Comments on: Atheism and Absence of Evidence http://saintgasoline.com/2009/08/06/atheism-and-absence-of-evidence/ A humorous news/opinion podcast focusing on progressive politics, science, skepticism, and hilarious substances like urine. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:42:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Cyber Nomad (aka God) http://saintgasoline.com/2009/08/06/atheism-and-absence-of-evidence/comment-page-1/#comment-1949 Cyber Nomad (aka God) Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:09:36 +0000 http://saintgasoline.com/?p=305#comment-1949 Just a thought, "good" and "evil" do not exist as absolutes in the Universe. There are no "evil" numbers, there are no "good" elements. They are merely relativistic cultural terms to aid humans in ordering social function and interaction. Just a thought, “good” and “evil” do not exist as absolutes in the Universe. There are no “evil” numbers, there are no “good” elements.
They are merely relativistic cultural terms to aid humans in ordering social function and interaction.

]]> By: Agnostic http://saintgasoline.com/2009/08/06/atheism-and-absence-of-evidence/comment-page-1/#comment-1938 Agnostic Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:52:48 +0000 http://saintgasoline.com/?p=305#comment-1938 Quote~~Similarly, if I had no evidence that my dog could fly, and then argued, “But you have no evidence that my dog can’t fly!”, this would hardly be a convincing argument, as I’d be making the claim in the absence of any evidence, judging that my dog could fly from a position of complete ignorance.~~ I see your point. Now I, the agnostic, throw your dog out the window and it crashes to the ground dead--and there is proof that the dog cannot fly. With gods, however, there is no way to prove the claim that they do exist wrong as they are supposedly outside our control and not able to be tossed out windows. Quote~~Most agnostics would accept that the theory of evolution adequately explains the origin of species and biological variation. Of course, the theory of evolution is open to the same sorts of criticisms that agnostics apply to atheism.~~ Yes. That is why it's called a "theory". Gods are "theorys", Atheism is a "theory", and evolution is a "theory". All can be criticised. Quote~~So while rendering the deity transcendent and mystical may avoid the criticism concerning the lack of evidence, it just runs into the criticism of incoherence, and thus this is really no threat to the position of pragmatic, fallibilistic atheism.~~ I'd like to point out that something greater than us (if it did exist) would be capable of far more than the human mind could ever hope to comprehend. Therefore, the impossible would be possible and that being could make its presence known while being transcendent and mystical. There is far more out there in the universe than we can ever hope to understand. Quote~~Those conceptions of all-powerful, morally perfect gods who created the universe, physically interact with the world, and care about humanity are also problematic, as the existence of evil, the miniscule scale of humanity’s presence in such a vast universe, and the hostility of the natural environment to life all seem to be at odds with these conceptions of God.~~ Gods would not be human so we cannot judge them by the same standards if they were to exist. They might have the capability to involve themselves into the very threads of the universe, in every atom, in every star. And judging the existance of evil and the hostility of the natural environment, as you call it, against those who believe in gods is pointless as that could easily go into "we cannot judge (insert name here)'s will". As a "god" is a different entity than a "human" if you look into any religion, then this statement does seem to be true. A god would think differently from a human. I would argue that there is no good without evil. Quote~~Similarly, if I had no evidence that my dog could fly, and then argued, “But you have no evidence that my dog can’t fly!”, this would hardly be a convincing argument, as I’d be making the claim in the absence of any evidence, judging that my dog could fly from a position of complete ignorance.~~

I see your point. Now I, the agnostic, throw your dog out the window and it crashes to the ground dead–and there is proof that the dog cannot fly. With gods, however, there is no way to prove the claim that they do exist wrong as they are supposedly outside our control and not able to be tossed out windows.

Quote~~Most agnostics would accept that the theory of evolution adequately explains the origin of species and biological variation. Of course, the theory of evolution is open to the same sorts of criticisms that agnostics apply to atheism.~~

Yes. That is why it’s called a “theory”. Gods are “theorys”, Atheism is a “theory”, and evolution is a “theory”. All can be criticised.

Quote~~So while rendering the deity transcendent and mystical may avoid the criticism concerning the lack of evidence, it just runs into the criticism of incoherence, and thus this is really no threat to the position of pragmatic, fallibilistic atheism.~~

I’d like to point out that something greater than us (if it did exist) would be capable of far more than the human mind could ever hope to comprehend. Therefore, the impossible would be possible and that being could make its presence known while being transcendent and mystical. There is far more out there in the universe than we can ever hope to understand.

Quote~~Those conceptions of all-powerful, morally perfect gods who created the universe, physically interact with the world, and care about humanity are also problematic, as the existence of evil, the miniscule scale of humanity’s presence in such a vast universe, and the hostility of the natural environment to life all seem to be at odds with these conceptions of God.~~

Gods would not be human so we cannot judge them by the same standards if they were to exist. They might have the capability to involve themselves into the very threads of the universe, in every atom, in every star. And judging the existance of evil and the hostility of the natural environment, as you call it, against those who believe in gods is pointless as that could easily go into “we cannot judge (insert name here)’s will”. As a “god” is a different entity than a “human” if you look into any religion, then this statement does seem to be true. A god would think differently from a human. I would argue that there is no good without evil.

]]> By: God http://saintgasoline.com/2009/08/06/atheism-and-absence-of-evidence/comment-page-1/#comment-1921 God Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:04:03 +0000 http://saintgasoline.com/?p=305#comment-1921 Well said, atheism is a reasonable judgment about our universe given the facts as they are. If a burning bush starts talking to me, then I will change my mind. (Assuming my ass of a friend has not slipped acid into my food or drink.) If I remember my first year philosophy correctly, the term agnostic has been slightly twisted over time. The term originally meant only those that believed that knowledge of god or how he works was unknowable, but they still firmly believed in him. I also have a strong association in my mind; of Thomas Aquinas with original agnosticism. Well said, atheism is a reasonable judgment about our universe given the facts as they are. If a burning bush starts talking to me, then I will change my mind. (Assuming my ass of a friend has not slipped acid into my food or drink.)
If I remember my first year philosophy correctly, the term agnostic has been slightly twisted over time. The term originally meant only those that believed that knowledge of god or how he works was unknowable, but they still firmly believed in him. I also have a strong association in my mind; of Thomas Aquinas with original agnosticism.

]]> By: UnBeguiled http://saintgasoline.com/2009/08/06/atheism-and-absence-of-evidence/comment-page-1/#comment-1919 UnBeguiled Sat, 08 Aug 2009 20:50:47 +0000 http://saintgasoline.com/?p=305#comment-1919 Theist, noun - a person that believes in the existence of a god or gods. I'm not one of those people. Theist, noun – a person that believes in the existence of a god or gods.

I’m not one of those people.

]]> By: Cypher http://saintgasoline.com/2009/08/06/atheism-and-absence-of-evidence/comment-page-1/#comment-1917 Cypher Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:01:23 +0000 http://saintgasoline.com/?p=305#comment-1917 “Djklerhi exists!” Sjklerhi bit of an error there, other than that, an excellent way of putting into words what I have been trying to tell friends and family for years “Djklerhi exists!”
Sjklerhi

bit of an error there, other than that, an excellent way of putting into words what I have been trying to tell friends and family for years

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