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I think Post Praetorian is a psychologist-bot.
I was once…but now I’m not… Further: zyzzogeton
“It wasn’t the flood that destroyed the pantry…”
Ask the member of the Church of the Theologically Uncertain AKA Interrogate the Agnostic — Page 2
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Post Praetorian said:
It would appear that you have no misgivings over the religiosity of others. If this is an accurate assessment, why might this be so?
I may not have been lucky enough to experience any supernatural phenomena to lead me to believe God or some other higher power was running the show, but that doesn't necessarily mean others haven't. There are definately believers out there who are liars and lunatics, but I'm not going to jump to the conclusion that they all are; I feel they deserve the benefit of the doubt.
I really only have a problem with the religiosity of others if their faith is clearly blind with no solid foundation to support it and/or they mock the beliefs of others while forcing their own down peoples' throats.
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Would you prefer to have a belief in God?
Alternately, what type of evidence might persuade you hold such a belief?
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TV's Frink said:
I think Post Praetorian is a psychologist-bot.
If so, he does a fantastically good job of hiding it in person....
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Post Praetorian said:
Would you prefer to have a belief in God?
Alternately, what type of evidence might persuade you hold such a belief?
Yes, I would prefer to believe in God. I'm only agnostic because I have to be, not because I want to be.
As for evidence, I've pretty much given up hope that any concrete scientific/historical evidence in favour of any religion will come to light. I'd be satisfied with a personal spiritual experience.
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TV's Frink said:
I think Post Praetorian is a psychologist-bot.
Allowing your weak atheism is not self-imposed, would you consider it to be more in the nature of a curse or a cure? If portions of each, how great might be each measure?
I was once…but now I’m not… Further: zyzzogeton
“It wasn’t the flood that destroyed the pantry…”
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DuracellEnergizer said:
Post Praetorian said:
Would you prefer to have a belief in God?
Alternately, what type of evidence might persuade you hold such a belief?
Yes, I would prefer to believe in God. I'm only agnostic because I have to be, not because I want to be.
As for evidence, I've pretty much given up hope that any concrete scientific/historical evidence in favour of any religion will come to light. I'd be satisfied with a personal spiritual experience.
If it might be considered that you feel this burden of agnosticism keenly, it might be helpful to note that if any justice or love based deity might exist it must surely consider this difficulty a form of payment no less equal than daily piety of another sort.
Alternately, if no such deity exists this weight must at the very least be looked upon as a means of deepening one's character. For if one might shoulder such a burden with a fair mind and honest heart it should be clear that such a one might prove to be capable of enlightening others without pretense to specific agenda.
To clarify, such a position must needs allow for a level of objectivity not possible among the more decisive. A potential in spirit, it may be called...
I was once…but now I’m not… Further: zyzzogeton
“It wasn’t the flood that destroyed the pantry…”
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Post Praetorian said:
TV's Frink said:
I think Post Praetorian is a psychologist-bot.
Allowing your weak atheism is not self-imposed, would you consider it to be more in the nature of a curse or a cure? If portions of each, how great might be each measure?
I'm an adult. No one imposes a belief system on me. And I don't give it much thought, it is neither curse nor cure, it just seems the obvious way for me to be. I don't see how anyone can claim to have the answers.
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DuracellEnergizer said:
Post Praetorian said:
Would you prefer to have a belief in God?
Alternately, what type of evidence might persuade you hold such a belief?
Yes, I would prefer to believe in God.
Why?
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RicOlie_2 said:
TV's Frink said:
I think Post Praetorian is a psychologist-bot.
If so, he does a fantastically good job of hiding it in person....
Ah yes, he's your dad. Forgot about that.
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TV's Frink said:
I'm an adult. No one imposes a belief system on me. And I don't give it much thought, it is neither curse nor cure, it just seems the obvious way for me to be. I don't see how anyone can claim to have the answers.
If religion or its lack might play so little a role in your life, might the religiosity of others be a cause for concern or is it to be understood that it is held in equal ambivalence? To clarify: would you prefer a world which was to a degree less religious, and if so, to what degree?
I was once…but now I’m not… Further: zyzzogeton
“It wasn’t the flood that destroyed the pantry…”
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TV's Frink said:
RicOlie_2 said:
TV's Frink said:
I think Post Praetorian is a psychologist-bot.
If so, he does a fantastically good job of hiding it in person....
Ah yes, he's your dad. Forgot about that.
Although his philosophizings here may seem to be the most prevalent part of his personality to others, I find I cannot enjoy comedy nearly as much without him in attendance, as the ease at which he laughs at jokes (and makes them) brings everyone else's laughter up a few notches.
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Post Praetorian said:
TV's Frink said:
I'm an adult. No one imposes a belief system on me. And I don't give it much thought, it is neither curse nor cure, it just seems the obvious way for me to be. I don't see how anyone can claim to have the answers.
If religion or its lack might play so little a role in your life, might the religiosity of others be a cause for concern or is it to be understood that it is held in equal ambivalence? To clarify: would you prefer a world which was to a degree less religious, and if so, to what degree?
WHO ARE YOU AND WHO DO YOU WORK FOR!?!?
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TV's Frink said:
DuracellEnergizer said:
Post Praetorian said:
Would you prefer to have a belief in God?
Alternately, what type of evidence might persuade you hold such a belief?
Yes, I would prefer to believe in God.
Why?
Same reason I'd prefer a driver to be in the driver's seat of a car I'm riding in than for that driver's seat to be empty.
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You're the driver.
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I can't drive the universe.
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You could be considered the driver, but you're stuck driving in fog if that's the case.
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DuracellEnergizer said:
I can't drive the universe.
I can't drive 55.
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I can drive 110.
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TV's Frink said:
DuracellEnergizer said:
I can't drive the universe.
I can't drive 55.
I've never been all that fond of that song.
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Is that what it was. I was trying to figure out what he meant. Regardless, I still can drive 110.
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RicOlie_2 said:
I still can drive 110.
Kilometres or miles? ;-P
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Both (but not miles per hour). ;)
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Why might you prefer an immortal, potentially despotic being to be the driver of the universe as opposed to a multitude of mortal, less self-assured individuals?
Further, if you were to discover that the being in charge of the universe might be cold and unfeeling, would it still be preferred to no being at all?
To clarify, are you hopeful of a specific type of deity to exist or will any such be acceptable?
I was once…but now I’m not… Further: zyzzogeton
“It wasn’t the flood that destroyed the pantry…”
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Post Praetorian said:
Why might you prefer an immortal, potentially despotic being to be the driver of the universe as opposed to a multitude of mortal, less self-assured individuals?
The former -- assuming it's omnipotent -- has complete control over the universe and can shape it to its will; It can give anything it creates and controls objective meaning and purpose if it so chooses. We lowly mortals cannot; we are slaves to the laws of the universe and we can never become its masters.
Further, if you were to discover that the being in charge of the universe might be cold and unfeeling, would it still be preferred to no being at all?
I guess this would fall under the "same difference" classification. Any specific reactions would really depend on how cold and unfeeling the deity in question was, whether it actually created the universe or not, and if it did, did it create the universe on purpose or by accident, etc.
To clarify, are you hopeful of a specific type of deity to exist or will any such be acceptable?
I'd basically like an analogue of the loving, forgiving God of the New Testament to exist.