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What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE?

09-29-2011 , 10:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gskowal
No other way for you to become nonbeliever? skepticism doesn't cut it for you?
When was the last time that you were skeptical about the naturalistic worldview?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gskowal
Not sure how intelligent the creator would be if he writes a program of such kind in which his creation lives short lives full of pain and suffering. Most of the created life becomes food for other life, many die of disease and hunger, others in some other circumstances, for majority of that created life survival, food and passing of it's genetic code is all that matters.

If we are a program that this must be a program of a being that does not realize how much pain it's inflicting on the created life.
None of this has anything to do with intelligence.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:11 PM
Assuming that my inquired definition is correct, I will answer.

I have stated many different ways on this site that I feel Christianity at least would be falsified and would cause me to step back to deism.

1. if they could clone a "me" that could not even know that it wasn't "me".
2. If we discovered a civilization like ours on another planet that had no concept of God.
3. If another species formed the same consciousness and intelligence that humans have, a la planet of the apes.

I have come across others but here are a few that I can think of off the top of my head.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:14 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
When was the last time that you were skeptical about the naturalistic worldview?
Give me examples of what you want me to be skeptical about..
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:16 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
None of this has anything to do with intelligence.
You would figure that a very advanced (even claimed to be omnibenevolent) creator wouldn't have a trouble realizing what pain and suffering is, would it?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:18 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gskowal
You would figure that a very advanced (even claimed to be omnibenevolent) creator wouldn't have a trouble realizing what pain and suffering is, would it?
Who claimed to be omnibenevolent? And who said that (s)he does not realize what pain is?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gskowal
Give me examples of what you want me to be skeptical about..
So you can think of no time that you are skeptical of naturalism?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:21 PM
Thanks Jib I think the definition of deism works for me. So the three things you listed are unlikely to happen in our lifetimes... So for people today ad in the past what do you think are other reasonable reasons to switch from a theistic belief to deism?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dknightx
Thanks Jib I think the definition of deism works for me. So the three things you listed are unlikely to happen in our lifetimes... So for people today ad in the past what do you think are other reasonable reasons to switch from a theistic belief to deism?
Well, I don't know how unlikely they are but I think that it is hard for me to give an answer that will not be future dependent. If something existed now that would change my belief, I would have already changed my belief.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:31 PM
To stay are par with the other thread I should add in a fourth.

4. Evidence.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 10:38 PM
@dknightx

To be fair, I don't hold to many of the strict beliefs that other christian do. Like the inerrancy of the bible. I also don't base my beliefs on the doctrines of the church.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-29-2011 , 11:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hardball47
I like how these Yin/Yang threads pop up in RGT. lol
It is a quid pro quo.

A primitive form of communication.

An embryonic attempt at trust.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 12:09 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
Who claimed to be omnibenevolent? And who said that (s)he does not realize what pain is?
I hear it from Religious people very often especially from Christians.

Not sure if someone can realize how the pain and suffering is affecting billions of life forms and at the same time not do anything about it. Us simple humans realize the suffering of others as well as animals and want to constantly help yet the creator itself doesn't care?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 12:10 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
So you can think of no time that you are skeptical of naturalism?
Im skeptical of any unsupported claims , so ?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 12:11 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
To stay are par with the other thread I should add in a fourth.

4. Evidence.
Evidence for/of what?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 12:18 AM
The more interesting question is what would it take for a believer to admit that those who don't believe are being reasonable.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 12:27 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
A
2. If we discovered a civilization like ours on another planet that had no concept of God.
3. If another species formed the same consciousness and intelligence that humans have, a la planet of the apes.
Interestingly that you maintain 2 yet the fact that there are numerable civilizations on this planet which ostensibly very different conceptions of god(s) doesn't sway you? Unless one takes, that is, some sort of deistic "earthly religions are inspired by a true god" kinda of thing. However if one DOES take that view and not some specific religion, then I don't see how 3 would be compelling at all. Seems entirely consistent that a deity which motivates christinaity and hinduism alike could easily have all sorts of other planets with other intelligences.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 12:30 AM
If a satellite fell out of the sky and didn't kill a mass murderer on his way to a school to kill hundreds of children.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 09:07 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Sklansky
The more interesting question is what would it take for a believer to admit that those who don't believe are being reasonable.
A mathematical proof which showed there must be an upper bound on intellect and consciousness....or at least a very compelling argument of such.

A proof or very compelling argument that eternity is nonsensical/impossibility.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 09:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
Assuming that my inquired definition is correct, I will answer.

I have stated many different ways on this site that I feel Christianity at least would be falsified and would cause me to step back to deism.

1. if they could clone a "me" that could not even know that it wasn't "me".
2. If we discovered a civilization like ours on another planet that had no concept of God.
3. If another species formed the same consciousness and intelligence that humans have, a la planet of the apes.

I have come across others but here are a few that I can think of off the top of my head.
I gotta say that all these 3 are still pretty much explainable by a theist with an unfalsifiable explanation , so I'm surprised you would use these to persuade you to become a nonbeliever.

1. A theist can still claim that the souls are different but the same bodies so it doesn't matter..
2. Jesus hasn't visited them yet he is waiting for a better time.
3. Even if we find many planets with intelligent beings or they come to visit us , theists can still make excuses claiming , maybe GOD only picked us to be saved cause we are his favorite creation, maybe GOD created those as holograms so that we are not bored.. etc etc etc..

Theists can come up with any unfalsifiable explanations they want and still claim their God exists...

Carl Sagan wrote about this in the "The Dragon in My Garage"
http://youtu.be/jJRy3Kl_z5E
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09-30-2011 , 09:50 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gskowal
Evidence for/of what?
the no-god theory. Evidence that shows it is reasonable to believe that all of reality is on giant series of happy accidents.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 09:51 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gskowal
Im skeptical of any unsupported claims , so ?
So you are skeptical of naturalism then, right?
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 09:55 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gskowal
I hear it from Religious people very often especially from Christians.
So? What does this have to do with the conversation?

Quote:
Not sure if someone can realize how the pain and suffering is affecting billions of life forms and at the same time not do anything about it. Us simple humans realize the suffering of others as well as animals and want to constantly help yet the creator itself doesn't care?
What does this have to do with intelligence? Also, isn't it possible that suffering is allowed for a greater good? From a babies perspective there is no good reason why we habitually take them to some mean old mans office and let him stick painful needles in their legs!
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09-30-2011 , 10:02 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jibninjas
the no-god theory. Evidence that shows it is reasonable to believe that all of reality is on giant series of happy accidents.
looking for evidence to an unfalsifiable claim it pretty much wishful thinking... you realize that's not how it works...
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote
09-30-2011 , 10:02 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Sklansky
The more interesting question is what would it take for a believer to admit that those who don't believe are being reasonable.
evidence that things like consciousness, rationality, and independant Laws of Physics (among other things) can plausibly exist as the product of a giant series of happy accidents.
What Would It Take For A Believer To UNBELIEVE? Quote

      
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