Ask a Deist!

#41

Dr. Perky, essentially what you’re doing is creating a false dichotomy. In your explanation, there are only two options: A god with certain characteristics or no god at all.

And that’s where Pascal’s Wager falls apart. What if the REAL god hates blind faith? In the immortal words of Homer J. Simpson, “Suppose we’ve chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we’re just making him madder and madder.”

Why assume characteristics for a deity that you know nothing about beyond what someone wrote in a book? How do you know that the REAL god doesn’t want everyone to be atheist? Pascal’s Wager doesn’t work (and it’s a logical fallacy to boot) because it assumes the following: “X or not-X” without taking into account “A”, “B”, “C”, or the near infinite amount of not-Xs.

#42

I could seriously imagine God (if he existed) to be really mad at the major religions and all those people who take them serious, and at the same time be highly amused by all those who resort to atheism instead. Maybe he even laughs his ass off at creative blasphemy and gets pissed when some hypocrit moron spews out bigot preachings in Jesus’ name - all according to the Bible.

Ah that would be funny.

#43

Oh I know this, Pascal’s Wager is honestly the biggest crock ever simply because to believe in Pascal’s Wager you are basically already admitting you believe in no God at all. Which is slightly true in my case. As I have stated in this thread I believe God created the rules of nature. I don’t give a shit who God is or if there is a heaven because I’m not dead. Instead I’d rather see the natural world for what it is, and learn from it. I suppose deep down I have no real belief in God but in the image of God as a fuel to discovery. Unfortunately all the major religions fail to see this as a good idea treating God as something to be worshiped instead of trying understand what God made. Look for example at the countless times Christians have fought against scientific truths like the age of the earth and evolution. If instead of fighting it claiming that the bible is 100% fail proof, they could see it for what it is.

#44

Why the hell would they do that? They have faith.

You say you believe In a God of some sort because you have nothing to lose, but you also promote discovery. Does promoting discovery not include discovering that you are wrong?

#45

I’ve answered that already.

#46

So, my biggest question is, “Why do you hold the image of God as fuel for discovery and not something else?”

#47

I don’t even have to do anything, I just sit back and let you debunk your own beliefs.

Kind of like Daniel’s question, how does belief in a God fuel discovery??? If it did fuel discovery it would discover it’s wrong.

#48

@garthbartin, explain how that debunks my own beliefs one states I’m not afraid to admit I could be wrong. The other states I don’t care who God is. They aren’t really connected.

@danielsangeo, Its a fuel for discovery because everyone has something. If you have nothing to drive discovery then you ultimately have no motivation to discover there are plenty of different things that drive people to want to discover more about the world my drive happens to be God.

#49
#50

I’m still a bit confused. I never stated to believe in god on fear not sure where you got that from.

also it makes perfect sense something motivates everything. Cure motivates cancer research. Hatred motivates Nazis. God motivates my will to discover. and obviously religious intolerance motivates you my friend. Honestly you are the most intolerant atheist I have ever talked to. You cannot change peoples beliefs all the time so why not let them be the blind sleep they are. Obviously they are happy being sheep.

#51

That’s all good and all, but WHY does God motivate you to discover? Apparently he doesn’t, because you have repeatedly said you are mainly religious not because you think it’s right, but because you think it will save you from hell.

I don’t argue because I want to convert you; I know that’s probably not gonna happen, I argue, well, honestly, because I enjoy arguing. I’d argue with people I know in person but the only logic they understand is “You’re a fag so I’m right”.

#52

I’ve stated in this thread that I really don’t believe in an afterlife. You could put it all down to my belief in God honestly comes from conditioning as a child to believe in a God (I was always made to go to church on Sundays I despised it though.) After enough conditioning your views on something are pretty much stuck as well. Deep down I suppose I have no real faith or belief in God I’ve simply been raised to do so.

and HAHA thats the same reason I argue.

#53

high five

Guess there’s not much more to argue about. ):

I’m still curious, what exactly is it about belief in a God that drives you to discover?

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