
to the average person, its just an ordinary glass of oj.
they don't know there's spit in there, cuz they can't see it or taste it. but its there.
thats how some people feel about religion.
some will say that it isn't there.
some will say that they don't know if it is or isn't there.
and some say it is there, i sense, i believe its there!
/shrug
one of the examples we came up with over the ihop dinner
some will say that it isn't there. atheist
some will say that they don't know if it is or isn't there. atheist or theist. most likely atheist.
and some say it is there, i sense, i believe its there! theist
I think you could say that all religious people are irrational in the areas of reality that directly pertain to their belief, yet remain rational in other areas. The numbers of areas affected seems to be dependent on each individual.
This could be said about all humans in regards to different concepts. God, Love, Hate etc etc are irrational thoughts that affect our behavior.
I never said it didn't, in fact I said that it didn't already.
wow, really comparing electricity to a "god" really?
/facepalm
OK Thor.
I found a logical, rational way to do it.
I meant the tools to use things like school to learn, aka deducting reasoning skills. (a thing religious people are trying to ban, see Texas GOP).
Yes, because the subscribe to a severe level of irrationality on a regular basis, I'm claiming that their ability to think rationally is compromised, not non-existent.
Yes there are, your point? and no humans are capable of being rational beings, just most are scared to.
Faith is irrational and it hurts more than helps people to succeed, you can only look at the state the world is in to see that.
Yes it is illogical to assume that, good thing I didn't...
spit in a glass of orange juice then stir it up.
to the average person, its just an ordinary glass of oj.
they don't know there's spit in there, cuz they can't see it or taste it. but its there.
thats how some people feel about religion.
some will say that it isn't there.
some will say that they don't know if it is or isn't there.
and some say it is there, i sense, i believe its there!
/shrug
one of the examples we came up with over the ihop dinner
Flawed analogy. By stating that someone has spit in the glass your premise is supporting the theist position incorrectly.
When we speak solely of the beliving in one or more gods and souls that will keep on existing after death, bringing the meaning of existance into a more spiritual level, I think that's a perfectly reasonable behaviour, far from illogical. Just change the word faith with hope. Cause even if not believing in anything is my own view of life, it's a rather depressing cinical point of view. Hope is probably one of the most logical of human feelings.
Imho.
meh, believing in things without evidence is still illogical, and that's the bottom line.
I even have certain beliefs that are illogical, but I realize they are and openly admit that they are, but I rarely speak of them. (have to do with universal origins, and an abstract of quantum physics).
Not trying to contradict or argue without hearing exactly you're thoughts on quantum physics, but I don't think quantum physics is illogical.
Counter intuitive yes, but it is reality so therefore must be logical. We just have to adjust our understanding of what is logical to encompass the events that occur at the quantum level.
hence why I said an abstract, and idk I may be right about my opinion, I like to think I am on it, but I realize I have no proof on it, which was the point of bringing it up, not trying to say quantum physics is by any means not how it is, but my limited understanding of it, and my own thoughts on it are probably not accurate.
(understand?)
Yes, but it is still worth discussing things like that. When talking about a level of reality that is foreign to what we are used to, even seemingly ridiculous ideas should be considered before they are rejected.
Not long ago all of quantum mechanics would have seemed like pure insanity.
I would like to hear your ideas.
I think the universe has a cyclical pattern of imploding and exploding, that the big bang is just a re-exploding, that matter has always existed.
I think that (like I said limited understanding of quantum physics) that some of the electrical signals in the brain, may be left in the atmosphere after people die, and is probably the only validation for ever thinking there may be a "ghost" of some kind, is the brainwaves still exist. (the documentary I watched a few years ago may be entirely wrong, and I may have gotten the wrong message from it, it was something I picked up from the public library like 6 years ago).
but like I said, these are just thoughts I like to entertain, but I lack the resources and the education to properly look into them, they're probably debunkable rather easily though.
There was an episode of Through the Wormhole on Science channel that discussed the possibility of a soul that hit on ideas similar to that.
