Paracletus

This is pretty much the atheist view isn't it? The odds of god existing based on the evidence human history has coughed up vs god not existing are mostly stacked in the favour of the atheist view. A truly rational and logical person cannot fully disregard what cannot be proven or disproven. This of course, only leaves belief, mostly an intellectual crutch touted by the religious faction.

Also, reverting to your previous post on the burden of proof. It only concerns an atheist as long as a religious person bangs on about the existence of god. Take god away, and I guess there would be no monotheistic religion, meaning, the debate would end.

norsk

See this is one of the things that I just don't get. Clearly the concept of heaven and hell is created purely to keep people under control during their life on earth. However why would there be such a thing for real? You live for just 80 years or so and then suddenly you spend eternity either roasting away or chilling on the beach. It makes no sense whatsoever, and it amazes me that people who are otherwise intelligent would believe such a load of crap.

Sally Redux

Exactly - they started it.
Also you no longer have a body, so what is being burned/enjoying the clouds

norsk

Possibly. I don't consider myself an atheist though as I am not opposed to the idea of there being some sort of greater being, but I don't think that they would give a toss about humans regardless of how we choose to live our lives.

I reckon religious people only bang on about religion as they are terrified that their whole life is built on a lie. Atheists are like militants on the other spectre of opinion whilst in between you have a lot of people who simply couldn't care less.

Sally Redux

Why are atheists 'militant'? Couldn't care less = non-believer = atheist.

mikewot

Agnostics & atheists are very similar in regard to 'proof'. Show even the slightest shred of proof that a god exists and we'll be building more churches, not converting them into public houses and private dwellings. So far, well I think the evidence of conversion into said Public houses and private dwellings is pretty conclusive.

Desert Dubliner

What? No Heaven and Hell? Next you will say there is no Santa.

norsk

Militant in the way that they actually seem to care (i.e. take offence that some people choose to be religious) and argue against the nutters rather than just doing what most other non-religious people do and just ignore them...

norsk

Don't be stupid, of course Santa is real..

mikewot

Because for far too long the 'believers' held the upper hand. If you weren't one of them then you were castigated. Now the swing is towards the other side but 'non-believers' are still held to be 'untouchable' and therefore anyone who speaks up for non belief (what a very very curious term for the default state) is considered to be 'militant'. You only need to conduct the briefest google search to see this.

Sally Redux

Yes that's very true.

Desert Dubliner

You really insist on putting 0 effort in researching the stuff you opine about. Would you kindly investigate what agnosticism is in relation to existence of the proof of existence of God so at least you don't repeat such bumbling nonsense the next time the subject is discussed in your presence?

mikewot

No santa. No tooth fairy. Same same.

mikewot

Ah yes, once again I'm too thick to understand. Whatever, you carry on burying your head in the sand, sticking your fingers in your ears and going 'laa laa laa laa!'. Enjoy and please feel free to knock yourself out.

Desert Dubliner

No but I am an agnostic and I believe that the existence of the god is unknown and unknowable. You are an atheist and you believe, based on proof of rational thinking or whatever you see as the absence of proof, that the god does not exist.

The two could not be further apart in relation to the 'proof'.