Atheism is a belief (Why Atheists don't believe part 2)

I absolutely agree that you have outlined the two great statements that highlight the gulf between two peoples. It is also a general statement since you can substitute evolution for GOD or Flat Earth for GOD or any other strongly held belief and the division still remains.I do disagree though with the statement that it would be hard to get the majority of Theists to agree that is found in your second paragraph. Theists too are often capable of reasonable, rational thought and acknowledging when we got it wrong.The big difference between the Theistic and Atheistic positions is that the Theists, if right, have a BIG bonus that the Atheists can never have.If the Atheists are right, when the Theist dies, that is it, there is just nothing afterwards.BUT... if the Theist is right, we get to stand there at the Pearly Gates to welcome all our Atheist friends and say "Told you so!" I have already signed up to be on CrashFrog's welcoming committe and have a place set for him at the great fish fry and BBQ.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Is this not the position of the agnostic? As a desription of a theist I concur.However my point was that the default position of every human being is that of non-belief in religious doctorine and that we make an active choice by ascribing to a religion. Someone who is not religious only needs to make a chice about religions he has been exposed to.You are right that a child bought up exposed to a pure xian culture would only be capable of being a xian or not xian.No indoctorination, no xian (or what ever).

Woah there! just spotted this: Does this not answer to OP?

No, that is not clear at all. That is not my experiance at all either.In a secular college, unless it is a philosphy class, or a comparison religion class, God is not generally mentioned one way or another.An occational teacher might or might not mention god one way or another, but you won't find any reference to god on the syllabus.

No, agnostics don't take a stand either way, neither choosing to believe or disbelieve in god(s).

I said You said Then you saidThats called pot calling the kettle black. You seem to do this a lotwhen things dont go your way!The subjectis is why dont athiest believe. Not riverrat wants me to beindoctrinated into his cult. Would you mind sticking to the subject athand or give up preaching.Oh one more thing I registered and posted months before you so no Imnot new.

If that were true, a secular college would never get to teaching the important stuff. They'd only be busy telling their students the reasons why God doesn't exist, then the reasons why Loki doesn't exist, then Shiva, then Allah, then... You get the picture?Fortunately, that's not the case. What really happens in a secular college is that they teach their students the current - or perhaps a slightly outdated - state of knowledge that comes out of scientific research. Because it hasn't changed in two millenia, not even in the face of what people have found out about the world in the same period.The secular world view, insofar as it's informed by science, is subject to that same science's capability of self-correction. This mechanism of self-correction is a guarantee that science will not be stifled by dogma. The moment science adopts a dogmatic view of things, it stops being science.

---

"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 is not dogma?

truth of the dogma?
What the fuck does that mean?I think it says exactly what it says. I answered your question the best I could, maybe your not asking right? I have no idea what this means, does anyone else?

So you've never seen a baby get scared about something that wasn't himself? Then don't believe what I say, or anyone else. Read the bible on it, and then ask God yourself. To me it's obvious where children get to go, they are innocent. Not really. If there is a God, then there is a time and a place for each one of his strategies. There was a time when Christ's views did not exist for us.I can't effectively judge that.

In my four years of year-round undergrad school, the only course in which the existence or nonexistence of God was discussed was "Early Modern Philosphers," where we examined the proofs of Descartes and others.I know some of my fellow students were devout Christians, but no one seemed disturbed by leaving God in Heaven during classroom instruction. None of my professors or instructors ever attempted to promote an atheistic stance during those years.The notion that colleges militate against religion is just flat-out silly. Most profs already struggle--largely due to unprepared students--to cover their subject matter without introducing extraneous material.Perhaps more high school grads would be prepared if their school boards spent less time worrying about religion and sex.

Sorry, but saying "the bible exists" is not a good arguement.

My humble suggestion,,stick to the red letters (the ones Jesus spoke), if they start to ring true with you, then I think it's a good start.To me, life is covered up with lies. It seems to be a "game" that God has put us through to try and figure them out. Or maybe it's just a learning experience, so we can take it to the next level. But clearly there are things that are wrong here on earth.I feel I have experienced a whole lot of truth and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, yet my worldly views and ignorant ways keep getting in the way. I guess that is what is meant by "faith".To me it's not easy learning about God's ways, and diminishing my own, but everything that is worth while in life has a period of learning to go through.

If your going to exert something, you have to back it up with a reason.The bible exists, that is a fact.

Omni, I am slightly puzzled why you're saying this to me. I think I'll take it as a sign of agreement, but please let me know if I misunderstand you.