Menu Bar
SmartLX's Comments
Re: Why Campaign against Religion?
Way to Godwin yourself out of a thread in two sentences.
By: SmartLX
Re: Tim Keller: The Reason for God
Some immediate responses as I listen:
- Atheism is not a belief, and atheists do not believe there is no god and don't generally try to disprove gods. There's just no evidence for any god and therefore no reason to believe in a god existing. Atheism is a conclusion, and a default conclusion at that.
- Stalin did not come out of atheism, or do a single thing in the name of atheism. There were no atheist flags or uniforms, only Communist ones. Contrast that with the crosses on the shields and tabards of the Crusaders. Communism maintains a default of atheism simply because any actual religion would conflict with its own ideology, and because its populace is supposed to be happy without religion. The persistence of religion is bad PR.
- That a god is outside the universe if he exists is an admission that there's probably no evidence for one, while it presents a possible reason why. It also means there should be some other reason to believe besides evidence. So what other reason does an atheist have to switch?
- Living as if no god exists isn't an entirely safe bet, but since there are an infinite number of possible gods, living as if a specific one exists has a one in infinity (~0) chance of being correct. You're almost certainly screwed.
- Is believing even a choice? If you're not convinced, no god would be fooled if you fake it.
- The very word "fine-tuned" implies a tuner. Every possible combination of the fundamental constants has not been ruled out as conducive to matter and life (just the ones very close to ours). A questioner later brings this up.
- It's easier to accept the poker player's explanation if the only reason there's a poker game at all is that he's right. The multiverse postulates multiple instances of a known object (this universe) whereas theism postulates an object with no precedent at all (a god). And the multiverse is not the only other explanation for the constants.
- He came really close to saying evolution is a chance process. It has one big random element (mutation), but every change is tested and kept or discarded purely on its own merits.
If humans make human rights because we're human (his third option, my opinion) then it is subject to override by the majority. The fact that every member of any majority is a person with empathy for others biologically built in is the reason why any travesty of established human rights has had to be forced on the majority by a powerful minority. Established human rights have changed over time; does God only now disapprove of slavery?
- Strong faith in the wrong branch could kill you. There are countless branches, and in a way you only get one try. Who even says you're falling?
- No reason given to believe the Bible (Jesus, the resurrection, 1 Corinthians, the 500 witnesses) except that it's a good story with an author surrogate in it.
- Atheism is not a belief, and atheists do not believe there is no god and don't generally try to disprove gods. There's just no evidence for any god and therefore no reason to believe in a god existing. Atheism is a conclusion, and a default conclusion at that.
- Stalin did not come out of atheism, or do a single thing in the name of atheism. There were no atheist flags or uniforms, only Communist ones. Contrast that with the crosses on the shields and tabards of the Crusaders. Communism maintains a default of atheism simply because any actual religion would conflict with its own ideology, and because its populace is supposed to be happy without religion. The persistence of religion is bad PR.
- That a god is outside the universe if he exists is an admission that there's probably no evidence for one, while it presents a possible reason why. It also means there should be some other reason to believe besides evidence. So what other reason does an atheist have to switch?
- Living as if no god exists isn't an entirely safe bet, but since there are an infinite number of possible gods, living as if a specific one exists has a one in infinity (~0) chance of being correct. You're almost certainly screwed.
- Is believing even a choice? If you're not convinced, no god would be fooled if you fake it.
- The very word "fine-tuned" implies a tuner. Every possible combination of the fundamental constants has not been ruled out as conducive to matter and life (just the ones very close to ours). A questioner later brings this up.
- It's easier to accept the poker player's explanation if the only reason there's a poker game at all is that he's right. The multiverse postulates multiple instances of a known object (this universe) whereas theism postulates an object with no precedent at all (a god). And the multiverse is not the only other explanation for the constants.
- He came really close to saying evolution is a chance process. It has one big random element (mutation), but every change is tested and kept or discarded purely on its own merits.
If humans make human rights because we're human (his third option, my opinion) then it is subject to override by the majority. The fact that every member of any majority is a person with empathy for others biologically built in is the reason why any travesty of established human rights has had to be forced on the majority by a powerful minority. Established human rights have changed over time; does God only now disapprove of slavery?
- Strong faith in the wrong branch could kill you. There are countless branches, and in a way you only get one try. Who even says you're falling?
- No reason given to believe the Bible (Jesus, the resurrection, 1 Corinthians, the 500 witnesses) except that it's a good story with an author surrogate in it.
By: SmartLX
Re: Richard Dawkins: Beware the Believers
That's one theory. Thing is, there are subtle differences from the official Expelled! logo. Besides, could they have managed something like this without mentioning Nazis once?
Another theory is JibJab, but the bodies are filmed instead of animated.
Another theory is JibJab, but the bodies are filmed instead of animated.
By: SmartLX
Re: Richard Dawkins: Beware the Believers
Anyone who knows who made this thing, feel free to speak up.
By: SmartLX
Re: Evolution: What About God?
Darwin didn't create evolution, he only discovered it as a process. As for believing God made evolution, that's theistic evolution and it's a common belief. (My take on it is, why would God make a process which renders Him superfluous?)
That's my first time actually seeing Ken Ham in action, and I'm an Australian. Couldn't stand him.
That's my first time actually seeing Ken Ham in action, and I'm an Australian. Couldn't stand him.
By: SmartLX
Re: Mr. Rogers Speaks to the US Senate
Yes, he was honoured.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7-LkBE_CkM
With the simple command he gave during this acceptance speech, he reduced all of Hollywood to tears one last time.
There's a description of the same speech on his Wikipedia page, exerpted from Esquire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7-LkBE_CkM
With the simple command he gave during this acceptance speech, he reduced all of Hollywood to tears one last time.
There's a description of the same speech on his Wikipedia page, exerpted from Esquire.
By: SmartLX
Re: Alan Watts: Prickles and Goo
Anyone realised that Gumby's best friends besides the horse (Pokey? Tokey? Whatever.) were Prickle the dragon and Goo the mermaid?
By: SmartLX
Re: The Origin of Life Made Easy
I would point out that Cameron and Comfort certainly THINK they represent all creationists. Their arguments are terrible because lots of people believe them anyway. They don't need to be any better.
I think the purpose of things like the banana argument is merely to inform Christians that arguments against evolution do exist. That "knowledge" can be all someone needs to reject evolution if they're already that way inclined.
I think the purpose of things like the banana argument is merely to inform Christians that arguments against evolution do exist. That "knowledge" can be all someone needs to reject evolution if they're already that way inclined.
By: SmartLX
