Free will, determanism and all that (choices, choice)

[Victor]

Originally Posted by stemann

I was trying to show that the only reason theists believe the cosmological argument holds any weight is because they believed in God in the first place- or at least got their idea of God from somewhere else. The cosmological argument could be used to attempt to prove the existence of pretty much any entity.

In that case, you will get no qualms from me. I agree. Our biases (whether you are a theist or non-theist) form our world view, philosophical approaches, interpretations, etc. throughout life.

Originally Posted by stemann

Existence in general is more mind boggling than anyone can account for. God doesn't need to come into it at all.

No he doesn't. I just believe He is. I have choosen to extend my faculties beyond that which I can formulate.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by Willamena

The individual experiences are subjective. Subjectivism, by virtue being an "-ism", lumps them together as an ideology.

Well, as a phenomenon, for sure, but I don't know that it necessarily implies an ideology.

Originally Posted by Willamena

Just as theists all have in common a belief in god(s), subjectivists all have in common the belief that knowledge is limited to the experiences they have. Or so my dictionary says.

That sounds about right.

[PureX]

Originally Posted by stemann

Existence in general is more mind boggling than anyone can account for. God doesn't need to come into it at all.

A lot of arguments could be resolved by simply agreeing to define that "mind boggling" mystery as "God". *smile*

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by PureX

Well, as a phenomenon, for sure, but I don't know that it necessarily implies an ideology.
That sounds about right.

All "-ism"s are ideologies.

[stemann]

Originally Posted by Victor

No he doesn't. I just believe He is. I have choosen to extend my faculties beyond that which I can formulate.

I think I may have sounded a little brusque in my last post; when I said "God doesn't need to come into it at all" I wasn't trying to say that God doesn't necessarily need to exist, or even that He doesn't, I just meant that existence itself is a big enough mystery that it makes your head do somersaults and stuff even before you get to thinking about God.

Originally Posted by PureX

A lot of arguments could be resolved by simply agreeing to define that "mind boggling" mystery as "God". *smile*

Doesn't quite make sense.... but if it means that we can all knock off early and go home for the weekend, then I'm in .

[mr.guy]

Originally Posted by williaema

All "-ism"s are ideologies.

Cool. I now feel a bit more secure with my sadism.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by mr.guy

Cool. I now feel a bit more secure with my sadism.

Just so. When you become "the sadist" you have adopted an ideology.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by stemann

I think I may have sounded a little brusque in my last post; when I said "God doesn't need to come into it at all" I wasn't trying to say that God doesn't necessarily need to exist, or even that He doesn't, I just meant that existence itself is a big enough mystery that it makes your head do somersaults and stuff even before you get to thinking about God.

I clarified things. Thanks...

[mr.guy]

Originally Posted by Willamena

Just so. When you become "the sadist" you have adopted an ideology.

Really? What ideals and formulations make sadism an ideology?
Perhaps, for the time being, we'll leave the caricature of "the sadist" alone.