Agnostic answers

[Kidlicious]

Also, there's no difference between saying it's just my opinion and not saying that it's just my opinion.

[loinburger]

Also, there's no difference between saying it's just my opinion and not saying that it's just my opinion.

Saying "it's just my opinion" indicates that the person stating the opinion is open to dialogue about / disagreement with the opinion, whereas somebody like you who doesn't put this qualifier on his opinions may become very upset / rude / violent / whatever if somebody holds opinions that are contrary to his.

Hypothetical example:

ricketyclik: I believe that God is a force of life and love, but that's just my opinion
loin: I disagree with your opinion
ricketyclik: Okay

vs.

Kidicious: Feminists are evil
loin: I disagree with your opinion
Kidicious: Then you must* pee sitting down!!!1!!

* Intended as a declarative statement and not an imperative statement - the latter would be creepy even by Kidicious standards

[ricketyclik]

That's double-talk. What if I said that I think you club baby puppies to death, but that's just my opinion.

Indeed, what I said is double talk, in that it can't be proved. What you said isn't, in that I can disprove it to myself by examining my memory. Making it an outright lie.

You seem to have difficulty understanding the difference between facts, hypothesies and lies.

[Kidlicious]

Saying "it's just my opinion" indicates that the person stating the opinion is open to dialogue about / disagreement with the opinion, whereas somebody like you who doesn't put this qualifier on his opinions may become very upset / rude / violent / whatever if somebody holds opinions that are contrary to his.

Hypothetical example:

ricketyclik: I believe that God is a force of life and love, but that's just my opinion
loin: I disagree with your opinion
ricketyclik: Okay

vs.

Kidicious: Feminists are evil
loin: I disagree with your opinion
Kidicious: Then you must* pee sitting down!!!1!!

* Intended as a declarative statement and not an imperative statement - the latter would be creepy even by Kidicious standards

How is accusing people of scamming others with lies better than accusing them of peeing sitting down? Because I didn't say "just my opinion?"

[loinburger]

How is accusing people of scamming others with lies

Where in my post did I reference "scamming others with lies"? Are you referring to the opinion that feminists are not evil, or to the opinion that God is not a force of life and love, or to something else entirely?

[Kidlicious]

Indeed, what I said is double talk, in that it can't be proved. What you said isn't, in that I can disprove it to myself by examining my memory. Making it an outright lie.

You seem to have difficulty understanding the difference between facts, hypothesies and lies.

Isn't this just a bunch of crap?.

Double-talk is saying something and also saying that it isn't true. You said that you believe X, and implied that you don't believe it by saying "just my opinion." Of course an opinion is exactly the same thing as a belief.

And you can disprove what I said in your own mind? I insist that you explain that. I won't listen to anymore of you making baseless accusations against me until you do to my satisfaction.

[Kidlicious]

Where in my post did I reference "scamming others with lies"? Are you referring to the opinion that feminists are not evil, or to the opinion that God is not a force of life and love, or to something else entirely?

Ricketyclick: Christians just scam people with lies,
. Also, just to clarify I'm agnostic, not atheist.

[loinburger]

Ricketyclick: Christians just scam people with lies

What post are you referring to where he says this? Please quote him exactly rather than quoting some paraphrased version of what he said, as you truly suck at paraphrasing

[ricketyclik]

So religious entities have never conned their brethren? You really believe that? You really believe that everything everyone has said and justified it by saying "God's will" was correct?

And yes, I can disprove what you said about me clubbing baby seals in my own mind, knowing that I've never done that, nor even had the opportunity. I can't disprove it to anyone else, but really, who cares? Try the accusation out in a court, see how you go.

[Kidlicious]

What post are you referring to where he says this? Please quote him exactly rather than quoting some paraphrased version of what he said, as you truly suck at paraphrasing

"Oh I use conjecture all the time wrt God. My take on it is that human beings experience something that points towards a higher power when in highly emotional/far from equilibrium biochemical states, perceive it rightly or wrongly as evidence, and then look for an explanation for those experiences. Or they're just **** scared of dying.

Then someone who knows this about people steps in and says "What you're experiencing is God. Here's a big storybook about him. It's all true, and if you're true to yourself you'll follow me and give me some of your money". That person may even demand the other give their life in a war to "defend the honour of God" or some such, when of course what they're really after is the other sovereignty's resources.

But I know these are just opinions. I don't insist that they're true, or that anyone else adhere to them."

[ricketyclik]

What post are you referring to where he says this? Please quote him exactly rather than quoting some paraphrased version of what he said, as you truly suck at paraphrasing

Indeed. A fine example of forthright, honest Christianity is Kid.

[Kidlicious]

So religious entities have never conned their brethren? You really believe that? You really believe that everything everyone has said and justified it by saying "God's will" was correct?

And yes, I can disprove what you said about me clubbing baby seals in my own mind, knowing that I've never done that, nor even had the opportunity. I can't disprove it to anyone else, but really, who cares? Try the accusation out in a court, see how you go.

Interestingly enough I don't know if anyone has used religion to exploit people. But you were clearly saying that religion is just a scam. And you claim to be an agnostic.

Do you know what "what if" means? Why on earth did you try to disprove that you club puppies to death?

[ricketyclik]

"Oh I use conjecture all the time wrt God. My take on it is that human beings experience something that points towards a higher power when in highly emotional/far from equilibrium biochemical states, perceive it rightly or wrongly as evidence, and then look for an explanation for those experiences. Or they're just **** scared of dying.

Then someone who knows this about people steps in and says "What you're experiencing is God. Here's a big storybook about him. It's all true, and if you're true to yourself you'll follow me and give me some of your money". That person may even demand the other give their life in a war to "defend the honour of God" or some such, when of course what they're really after is the other sovereignty's resources.

But I know these are just opinions. I don't insist that they're true, or that anyone else adhere to them."

That's a reference to churches. Not Christians. The person hoodwinked is the Christian.

To be clear: I think Christians are suckers, not scammers and liers. Although you give me pause

Come to think of it Kid, maybe you'd make a good priest?

[ricketyclik]

Interestingly enough I don't know if anyone has used religion to exploit people. But you were clearly saying that religion is just a scam. And you claim to be an agnostic.

There's a difference between religion and attitude to God.

Do you know what "what if" means? Why on earth did you try to disprove that you club puppies to death?

I was pointing out the fallacies in your argument.

[ricketyclik]

Interestingly enough I don't know if anyone has used religion to exploit people.

Oh, and OMG