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Author Topic:   Probability of It Being Their Own Particular God
nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 16 of 30 (895960)
07-27-2022 8:33 AM
Reply to: Message 12 by Phat
07-27-2022 1:47 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
Concerning your evidence, do you really believe that scholars such as Bruce L.Shelley could write 500 page books on church History with NO EVIDENCE to go on?
Has anybody ever claimed that the church never existed? You seem to be attacking a ridiculous strawman.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 17 of 30 (895961)
07-27-2022 8:50 AM
Reply to: Message 16 by nwr
07-27-2022 8:33 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
All he has is fallacies, lies and ignorance. Oh yeah childish attempts at doxing.

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. -Christopher Hitchens

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.

If your viewpoint has merits and facts to back it up why would you have to lie?


This message is a reply to:
 Message 16 by nwr, posted 07-27-2022 8:33 AM nwr has seen this message but not replied

  
Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 18 of 30 (895962)
07-27-2022 9:20 AM
Reply to: Message 12 by Phat
07-27-2022 1:47 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
And you guys think *I'm* the ignorant one!
You are as ignorant about gods and religion as you are about finances.
How are bitcoin and gold doing for you?
YTD
Gold -4.58%
Bitcoin -55.22%
My investments are down 13% YTD.

Edited by Theodoric, : oops


What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. -Christopher Hitchens

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.

If your viewpoint has merits and facts to back it up why would you have to lie?


This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by Phat, posted 07-27-2022 1:47 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 22 by Phat, posted 07-28-2022 11:24 PM Theodoric has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 412 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


(1)
Message 19 of 30 (895972)
07-27-2022 11:48 AM
Reply to: Message 13 by Phat
07-27-2022 1:58 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
Phat writes:
He never left us. We left Him.
That's just your bullshit mantra. And it could apply to any god. THINK about it and say something that makes sense.
Phat writes:
If Monotheism turns out to be true, which I believe it is....
Telling us what you believe is a waste of time. THINK.
Phat writes:
I wouldn't be surprised if most of you imagine that aliens are more likely to find us than the Creator of all seen and unseen.
Of course. Much more likely.

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
-- motto of the Special Olympians

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Phat, posted 07-27-2022 1:58 AM Phat has not replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 412 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


(2)
Message 20 of 30 (895973)
07-27-2022 12:03 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by Phat
07-27-2022 1:47 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
Phat writes:
And when you see the failures of human effort...
Don't forget that we have also seen the failures of EVERY god to solve the same problems.
And we humans don't claim to be infallible or omnipotent. Many of the gods do, yet they too have failed.
Phat writes:
... you will ignorantly blame the Republicans.
Remember when you used to claim to be a moderate? And here you are again standing up for the Republicans.

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
-- motto of the Special Olympians

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by Phat, posted 07-27-2022 1:47 AM Phat has not replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 22392
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.3


(2)
Message 21 of 30 (896017)
07-28-2022 5:00 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by dwise1
07-25-2022 11:55 PM


Sounds like the Drake equation for religion.
dwise1 writes:
So the odds are very much against a particular believer's own particular god being the right one. That means that believers have a lot more work and heavy lifting to do if they are to ever hope to build a convincing case for their god.
Reminds me of a joke that's been posted here several times over the years, but I'll post it again. This can be found at The best God joke ever - and it's mine!:
quote
Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"
He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region." I said, "Me, too!"
"Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912." I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over.

  —Emo Philips
--Percy
AbE: I see that someone already noted the similarity to the Drake equation.

Edited by Percy, : AbE.


This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by dwise1, posted 07-25-2022 11:55 PM dwise1 has not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 22 of 30 (896018)
07-28-2022 11:24 PM
Reply to: Message 18 by Theodoric
07-27-2022 9:20 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
Thankfully I never trusted BitCoin. In fact, it has a little ways further to fall.
And I cant afford Gold. Ironically, I am at the mercy of the government.
In two more years, I plan to retire.

Edited by Phat, : added comments


"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
***
“…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox

“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.”
H. Richard Niebuhr, The Kingdom of God in America

“The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
(1894).


