Contemplations on Belief - Page 5

lakeman · 08-06-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ausinus

What makes you a credible observer?

What makes you?

Doesn't it all just come down to "you said" "i said"?

But hey, If people judge me to be not credible then so be it.

splansing · 08-08-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

The only reason your personal observation that you can see such a material thing - like a table is objective is because other people see it too.

Wow. Usually religious people stray away from the relativism you're peddling.

Actually, if I swing my shin bone up into the edge of the table as hard as I can, it'll hurt like hell. Maybe even break my leg (assuming my leg is actually real, of course). I'd say that pretty well substantiates and objectifies the very real existance of the table.

Children claim to see Santa all the time. Just like you claim to see god. What's the difference?

Oftencold · 08-08-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splansing

Wow. Usually religious people stray away from the relativism you're peddling.

Actually, if I swing my shin bone up into the edge of the table as hard as I can, it'll hurt like hell. Maybe even break my leg (assuming my leg is actually real, of course). I'd say that pretty well substantiates and objectifies the very real existance of the table.

Children claim to see Santa all the time. Just like you claim to see god. What's the difference?

So, the table exists because you perceive it. Santa doesn't exist although he is perceived.

Didn't the Matrix teach you anything. There is no table!

sid2112 · 08-08-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latherty

You on dope?

To believe without evidence is faith. it is neither moral or immoral by itself, it is merely a state.
To believe despite contrary or conflicting evidence is dumb and potentially dangerous

To do nice things is nice. Does anyone really need another reason?

I agree totally. Being nice is an end unto itself. Unfortunately people are often 'not nice' for no reason other than thier own sick twisted instincts. Thats where religion comes in. It gives people faith and the promise of rewards for their niceness. It's unfortunate that people need a reward system but the fact is, more often than not they do.

splansing · 08-11-2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sid2112

I agree totally. Being nice is an end unto itself. Unfortunately people are often 'not nice' for no reason other than thier own sick twisted instincts. Thats where religion comes in. It gives people faith and the promise of rewards for their niceness. It's unfortunate that people need a reward system but the fact is, more often than not they do.

Religions don't function as a rewards system to make people be nice. Religions dangle the promise of a reward in order to make people behave as their betters require.

I have oodles of faith. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that something is better than nothing. I don't have a shred of religion to taint my faith and make me doubt. If religions didn't ask people to believe outlandish things, people might find them easier to believe. One of the important mechanisms in religion is that they are hard to swallow, and so people can't help but doubt them, and then they are conditioned to react dramatically to their own doubts, by feeling incredibly guilty and also a little afraid that they'll end up not in heaven...all kinds of really great cognitive dissonance. The end result is a malleable population.