Why do people argue about the existence of god on the forum?

Actually I would like to take this a little bit further. What I think you do when you compare faith in a supernatural being and faith in a system of thought is to compare two things that are unlike each other.

Our perception of different aspects of life varies according to the perspective from which we view them. For example, take good and evil. On the human level, good and evil are powerful concepts which guide the way we live our lives. On the level of the species, good and evil are convenient mechanisms for ensuring social cohesion, and survival of the community over that of the individual. On the cosmic level the concepts become meaningless.

I think you are comparing faith in a divine deity, which is a phenomenon viewed from the perspective of human psychology, with 'faith' in empiricism, which is a perspective several levels higher. If empiricism didn't work, human beings wouldn't either. It is something fundamental to our view of the world, as a species. Religious faith is not.

If that's the case, you need to broaden your circle of acquaintances to more intelligent people, but that's beside the point.

You fail Debate class if you can't see the difference between mocking someone's stupid ideas and mocking a person (though when a person self-identifies with an idea as strongly as theists with their giant imaginary friends, it can be hard to tell the difference), but that's also beside the point.

It's about honesty.

I used to care about not hurting theists' feelings and would pretend that their delusional state was acceptable behavior, but that doesn't do any good for them or me. They don't return the favor and accept that atheism is an acceptable choice, they just start screeching about how I'm gonna burn in eternal hellfire and I kill and eat babies and fornicate with their daughters and teach their children "evilution". If they thought they could get away with it "like in the good old days", they'd try to burn me at the stake.

So now I just say whatever I think. Only dishonorable cowards and con artists lie about their opinions just to spare feelings, and only fools try to win the favor of people who aren't capable of being considerate in return. If someone's worthy of respect, they'll accept you speaking your mind. If they're not, they won't. It's an easy test... And you're not passing it right now.

Not everyone needs to be uncouth to be understood... Its called class.

I find it ironic that it took this thread to bring many of us together to:

1) defend the discussion was worthwhile and get along, and
2) somehow revive what was a rather dead topic.

Perhaps now a small group of us may band together, a la "Lord of the Rings", and set out to find the esteemed Smart People With All the Answers.


Where's Kevn? I'm sure he would enjoy this thread.

I chose ::

Only by convincing everyone else will they feel their beliefs are valid

Why? Cuz I think that's just it. It all started with one version of god, then sumone decided "No, that's f*cked up, it's like this man!" ... then another, then another, then another and so on. Now u got 50 bajillion different stories and idea's of god. They all fight amongst themselve's over who's story is right and who's wrong.

Guess what ppl, ur god is 2k yrs old! U moron's totally forgot the egyptian GOD'S, the greek GOD'S, the roman GOD'S. Civilization started with THEM .... NOT with your one god. Religion is and has ALWAYS been a man made concept. The bible was written by MAN.

Yeah, so now you insult friends I have had since I was 5 or 6 years old, because they choose to believe in a god. Good show, If being intelligent means self-righteous, ascerbic, vitriol spewing, I guess you're right on track.

You called people names, not ideas. This isn't debate class, this is a game forum.

Yeah? I think you need to self-examine, and see a shrink. Honest enough for you?

Generalize much? Most of the theists I know accept me just fine as an atheist. Are you going out looking for fights or something? I wouldn't be surprised, as that's what you appear to enjoy on game forums. I seem to hear this from "screechers" like yourself a lot, about being told you will burn in hell and so on. You insult many people who have truly been persecuted, in human history, when you try to contend that you have therefore been religiously put upon. You have no idea in your warm, safe, little world, with broadband, what persecution is.

I have walked through bus stations, airports, etc., and been told I needed to be saved or suffer in hell. So what? I have had co-workers do it too. I tell them I wish to not be recruited, they leave me alone, or I report them. Big deal. I shrug it off or laugh and get on with my life. I certainly don't allow it to turn me into a hateful person, that would be intolerant in and of itself, and therefore hypocritical.

Oh, I accept you're speaking your mind, and a whole lot more. Like revealing that you have an anger problem. I don't have a problem speaking my mind, or accepting other's speaking of their minds. What I don't accept is crude, arrogant, non-sensical, fake persecution complex whiners, trying to project airs. That's why I put them on mute.
Cheers.

Why is it that people have to rude in order to point out that others are being rude?

~Ulrika~

I don't "have to be" anything. I choose to "be". Why do you and Kami "have to be" pre-emptively rude? Why do you "have to be" acid-tongued, and then rather transparently try to defuse the acidic responses you receive with, "That's a logical fallacy!", when you've many times initiated the exchange with a fallacy yourself?

Is it rude if it's accurate? I don't think so. See, she has been ascerbic and vitriolic. So I simply used the appropriate adjectives to address an individual who has displayed the aforementioned characteristics. She invited heated replies, with heated rhetoric.

You're a fine one to be lecturing people about rudeness. Although, it did give me pause for a hearty chuckle I must say - being that I view you as just one step this side of Kami's level of intolerance for people who view life differently than you. You know, like playing adolescent "pwned!" games while debating theism/atheism. Or like telling people that they barely have a high school education or what not, because they are theists. That is ad hominem, oh Cruel Mistress of the Logical Fallacy Smack-down.

Why is it that people choose to be rude in order to point out that others have chosen to be rude?

~Ulrika~

OMG! Ad Hominem Tu Quoque fallacy!

I have now taken you off message while simultaneously avoided engaging you. Victory is mine.

~Ulrika~

And thereby having admitted defeat.



Not so fast!

I just quit my SL projects so that I can focus all my energy on winning the off-topic forum!

Muhahahaha!

Priorities, who needs them?

If you are wrong, doesn't that make me right? o wait. I forgot; I'm a string-theory leaning lazy taoist. nvm.

Fun Poll, Wu.