Not something that will be able to be tested for quite sometime but you aren't alone in that thought process. Some have taken it a bit further to theorize that our brains work on a quantum level & that the universe itself is a gigantic quantum computer that we are somehow woven into it.
The first theory you mentioned is called the Big Rebound, or Yo-Yo. A possibility for sure, although a theory Ive heard recently that I kind of like is that the universe itself exists through an evolutionary process of natural selection.
I never claimed there is a rational reason to believe in something with no proof... What I am claimaing is that just because you have faith in something it does not eliminate your ability to think rationally... People beleive aliens exist... It's like saying that electricity didn't didn't exist before we could harness it... and believing that it did made you an irrational fool... Just because we don't currently have the means to understand something doesn't mean it doesn't exist or that we won't discover the means one day...
Directly, no. Having faith does not hinder you intellectually. But it's a choice that is not based on intellect and can reflect onto other decisions. More, religion is an inherent obstacle to proper education because they push an agenda, and even more, indoctrinate their youth with incorrect information or weak arguments from an authoritarian point of view to generate all sorts of negative emotions when it comes to leaving their religion for any reason. It is manipulation to the highest degree, and it's used on children who haven't developed critical thinking skills yet, stunting their critical thinking skills for life sometimes. There's a study that shows, in church, the critical thinking part of the brain actually turns off - I wonder why that is? (Rhetorical question is rhetorical)
When we speak solely of the beliving in one or more gods and souls that will keep on existing after death, bringing the meaning of existance into a more spiritual level, I think that's a perfectly reasonable behaviour, far from illogical. Just change the word faith with hope. Cause even if not believing in anything is my own view of life, it's a rather depressing cinical point of view. Hope is probably one of the most logical of human feelings.
Imho.
meh, believing in things without evidence is still illogical, and that's the bottom line.
I even have certain beliefs that are illogical, but I realize they are and openly admit that they are, but I rarely speak of them. (have to do with universal origins, and an abstract of quantum physics).
Not trying to contradict or argue without hearing exactly you're thoughts on quantum physics, but I don't think quantum physics is illogical.
Counter intuitive yes, but it is reality so therefore must be logical. We just have to adjust our understanding of what is logical to encompass the events that occur at the quantum level.
hence why I said an abstract, and idk I may be right about my opinion, I like to think I am on it, but I realize I have no proof on it, which was the point of bringing it up, not trying to say quantum physics is by any means not how it is, but my limited understanding of it, and my own thoughts on it are probably not accurate.
(understand?)
Yes, but it is still worth discussing things like that. When talking about a level of reality that is foreign to what we are used to, even seemingly ridiculous ideas should be considered before they are rejected.
Not long ago all of quantum mechanics would have seemed like pure insanity.
I would like to hear your ideas.
I think the universe has a cyclical pattern of imploding and exploding, that the big bang is just a re-exploding, that matter has always existed.
I think that (like I said limited understanding of quantum physics) that some of the electrical signals in the brain, may be left in the atmosphere after people die, and is probably the only validation for ever thinking there may be a "ghost" of some kind, is the brainwaves still exist. (the documentary I watched a few years ago may be entirely wrong, and I may have gotten the wrong message from it, it was something I picked up from the public library like 6 years ago).
but like I said, these are just thoughts I like to entertain, but I lack the resources and the education to properly look into them, they're probably debunkable rather easily though.
There was an episode of Through the Wormhole on Science channel that discussed the possibility of a soul that hit on ideas similar to that.
Not something that will be able to be tested for quite sometime but you aren't alone in that thought process. Some have taken it a bit further to theorize that our brains work on a quantum level & that the universe itself is a gigantic quantum computer that we are somehow woven into it.
The first theory you mentioned is called the Big Rebound, or Yo-Yo. A possibility for sure, although a theory Ive heard recently that I kind of like is that the universe itself exists through an evolutionary process of natural selection.
Sounds like I need to watch more tv...
/sips drink
I dont watch much TV, but Sci channel has some interesting stuff occasionally.