This message is a reply to:
 Message 18 by Theodoric, posted 07-27-2022 9:20 AM Theodoric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 23 by Theodoric, posted 07-28-2022 11:36 PM Phat has replied

  
Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 23 of 30 (896019)
07-28-2022 11:36 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by Phat
07-28-2022 11:24 PM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
So what crypto do you invest in? Why do you speak so highly of investing in crypto and gold?

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. -Christopher Hitchens

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.

If your viewpoint has merits and facts to back it up why would you have to lie?


This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by Phat, posted 07-28-2022 11:24 PM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 24 by Phat, posted 07-29-2022 12:16 AM Theodoric has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 24 of 30 (896020)
07-29-2022 12:16 AM
Reply to: Message 23 by Theodoric
07-28-2022 11:36 PM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
I've never invested in Crypto. It too is expensive. And in my opinion worthless. It may be a bit blasphemous to talk of material investments in a thread about gods.

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
***
“…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox

“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.”
H. Richard Niebuhr, The Kingdom of God in America

“The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
(1894).


This message is a reply to:
 Message 23 by Theodoric, posted 07-28-2022 11:36 PM Theodoric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 25 by Theodoric, posted 07-29-2022 1:07 AM Phat has replied

  
Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 25 of 30 (896021)
07-29-2022 1:07 AM
Reply to: Message 24 by Phat
07-29-2022 12:16 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
But your anti fiat currency posts promote crypto and gold

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. -Christopher Hitchens

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.

If your viewpoint has merits and facts to back it up why would you have to lie?


This message is a reply to:
 Message 24 by Phat, posted 07-29-2022 12:16 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 26 by Phat, posted 07-29-2022 1:30 AM Theodoric has replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 26 of 30 (896022)
07-29-2022 1:30 AM
Reply to: Message 25 by Theodoric
07-29-2022 1:07 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
But your anti-fiat currency posts promote crypto and gold
Fiat currencies were a bad idea. A digital currency may also end up being a bad idea if it too is fiat. Everyone's money will be tracked. On the other hand, if the US inflates its way out of the national debt, we can save the public from greater grief than inflation. But you guys are partly right. I don't understand money or global finance. I DO know that the BRIC nations have much larger populations than we do and wonder if this will factor against us.

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain "
***
“…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox

“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.”
H. Richard Niebuhr, The Kingdom of God in America

“The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
(1894).


This message is a reply to:
 Message 25 by Theodoric, posted 07-29-2022 1:07 AM Theodoric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by Theodoric, posted 07-29-2022 7:26 AM Phat has not replied

  
Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


(1)
Message 27 of 30 (896023)
07-29-2022 7:26 AM
Reply to: Message 26 by Phat
07-29-2022 1:30 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
Start an econ thread. Then we can discuss your ignorance there. .

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. -Christopher Hitchens

Facts don't lie or have an agenda. Facts are just facts

"God did it" is not an argument. It is an excuse for intellectual laziness.

If your viewpoint has merits and facts to back it up why would you have to lie?


This message is a reply to:
 Message 26 by Phat, posted 07-29-2022 1:30 AM Phat has not replied

  
Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


(1)
Message 28 of 30 (896064)
07-30-2022 5:05 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Phat
07-27-2022 1:58 AM


Re: The GOD Equations. A Wise 1 Series
Phat writes:
If Monotheism turns out to be true, which I believe it is, God will find us. Leprechauns, Bigfeets, and spaghetti monsters likely won't....except in our warped imaginations.
The concept of God falls in the same category of concepts as Leprechauns and Bigfoot, in that it too is a product of the warped imaginations of those who believe in its existence. However, the Spaghetti Monster is another thing entirely, because it is not really believed in but serves as a mockery of the usual nonsensical religious concepts such as those previously mentioned.
And Phat, if monotheism does turn out to be true, I sincerely hope that Waaqa (the one and only god according to the Oromo people in the Horn of Africa) has not noticed your breaching of Safuu. Waaqa does not like it when you breach Safuu.
Anyway, I am stunned at your inability to see that your remark about monotheism perfectly illustrates the very premise of this topic, while you, in a perverse reversal of the same, think it serves well as a rebuttal.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Phat, posted 07-27-2022 1:58 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
dwise1
Member
Posts: 5930
Joined: 05-02-2006
Member Rating: 5.8


