What is your perception of atheism

[Acumen]

All,

No.  I am saying that there is a scrambling to find the remaining gaps of unanswered questions so there can be a place found to say that that is what god does/is.  The arguments themselves can be logical, given that there isn't real knowledge about the gap.  It's the continued scrableing and redefining that for me makes the arguments lose their weight.

You're poisoning the well.  The continued "scrambling" can be ascribed to many different kinds of proponents, but it shouldn't be used to discredit any sort of "God of the gaps" form of argument.  Each argument deserves a fair trial on the basis of its own merit.

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

All,

No.  I am saying that there is a scrambling to find the remaining gaps of unanswered questions so there can be a place found to say that that is what god does/is.  The arguments themselves can be logical, given that there isn't real knowledge about the gap.  It's the continued scrableing and redefining that for me makes the arguments lose their weight.

You're poisoning the well.  The continued "scrambling" can be ascribed to many different kinds of proponents, but it shouldn't be used to discredit any sort of "God of the gaps" form of argument.  Each argument deserves a fair trial on the basis of its own merit.

I am speaking from a personal level, and not attempting to justify why the observations I make on this topic should be applied by anyone else.  Remember, for me, the argument of "God" is already concluded, with the verdict negative, hence, each "of the gaps" argument is over before it starts. 

all

[Acumen]

I am speaking from a personal level,

Okay.   

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

I'm confused, acumen, are you asserting that I need to examine each individual "god of the gaps" argument on it's own, or do you think it is reasonable that I could discount them based on my non-belief in a "God" in the first place?

all

[Acumen]

All,

I'm confused, acumen, are you asserting that I need to examine each individual "god of the gaps" argument on it's own, or do you think it is reasonable that I could discount them based on my non-belief in a "God" in the first place?

The former is true.  It appears that the assertion that the "god of the gaps" arguments have lost weight due to a previous pattern of scrambling and redefining is just a collective backhanded dismissal  to evaluate seriously the different merits reflected by different arguments.

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

All,

I'm confused, acumen, are you asserting that I need to examine each individual "god of the gaps" argument on it's own, or do you think it is reasonable that I could discount them based on my non-belief in a "God" in the first place?

The former is true.  It appears that the assertion that the "god of the gaps" arguments have lost weight due to a previous pattern of scrambling and redefining is just a collective backhanded dismissal  to evaluate seriously the different merits reflected by different arguments.

It appears that it is a collective dismissal, because it is.  But it is a dismissal based on the serious evaluation of the merits of different arguments over many years, and their individual dismissals based on their failure.  Logically and rationally, I agree.  Each claim should be examined with the utmost scrutiny and evaluated by it's own merits, or lack there of. 

However, I am not a creature of pure logic anymore than anyone else.  I do not need to try blue cheese salad dressing at every single salad bar I would go to to claim I do not like blue cheese salad dressing, and I do not need to examine every single god of the gaps argument to claim that they are scrambling and redefining in order to find a place for their god in the shrinking areas still afforded. 

I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say one was an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. Somehow it was better to say one was a humanist or an agnostic. I finally decided that I'm a creature of emotion as well as of reason. Emotionally I am an atheist. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time.
-- Isaac Asimov, in "Free Inquiry", Spring 1982, vol.2 no.2, p. 9

all

[Acumen]

Emotionally I am an atheist. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time.

Do you think the human race is inherently religious, and if so, then why?

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Do you think the human race is inherently religious, and if so, then why?

No, I don't.  I think the human race is inherently curious and to often taken by the promise of easy answers by those who claim to "know".

all

[Acumen]

I think the human race is inherently curious and to often taken by the promise of easy answers by those who claim to "know".

Are you saying that the human race has a natural propensity to place trust in those of perceived superior knowledge?

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

I think the human race is inherently curious and to often taken by the promise of easy answers by those who claim to "know".

Are you saying that the human race has a natural propensity to place trust in those of perceived superior knowledge?

That is a very good way of putting it.

[Acumen]

I think my avatar could take yours' in one-on-one combat.   

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

UUMMMmmmm



all

[Acumen]

LOL

[Acumen]

Don't underestimate the pit-bull.

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Don't underestimate the pit-bull.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for pit-bulls.  In fact, I think they've gotten a bit of a bad rap in recent years that should have been placed on their owners. 

However, that is a bear.  Lets be realistic.

 

[Acumen]

You know, pit-bulls were used in England to bait bulls and bears.  Nothing scares a pit-bull.

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

You know, pit-bulls were used in England to bait bulls and bears.  Nothing scares a pit-bull.

Still, my moneys on the bear.

all

[Acumen]

Yeah, mine too.

[Acumen]

All:  I think the human race is inherently curious and to often taken by the promise of easy answers by those who claim to "know".

Acumen:  Are you saying that the human race has a natural propensity to place trust in those of perceived superior knowledge?

All:  That is a very good way of putting it.

And are you saying that we have natural propensity to search for something greater than ourselves?

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

All:  I think the human race is inherently curious and to often taken by the promise of easy answers by those who claim to "know".

Acumen:  Are you saying that the human race has a natural propensity to place trust in those of perceived superior knowledge?

All:  That is a very good way of putting it.

And are you saying that we have natural propensity to search for something greater than ourselves?

No.