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Bad Chihuahua! (An Inability To Separate God From Religion)

PureX

Veteran Member
Because I don't understand it.

So god is not an entity, it is a question. I propose a new spelling: ¿god?.
It's more like an answer that we don't know the content of.

Think of it this way; logic would dictate that there is other intelligent life somewhere out in the universe. But we have no idea what that actually means. How intelligent? What kind of intelligence? What kind of life? What does this mean for us? We call them "space aliens" but that's just an empty label because we have almost no informational content with which to fill it in.

We have a similar situation with the theist proposition. Logic dictates the necessity for some kind of 'supernatural' source for the natural universe. And we have labeled that mystery "God". But we have no information with which to fill in that label. A lot of people like to invent information to fill in that mystery, because they find it useful and valuable to them to do so. Whole religions develop based on it. But the truth is that the mystery remains a mystery regardless of religion. So negating the religious artifice does not negate the mystery, nor the logical necessity that demands it.

And this is what most self-proclaimed atheists fail to understand. Mostly because they don't want to. They want to negate religious depictions and pretend that negates the mystery, and the logical necessity that demands it. But it doesn't.
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
We have a similar situation with the theist proposition. Logic dictates the necessity for some kind of 'supernatural' source for the natural universe.

That's not really the case.

And we have labeled that mystery "God".

Neither is it the case that people in general refer to the source of the universe, as in whatever it is, as God. Possessing mental properties is a defining trait.
 

TagliatelliMonster

Veteran Member
It's more like an answer that we don't know the content of.

AKA "i don't know".

So why not just say that, instead of using some word that has a ginormous amount of both cultural and philosophical baggage?

Think of it this way; logic would dictate that there is other intelligent life somewhere out in the universe. But we have no idea what that actually means. How intelligent? What kind of intelligence? What kind of life? What does this mean for us? We call them "space aliens" but that's just an empty label because we have almost no informational content with which to fill it in.

This is hardly the same thing.
We HAVE examples of life. We HAVE examples of intelligent life.
We KNOW what life is. We also KNOW how complex life comes about from simpler life.
We also KNOW that life is made from the most common materials in the universe.

So we really do not have to make a lot of assumptions to assume that life exists elsewhere on other planets scattered in the universe.
And we certainly do not have to appeal to any "mysteries" or "supernatural" things to make such assumptions.


Contrast that with traditional god ideas. We have ZERO examples of such. We have NO knowledge of such. We have ZERO examples of supernatural things. In fact, we can't even properly define it.


So to compare unknowable supernatural entities "outside" of the universe, to knowable living biological entities on other planets (of which we know for a FACT that they exist).... I shouldn't have to explain how that is not exactly a valid comparison.


We have a similar situation with the theist proposition.


We most certainly do not, for reasons explained above.

Logic dictates the necessity for some kind of 'supernatural' source for the natural universe

Logic dictates no such thing.
Fallacious logic might though.... like arguments from ignorance, incredulity, special pleading, etc.

And we have labeled that mystery "God". But we have no information with which to fill in that label. A lot of people like to invent information to fill in that mystery, because they find it useful and valuable to them to do so. Whole religions develop based on it. But the truth is that the mystery remains a mystery regardless of religion. So negating the religious artifice does not negate the mystery, nor the logical necessity that demands it.

If something is a mystery, the answer is "we don't know (yet)".

And this is what most self-proclaimed atheists fail to understand. Mostly because they don't want to. They want to negate religious depictions and pretend that negates the mystery, and the logical necessity that demands it. But it doesn't.
False. See above.
 