(1)
Message 29 of 30 (896771)
08-21-2022 4:42 PM


Pascal's Wager on YouTube
This is by a former fundamentalist, David John Wellman, who had attended a Christian college that taught apologetics. He recounts his experience of having learned about Pascal's Wager and then trying to use it in the wild (actually, in a Christian game preserve, but against an actual "pesky" atheist who had "wandered" into the Christian chat room).
First, a bit of insight that is new to me. The application of Pascal's Wager against atheists is planned out in two steps:
  1. First, get the atheist to concede to the idea that "A god" could possibly exist. Id est (ie), get him to concede to the possibility of the existence of the supernature (Exempli gratia (eg), "You cannot absolutely prove that the supernatural does not exist!" ).
  2. Once you have a subject who is open to the existence of gods, now you have a much better chance of convincing him of through your other evidences (eg, the Resurrection, Bible, yadda-yadda-yadda).
Part of Wellman's discussion of the above was his disappointment as a believer was that the apologists thought that the Christian evidences (as listed above: the Resurrection, Bible, yadda-yadda-yadda) would be considered too weak to lead with against atheists, but rather that they'd have to first overcome a huge obstacle: getting them to accept the possibility of the supernatural.
If Wellman's college was teaching him that those evidences were so strong and powerful, why then wouldn't they be enough to convince atheists in the first assault?
Anyway, in his Christian apologist hubris on a Christian chatroom (he describes it as being "back in the day", which for him I assume would be the late 90's) he tells the tale. Start watching around the 0:20 timemark (or from the beginning, which will get you there in about 20 seconds). After describing the Christian text-based chat rooms, he mentions one day when, as would often happen, a "pesky atheist" showed up to be ... "pesky". Wellman decides to shut him down with a sure-fire irrefutable argument he had just learned about in apologetics class. "Hey, have you heard of something called 'Pascal's Wager'?" "Yes I have and here's what's wrong with it ... " Wellman describes the next 20 minutes of his life as being a blur.
 
Anyway, yet another treatment of Pascal's Wager done in a somewhat mathematical manner.
Share and enjoy!

Replies to this message:
 Message 30 by xongsmith, posted 08-21-2022 9:15 PM dwise1 has not replied

  
xongsmith
Member
Posts: 2578
From: massachusetts US
Joined: 01-01-2009
Member Rating: 6.8


Message 30 of 30 (896775)
08-21-2022 9:15 PM
Reply to: Message 29 by dwise1
08-21-2022 4:42 PM


Re: Pascal's Wager on YouTube
and i have a problem with the first matrix.
- - - - - -   believe   dontbelieve

   exists       +inf           -inf
   doesnt        x              0
x is presented as 0
i say bullshit. think of the time you wasted believing something that doesn't exist. that costs you! maybe not an infinite cost on you, but Not Zero. and +inf is also bullshit - how many times have comedians noted that so-and-so is so good she's going to heaven and you might be thinking "damn, you mean i gotta spend eternity with her? how boring!" and -inf is also bullshit - that's where all your good friends are.
so the net probability of having to spend eternity with that woman x that value - probability of no gods x cost of going to church every Sunday instead of something you'd rather do then (i dunno, touching yourself?) has to be a positive number to go with believing and right now, using the extremely large sample size we've seen so far (getting into the science of MTBF calculations, that's an application of mean time between failure analysis) it's looking like a very dark world for believers to be right.
sorry about that.

Edited by xongsmith, : "holdspace" subbed with dashes


"I'm the Grim Reaper now, Mitch. Step aside."
Death to #TzarVladimirtheCondemned!
Enjoy every sandwich!

- xongsmith, 5.7dawkins scale


This message is a reply to:
 Message 29 by dwise1, posted 08-21-2022 4:42 PM dwise1 has not replied

  
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