Through the Wormhole is presented a bit on the sensational side, but I find the topics very interesting & its cool hearing some of the most bizarre theories that current cosmologists and physicists have come up with.
When we speak solely of the beliving in one or more gods and souls that will keep on existing after death, bringing the meaning of existance into a more spiritual level, I think that's a perfectly reasonable behaviour, far from illogical. Just change the word faith with hope. Cause even if not believing in anything is my own view of life, it's a rather depressing cinical point of view. Hope is probably one of the most logical of human feelings.
Imho.
meh, believing in things without evidence is still illogical, and that's the bottom line.
I even have certain beliefs that are illogical, but I realize they are and openly admit that they are, but I rarely speak of them. (have to do with universal origins, and an abstract of quantum physics).
Not trying to contradict or argue without hearing exactly you're thoughts on quantum physics, but I don't think quantum physics is illogical.
Counter intuitive yes, but it is reality so therefore must be logical. We just have to adjust our understanding of what is logical to encompass the events that occur at the quantum level.
hence why I said an abstract, and idk I may be right about my opinion, I like to think I am on it, but I realize I have no proof on it, which was the point of bringing it up, not trying to say quantum physics is by any means not how it is, but my limited understanding of it, and my own thoughts on it are probably not accurate.
(understand?)
Yes, but it is still worth discussing things like that. When talking about a level of reality that is foreign to what we are used to, even seemingly ridiculous ideas should be considered before they are rejected.
Not long ago all of quantum mechanics would have seemed like pure insanity.
I would like to hear your ideas.
I think the universe has a cyclical pattern of imploding and exploding, that the big bang is just a re-exploding, that matter has always existed.
I think that (like I said limited understanding of quantum physics) that some of the electrical signals in the brain, may be left in the atmosphere after people die, and is probably the only validation for ever thinking there may be a "ghost" of some kind, is the brainwaves still exist. (the documentary I watched a few years ago may be entirely wrong, and I may have gotten the wrong message from it, it was something I picked up from the public library like 6 years ago).
but like I said, these are just thoughts I like to entertain, but I lack the resources and the education to properly look into them, they're probably debunkable rather easily though.
There was an episode of Through the Wormhole on Science channel that discussed the possibility of a soul that hit on ideas similar to that.
Not something that will be able to be tested for quite sometime but you aren't alone in that thought process. Some have taken it a bit further to theorize that our brains work on a quantum level & that the universe itself is a gigantic quantum computer that we are somehow woven into it.
The first theory you mentioned is called the Big Rebound, or Yo-Yo. A possibility for sure, although a theory Ive heard recently that I kind of like is that the universe itself exists through an evolutionary process of natural selection.
Sounds like I need to watch more tv...
/sips drink
I dont watch much TV, but Sci channel has some interesting stuff occasionally.
Through the Wormhole is presented a bit on the sensational side, but I find the topics very interesting & its cool hearing some of the most bizarre theories that current cosmologists and physicists have come up with.
hey hey, be careful with that word sir :P
ah I think I'll go be productive with another part of my brain now and actually do my homework :D
Striking a blow for the people and tv shows that come up with crazy and not very belieavable theories, I think they still are very helpful, cause even if wrong from start to end they might open a new point of view for you, allowing you to grasp new concept by denying them. So, no speculation is ever completely useless I think.
I never said it didn't, in fact I said that it didn't already. wow, really comparing electricity to a "god" really? /facepalm OK Thor. I found a logical, rational way to do it. I meant the tools to use things like school to learn, aka deducting reasoning skills. (a thing religious people are trying to ban, see Texas GOP). Yes, because the subscribe to a severe level of irrationality on a regular basis, I'm claiming that their ability to think rationally is compromised, not non-existent. Yes there are, your point? and no humans are capable of being rational beings, just most are scared to. Faith is irrational and it hurts more than helps people to succeed, you can only look at the state the world is in to see that. Yes it is illogical to assume that, good thing I didn't...