LadyJane

Member
No version of atheism is a "default position" because the default position is no position. And atheism is not "no position'. It is the antithetical position. No position is the state of mind that exists prior to and/or apart from the theist proposition. Unaffected and undetermined.
This is everyone's default position. We are born into this world without a position. Atheistic. Are we mature enough to be antithetical? We need time to learn what something is in order to turn against it. And that seems to require the sort of self awareness we don't possess for several years. At which point we're at the mercy of family tradition and cultural conditioning.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
That's not really the case.
Well, that's part of the proposition. If you want a philosophical debate on it that's for another thread. But your just saying so isn't going to suffice in that arena.
Neither is it the case that people in general refer to the source of the universe, as in whatever it is, as God. Possessing mental properties is a defining trait.
Possessing mental properties is not part of the theist philosophical proposition. That is a specific theological component and it's one of many variations. Theology is a subset of philosophy based on the acceptance of the original philosophical proposition that God/god's exist.
 
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PureX

Veteran Member
This is everyone's default position. We are born into this world without a position. Atheistic.
Lacking a position is not atheism. It's simply moot.
Are we mature enough to be antithetical?
Not as newborns. That is why they aren't atheists. Ot theists. Their minds are moot on the subject.
We need time to learn what something is in order to turn against it. And that seems to require the sort of self awareness we don't possess for several years. At which point we're at the mercy of family tradition and cultural conditioning.
What it requires philosophically is logical reasoning. Both in support of the theist proposition and in opposition to it. Not being able to muster this does not make one an atheist or a theist. It just makes them confused.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
It's more like an answer that we don't know the content of.

Think of it this way; logic would dictate that there is other intelligent life somewhere out in the universe. But we have no idea what that actually means. How intelligent? What kind of intelligence? What kind of life? What does this mean for us? We call them "space aliens" but that's just an empty label because we have almost no informational content with which to fill it in.
Are there "space aliens"? We don't know. The Fermi Paradox assumes that we are "average", and that there must be others out there, but that can be a false assumption.

We have a similar situation with the theist proposition. Logic dictates the necessity for some kind of 'supernatural' source for the natural universe.
Nope. There are many, possible, purely natural hypothesis for the universe. Even the existence of the "supernatural" is an assumption.
And we have labeled that mystery "God".
Or, if you assume the supernatural, the god paradox.
But just as with the aliens, the answer may be "no".
But we have no information with which to fill in that label. A lot of people like to invent information to fill in that mystery, because they find it useful and valuable to them to do so. Whole religions develop based on it. But the truth is that the mystery remains a mystery regardless of religion. So negating the religious artifice does not negate the mystery, nor the logical necessity that demands it.

And this is what most self-proclaimed atheists fail to understand. Mostly because they don't want to. They want to negate religious depictions and pretend that negates the mystery, and the logical necessity that demands it. But it doesn't.
The "mystery" may have a natural answer, or it may have a Deist answer. Therefore, the Theist proposition has two (hidden) premises which aren't logically derived. Thus, the Theist position is axiomatic, not rational.
 

HonestJoe

Well-Known Member
So someone claiming to be an atheist and then denying the philosophical assertion is being illogical and/or dishonest.
Why couldn't they just be mistaken? Even if we're accepting that your preferred meaning of the word "atheism" is the only valid one (which I don't), it is undeniable that lots of people use it to describe a range of different things.

Essentially, you're conflating anyone who calls themselves "atheist" with people who actually are "atheist" (by your exclusive definition) and then criticising the former for not behaving as you expect/require. Why couldn't you be mistaken?

You seem to be having great difficulty grasping that I don’t care what anyone believes, because it has nothing to do with defining theism or atheism as philosophical positions.
The whole thread is about what people believe. The "atheists" you're referring are describing what they believe and why (form their point of view, however flawed) but you're declaring that they must believe something different because they're not matching your understanding of the word "atheist".

Philosophically, god is a necessary existential mystery.
Even if there is a "necessary existential mystery", I don't see the validity or meaning in labelling it "god". It you want to separate the philosophy from religion (which I agree would be a good thing), it would make sense to use distinct terminology.

