Atheists vs Theists

shinsyotta · 08-18-2006, 09:30 AM

I read a lot of atheist blogs, and there have been numerous attempts to get discussions going between theists and atheists, but they all fail. Eventually one side gets bored with saying the same thing and having the other side ignore it.
I find it interesting that of all places, Sherdog seems to host this kind of discussion. The participants keep coming back because although they may disagree on many things, they share a common interest in MMA. Cool.
Discuss....?

Jay Pan ROKK · 08-18-2006, 09:35 AM

Of course nobody knows the truth ...

CC's left foot · 08-18-2006, 09:41 AM

Generally it's the theists that ignore arguments. There is no definitive argument that can put an atheist in a logical bind.

Basically, the burden of proof is on theists. When one makes a fantastic claim (i.e. there is a god), it is up to that person to provide evidence that their claim is true.

For example, if someone told me that they were absolutely sure that the tooth fairy was real, it's not up to me to prove them wrong. It's up to them to provide evidence that they are right.

shinsyotta · 08-18-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC's left foot

Generally it's the theists that ignore arguments. There is no definitive argument that can put an atheist in a logical bind.

Basically, the burden of proof is on theists. When one makes a fantastic claim (i.e. there is a god), it is up to that person to provide evidence that their claim is true.

For example, if someone told me that they were absolutely sure that the tooth fairy was real, it's not up to me to prove them wrong. It's up to them to provide evidence that they are right.

Agreed. I just didn't want to turn this thread into an argument about who is right. We are right.

RobT · 08-18-2006, 10:08 AM

I just don't really think I understand theists at all. I question them to try to understand, but I cannot get myself thinking how they could really, fully, unquestionably believe what they say they do.

I don't understand how anyone can believe something 100% without any evidence. It just seems completely idiotic to me.

I certainly don't understand how the Bible, or any other old book, can provide a basis for a belief system. As I have always said, there are only two ways you can take something like that: completely literally (in which case there are contradictions which cause problems, and ideas which have clearly been disproved), or you take them as they are to be interpreted (in which case, how can anyone know what any of it is really meant to mean?).

CC's left foot · 08-18-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

I certainly don't understand how the Bible, or any other old book, can provide a basis for a belief system. As I have always said, there are only two ways you can take something like that: completely literally (in which case there are contradictions which cause problems, and ideas which have clearly been disproved), or you take them as they are to be interpreted (in which case, how can anyone know what any of it is really meant to mean?).

This is a good point. It's something I wonder about as well.

Y@}{000 · 08-18-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC's left foot

Generally it's the theists that ignore arguments. There is no definitive argument that can put an atheist in a logical bind.

Basically, the burden of proof is on theists. When one makes a fantastic claim (i.e. there is a god), it is up to that person to provide evidence that their claim is true.

For example, if someone told me that they were absolutely sure that the tooth fairy was real, it's not up to me to prove them wrong. It's up to them to provide evidence that they are right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobT

I just don't really think I understand theists at all. I question them to try to understand, but I cannot get myself thinking how they could really, fully, unquestionably believe what they say they do.

I don't understand how anyone can believe something 100% without any evidence. It just seems completely idiotic to me.

I certainly don't understand how the Bible, or any other old book, can provide a basis for a belief system. As I have always said, there are only two ways you can take something like that: completely literally (in which case there are contradictions which cause problems, and ideas which have clearly been disproved), or you take them as they are to be interpreted (in which case, how can anyone know what any of it is really meant to mean?).

There are some things we just know. Like we know it is wrong to torture and kill people for no reason. I feel like I know it within myself that we are not just some big cosmic accident. I believe we have purpose and were created by a higher intelligence - God.

Of course God cannot be proven but neither can some of your guys belief in science, like abiogenesis. You guys believe that happened but it has never been proven, How can you guys believe that with no evidence?

CC's left foot · 08-18-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y@}{000

There are some things we just know. Like we know it is wrong to torture and kill people for no reason. I feel like I know it within myself that we are not just some big cosmic accident. I believe we have purpose and were created by a higher intelligence - God.

This is no argument. Different people "just know" completely different things.

Quote:

Of course God cannot be proven but neither can some of your guys belief in science, like abiogenesis. You guys believe that happened but it has never been proven, How can you guys believe that with no evidence?

I personally never claimed to believe in anything like that. But in my estimation, there's a better chance that abiogenesis happened than that Noah put two of every species on the planet on a wooden boat.

masterofearth · 08-18-2006, 11:26 AM

Theists like to whip out their fictional books and say it's a book of facts. Atheists are not brainwashed and have actual facts.

Y@}{000 · 08-18-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC's left foot

This is no argument. Different people "just know" completely different things.

Good point.
However, this being a ****physical issue I would think that our feelings/experiences are allowed to come into play at some point.

Quote:

I personally never claimed to believe in anything like that. But in my estimation, there's a better chance that abiogenesis happened than that Noah put two of every species on the planet on a wooden boat.

Are you arguing christianity or God?

You can argue about the ark here.
Feasibility of Noah's Ark

i posted in this thread ...# 103