Not really comparing electricity to God... comparing the point that at one time anyone bringing something like that up would be treated as a fool even though they were correct... At that time we simply did not havee the means to harness/realize it...
Insulting people gets you far Jet lol.. I fail to see how resulting to that is a logical response...
Not all religious people are trying to ban things like that and honestly, those incidents are more isolated than some make them out to be... none the less they are wrong... Many private institutions that have religious instutions actually teach our children the sciences better than many public institutions...
Compromised? What do you base this assumption off of other than your own opinion?
Faith hurts more than it helps succeed? Do you have the numbers on this or is this just another opinion? What kind of help are we talking about here as well? You make a lot of general points but fail to elaborate on any of them or give any proof to back your statements... Seems like more of a stance based on your own thoughts rather than facts... Not saying it's true or false but rather that you don't make a good argument at all... thought I'm sure you'll just tell me I'm unable to comprehend it or to do the work myself lol...
I never claimed there is a rational reason to believe in something with no proof... What I am claimaing is that just because you have faith in something it does not eliminate your ability to think rationally... People beleive aliens exist... It's like saying that electricity didn't didn't exist before we could harness it... and believing that it did made you an irrational fool... Just because we don't currently have the means to understand something doesn't mean it doesn't exist or that we won't discover the means one day...
Directly, no. Having faith does not hinder you intellectually. But it's a choice that is not based on intellect and can reflect onto other decisions. More, religion is an inherent obstacle to proper education because they push an agenda, and even more, indoctrinate their youth with incorrect information or weak arguments from an authoritarian point of view to generate all sorts of negative emotions when it comes to leaving their religion for any reason. It is manipulation to the highest degree, and it's used on children who haven't developed critical thinking skills yet, stunting their critical thinking skills for life sometimes. There's a study that shows, in church, the critical thinking part of the brain actually turns off - I wonder why that is? (Rhetorical question is rhetorical)
There is also a study that says the critical thinking part of the brain shuts down during the time spent watching television... I'm unaware of why you need critical thought during mass... Faith has nothing to do with critical thought but as you said it doesn't directly hinder you intellectually... just because someone turns off for a week during mass... Im curious to see how they did that study too... if you could link me would be appreciated... otherwhise I'll look for it later...
As for indoctrination... I don't beleive in it and sadly it is true in parts of religion... But there are also many parts that do not include it... I was actually challenged to examine my faith as a kid... I was even given the opportunity to refuse to participate in the holy sacrements if I so chose... I was never made to feel like I was supposed to be a certain way but rather I had to come to that decision on my own... and that it was something that only I could do...
Private institutions that are related with religion usually do a good job at educating children... they always had higher results in my area... thought that is a fairly limited scope and would have to look into that more to actually make a factual statement...
Edit: I could probably find a study that says the same about gaming too...
As for indoctrination... I don't beleive in it and sadly it is true in parts of religion... But there are also many parts that do not include it... I was actually challenged to examine my faith as a kid... I was even given the opportunity to refuse to participate in the holy sacrements if I so chose... I was never made to feel like I was supposed to be a certain way but rather I had to come to that decision on my own... and that it was something that only I could do...
That's your personal experience, if we had to judge by that I could say the exact opposite and deny this perception. Religion has been forced onto me many times, and once in school I was even sent to the principal and suspended for refusing to pray for don't remember what reason we were requested to do.
It exists and it's strong in many places.
I remember when I went to Catholic school. If I didn't go to mass and give an offering, I would get thrown out of school. I hated having to give them money every Sunday.
Good and bad done by religion(s) is at 50% in my opinion.
Based on what? Again.. not to say its not true or even balanced in an unfavorable position but what do you base that off of?
The good is what I see in those priests that actually help their local community, which is all they're supposed to do and sadly they're not even many. Good is also how some people actually find comfort in faith in times of despair, it may be illogical like Jet says, but if it helps them then it's good.
The bad is the manipulation which happens on many levels, from the dogmas imposed by the church, many of which bad(don't use condoms just to cite one of the most famous derp that came from the pope), to the *** that use their position for personal benefits, from greed, to utterly using people who trust them be it with their money, or worse with their bodies. And believe me, these are not isolated cases at all.
