Theist/Atheist or Agnostic Page 6

Quote: Aaron @ August 30 2008, 7:09 PM BST

I think you're getting the principle of a "higher being" confused with the tales of miracles, plagues, wine and fish in the Bible. I'm sure that there are plenty of people who believe that the latter is a load of tosh, but that the former, in some extent or variety, is possible.

Just not the stereotypical big hand and fluffy white beard reaching down from the bright blue sky...

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People seem to want to tell me on here that I'm confused, well I'm shitting well not, 'kay? So let me make clear that I mean not only the bearded, bible God, I just generally mean all religions and the more modern take of not believing in a God per se, but in some 'greater, other power-ish thingy'. I don't force my views down anyones throats, but I'll tell them if asked. This thread is supposed to be just saying where we saw ourselves religion-wise, I did so and it for some reason seems to have put a few backs up. Odd. If you believe in something, then good for you. i don't and find the very idea silly, that's all.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ August 30 2008, 8:18 PM BST

People seem to want to tell me on here that I'm confused, well I'm shitting well not, 'kay? So let me make clear that I mean not only the bearded, bible God, I just generally mean all religions and the more modern take of not believing in a God per se, but in some 'greater, other power-ish thingy'. I don't force my views down anyones throats, but I'll tell them if asked. This thread is supposed to be just saying where we saw ourselves religion-wise, I did so and it for some reason seems to have put a few backs up. Odd. If you believe in something, then good for you. i don't and find the very idea silly, that's all.

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I knew what you meant, what was so confusing for everyone?

I'm more than willing to take your ideas into account, and really wasn't suggesting that you were forcing anything (it was just this guy's completely unrelated ravings); but I'm possibly also willing to say that I feel anyone who doesn't believe in even the possibility of some kind of higher being, is also lacking something. To me, not to be even able to consider the idea of a kind of higher being suggests something very disillusioned and unromantic in someone's personality. I don't mean it as romantic in a love way, I just can't see personally how you can feel there is no possible existence of some higher being, be it God-like or not. I'm not saying that everyone should be religious - far from it - I'm only saying that to always see the world as it's given to you seems a little self-assured in a world where we know so little about ourselves as individuals, and as world.

Phew! I'm probably just ironically playing Devil's Advocate!

No, I see what you mean Scats!

I have considered the infinitessimal possibility there could be a higher power of some description, and have then dismissed it. I should think that's what most of us atheists have done. Even if they only needed to consider it for 30 seconds.

Phew! Exactly what I meant about being able to consider it at least.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ August 30 2008, 8:18 PM BST

People seem to want to tell me on here that I'm confused, well I'm shitting well not, 'kay? So let me make clear that I mean not only the bearded, bible God, I just generally mean all religions and the more modern take of not believing in a God per se, but in some 'greater, other power-ish thingy'. I don't force my views down anyones throats, but I'll tell them if asked. This thread is supposed to be just saying where we saw ourselves religion-wise, I did so and it for some reason seems to have put a few backs up. Odd. If you believe in something, then good for you. i don't and find the very idea silly, that's all.

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Blimey! Terribly over-defensive there Matthew. Just trying to point out the differences between what the "intelligent" people tend to believe, and what you seemed to be implying they believe.

Quote: Paul W @ August 30 2008, 8:13 PM BST

No argument there, it's a pity you weren't a writer in the 1960s; you would have made a packet writing Carry On films.

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Except the innuendos in Carry On films were neither awful, nor unrealised.

Quote: Aaron @ August 30 2008, 8:48 PM BST

Except the innuendos in Carry On films were neither awful, nor unrealised.

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Damn! *slaps thigh*

I've missed an argument! damn i hate that. As for the origional question I neither know nor care.

Have any clever math type people ever worked out the probability of there being or not being a god?

Like they've figured out the possibility of there being a Father Christmas?

100% on that one.

yeah that kind of thing, and who'll win the 3:30pm at chepstow.

Quote: Aaron @ August 30 2008, 9:05 PM BST

100% on that one.

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Of course! Was there ever any doubt?

Quote: Aaron @ August 30 2008, 8:48 PM BST

Blimey! Terribly over-defensive there Matthew. Just trying to point out the differences between what the "intelligent" people tend to believe, and what you seemed to be implying they believe.

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Wasn't bitch slapping you in particular, you were just the last of a couple, so I bounced up off the ropes and swung blindly. All macho like.

Quote: catskillz @ August 30 2008, 1:33 AM BST

A lot of Religious people are just people who've had really nice lives, and think bad stuff only happens to bad people. When these people eventually do experience bad fortune, they often drop religion altogether, e.g. there was a female Vicar, who did just that, after her daughter was killed in the 7/7 bombings.

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And many are people who have not 'had really nice lives' but are still able to draw comfort and support from religion which helps them to get through traumatic times.

Quote: Scatterbrained Floozy @ August 30 2008, 8:46 PM BST

Phew! Exactly what I meant about being able to consider it at least.

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Of course I can consider the possibility, and that there might be something else, I just don't think there is. I would much rather there was, but I doubt it, why would or should there be? Christ, this is all a bit heavy, think I'll think about someone getting hit in the nuts instead for a while. Heh. Right in the sack.