Papal Visit to the UK

[MikeH]

and each one insists that if you don't believe them and only them

Not true! Many religions with multiple gods are quite happy to allow people to believe in their own gods. European pagans would have been quite happy to have Christians worship their own god alongside them if it wasn't for the Christian need to convert everyone else.

[Sava]

In short:

Human life exists, and there is possibly an infinite number of places with similar conditions where it can be repeated in the given time (think sun-like star formation all over the universe - very average star). If you have one chance turned out to be true and have an infinite number of tries, that chance becomes a certainy. As you have us, for sure you can have God too, just add extra time to the equation.

Gas + 5bn years = human - we have this already.

Human + 5bn years = god - we do not have the "empirical" evidence for the "god" bit, but we have a ton of circumstatnial one, and also we have very good reasons why we cannot prove him empirically.

The only "evidence" for God is in our minds. He's a theory. Theories require observation and testing to be proven. As of yet, I do not know of any data or test that can be used to substantiate the theory of God. Therefore, no conclusion must be made.

If you are going to attempt to be reasonable with this subject, at least use a reasonable method.

[MOBIUS]

OK, but as you say, there's a number of big bullies in the playground that go round trying to convert you, and if you don't, it usually ends in some kind of one-sided bloodbath as the weaker religion is brutally crushed and wiped out.

Christianity is full of crusades against various forms of heresy within itself - let alone the crusades themselves! Protestantism only survived because it was big enough to fight Catholicism to a stalemate.

[Sava]

Emotion is biological in basis

Unless you believe in mystical forces, everything (with regards to the human experience) is biological.

[Sava]

OK, but as you say, there's a number of big bullies in the playground that go round trying to convert you, and if you don't, it usually ends in some kind of one-sided bloodbath as the weaker religion is brutally crushed and wiped out.

Christianity is full of crusades against various forms of heresy within itself - let alone the crusades themselves! Protestantism only survived because it was big enough to fight Catholicism to a stalemate.

I'd pay to see how you react to Jehovah's witnesses knocking on your door.

[Asher]

Unless you believe in mystical forces, everything (with regards to the human experience) is biological.

That is the point, yes.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

I'd pay to see how you react to Jehovah's witnesses knocking on your door.

I'd contribute to that one

[Asher]

Does anyone ever talk to Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons?

I just shut the door or don't open it, depending on if it's obvious who they are.

[MikeH]

OK, but as you say, there's a number of big bullies in the playground that go round trying to convert you, and if you don't, it usually ends in some kind of one-sided bloodbath as the weaker religion is brutally crushed and wiped out.

Christianity is full of crusades against various forms of heresy within itself - let alone the crusades themselves! Protestantism only survived because it was big enough to fight Catholicism to a stalemate.

You're going around trying to bully people into converting away from religion, what's the difference?

[MikeH]

I'd pay to see how you react to Jehovah's witnesses knocking on your door.

He's actually quite nice and polite in real life.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

The only "evidence" for God is in our minds. He's a theory. Theories require observation and testing to be proven. As of yet, I do not know of any data or test that can be used to substantiate the theory of God. Therefore, no conclusion must be made.

If you are going to attempt to be reasonable with this subject, at least use a reasonable method.

what is more reasonable - to think that you are the "only" one who is alive and intelligent in the universe where you can tell there are ~infinite number of places with the same or similar conditions (think star formation to start with), or due to similar conditions being ~infinite there are more of the same results as here?

It may be a thought experiment, but that is not exactly far fetched.

[N35t0r]

I'd pay to see how you react to Jehovah's witnesses knocking on your door.

I certainly don't brain them, or burn them at the stake.

[N35t0r]

what is more reasonable - to think that you are the "only" one who is alive and intelligent in the universe where you can tell there are ~infinite number of places with the same or similar conditions (think star formation to start with), or due to similar conditions being ~infinite there are more of the same results as here?

It may be a thought experiment, but that is not exactly far fetched.

But jumping from that to there is a god is far fetched. For one, most of the abilities associated with gods go way beyond the laws of physics.

[MOBIUS]

You're going around trying to bully people into converting away from religion, what's the difference?

Not really, I'm just finding it extremely hypocritical how they're trying to get you to jump through a whole series of hoops to explain your position, when they patently refuse to do the same thing themselves!

I couldn't care less if they stay religious or not - in fact the less people there are for me to feel superior over, the more likely I am to have self esteem issues, become depressed and ultimately commit suicide...

[MikeH]

You must be seconds from death.