It's a medal with two distinct faces, and it's been like this since it was created.
As for indoctrination... I don't beleive in it and sadly it is true in parts of religion... But there are also many parts that do not include it... I was actually challenged to examine my faith as a kid... I was even given the opportunity to refuse to participate in the holy sacrements if I so chose... I was never made to feel like I was supposed to be a certain way but rather I had to come to that decision on my own... and that it was something that only I could do...
That's your personal experience, if we had to judge by that I could say the exact opposite and deny this perception. Religion has been forced onto me many times, and once in school I was even sent to the principal and suspended for refusing to pray for don't remember what reason we were requested to do. It exists and it's strong in many places.
I acknowledged it's existence and my disaproval of it as well... but if you're going to say that this is just my experience I could say the same of you... Though I can't measure which side the balance weighs on more... There is weight to both sides...
Religion should always be a choice though... it is your own personal journey and should never be forced upon you... Just like most things in life... There should be freedom to choose but there are times when things are forced upon us and religion is not the only one to do this... not at all excusing its use though... just to make that clear...
Religion should always be a choice though... it is your own personal journey and should never be forced upon you... Just like most things in life... There should be freedom to choose but there are times when things are forced upon us and religion is not the only one to do this... not at all excusing its use though... just to make that clear...
People aren't given the choice because if we let adults decide about religion without a childhood of indoctrination, religion would be dead before I am planted in the ground.
Just because I don't believe in some/certain gods, doesn't mean I don't believe in any. Even if you are correct and I am technically an atheist (which I'm not agreeing to) your reasoning is still flawed.
Even the most stridently religious of you is an atheist towards Ra, the Sun God. You're atheist about Quetzalcoatl, Athena, Saturn, Zeus, Odin, or any other of the thousands and millions of gods and goddesses who have come and gone throughout human history.
And you don't give them a single waking moment of thought or careful contemplation to their non-existence. You do not engage in "the religion of not believing in Imahmana Viracocha." There are no weekly meetings. There's no political movement. You just don't give it any consideration whatsoever.
Atheists are precisely the same way -- they just add one more god to the list.
Not even Christopher Hitchens (the most publicly virulent anti-religious person I can recall offhand) wants to outlaw religion, nor would consider a religious person an impossibly flawed, evil being who does not deserve to hold elected office or be invited into one's house. He just wants religion to leave him alone.
Yet the stigma against atheists in our society is so strong, publicly proclaiming yourself to be one is akin to proclaiming yourself an agent of Lucifer. It is impossible to achieve any elected office in this country after such a pronouncement. Many studies have shown that the hatred towards atheists in this country is more widespread and vitriolic than even the hatred towards militant Islam.
So please, don't equate the two.
Your reasoning is still flawed.
By the way, congrats on somehow managing to take an entire post out of context and use it for your argument.
I'm atheist towards some gods, not all.
Quote:
agnosticism is a stance about the difference between belief and knowledge, rather than about any specific claim or belief. In the popular sense, an agnostic is someone who neither believes nor disbelieves in the existence of a deity or deities, whereas a theist and an atheist believe and disbelieve, respectively
I don't, and have never, claimed all gods to be non-existent. Which means simply, agnostic fits me better than atheist. For me to (correctly) identify as an atheist over agnostic, I need to disbelieve that any and all gods/deities exist. You can try and argue this until you're blue in the face, it doesn't change anything.
If you believe in some gods, you're a theist. I don't know why it's hard to grasp that you're either theist or atheist. Also that popular sense of agnosticism is a bunch of ***.
Because people fail to grasp the subtleties. Believing in a deity is different from not believing in a deity. Believing in some deity doesn't mean you believe in all deities. Not taking a stance on any deity is different from taking a stance in either direction.
You can be agnostic with atheist tendencies, but that doesn't make you strictly atheist. Like wise you can be agnostic with theist tendencies.