You're not using the word in the way the vast majority of people (theist, atheist or otherwise) would commonly understand it. And the meaning of words is largely determined by common usage.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Are there "space aliens"? We don't know. The Fermi Paradox assumes that we are "average", and that there must be others out there, but that can be a false assumption.
All assumptions can be false. But they remain valid so long as they are logically reasoned or proven false.
Nope. There are many, possible, purely natural hypothesis for the universe. Even the existence of the "supernatural" is an assumption.
There logically are only three: self-generating, perpetual, or caused.
Or, if you assume the supernatural, the god paradox.
But just as with the aliens, the answer may be "no".
The answer isn't relevant because we don't know it. What we have are logical and illogical proposals.
The "mystery" may have a natural answer, or it may have a Deist answer.
It logically cannot have a "natural" answer. And deism is just a characterization of God. The mystery remains regardless of any of our various characterizations.
Therefore, the Theist proposition has two (hidden) premises which aren't logically derived.
None that you have shown.
Thus, the Theist position is axiomatic, not rational.
Not that you have shown.
 

Koldo

Outstanding Member
Well, that's part of the proposition. If you want a philosophical debate on it that's for another thread. But your just saying so isn't going to suffice in that arena.

It is not a even philosophical debate. It is strictly a matter of logic and fact. You claim the logical necessity of a 'supernatural' source. But this statement is simply false. Had you said the nature of the source, if there even is such a thing, is unknown, I would have agreed.

Possessing mental properties is not part of the theist philosophical proposition. That is a specific theological component and it's one of many variations. Theology is a subset of philosophy based on the acceptance of the original philosophical proposition that God/god's exist.

A specific theological component that is central to almost every purported god and more prevalent than the component of being the creator of the universe (considering many polytheism gods are not universe creators).
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
The answer isn't relevant because we don't know it. What we have are logical and illogical proposals.
That sounds more like an agnostic position. There may be a natural explanation or there may be a "god" explanation, we just don't know.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
It is not a even philosophical debate. It is strictly a matter of logic and fact. You claim the logical necessity of a 'supernatural' source. But this statement is simply false. Had you said the nature of the source, if there even is such a thing, is unknown, I would have agreed.
But we're talking about the origin of "nature". Thus, whatever that origin is, it would by definition be greater than (surpass in power and scope), and beyond (transcendent of) the limitations of the natural universe that it originated. And your simply repeating that it's not so does not logically refute it.
A specific theological component that is central to almost every purported god and more prevalent than the component of being the creator of the universe (considering many polytheism gods are not universe creators).
Yes, but theology comes after and as a response to accepting the philosophical proposition. So it can't logically be used to support rejecting what's already been accepted. Whether God thinks or not is a debate that can only occur after the existence of God has been established and accepted. You can reject the theological assertion that God thinks, but to do that you had to have accepted the philosophical proposition that God/gods exist.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
1. The "supernatural" exists.
2. The god is a personal, intervening god. (If it isn't, it is a Deos and therefore not a Theistic proposition but merely a Deistic.)

I have now. (I did before, but I clarified it now.)
Your god is axiomatic, not derived.
You're just making stuff up that has nothing to do with anything. That isn't logical reasoning, it's just made up nonsense.
 

Dimi95

Χριστός ἀνέστη
You know what's dishonest? Pretending words mean only one thing when they can mean multiple things:

View attachment 89705


You know how dictionary definitions work, right?
When you have 2 points like in the above, then they don't both apply at the same time.
It means that it can mean one thing OR the other thing.

So when you talk to an atheist and that atheist tells you that his atheism is of the first kind, then you insisting it must be of the second kind... is what is dishonest.

This is why people (rightfully) accuse you of arguing strawmen.

This is the problem
We can say that you do 'straw man' on the basis of 'ad hominem'.

It's simple:
Atheists don't like to accept rephrased definitions when they are being challanged.It has nothing to do with skeptical thinking , since we don't think that your questions are not valid.We do encounter the challanges that are being put in front of us.
Maybe not at the moment , but we do give answers with time.
You don't like how you see them.

It seems that method is neccessary when it feeds certain pre-conditions that do not have to be neccessary while in the same time others are being acused of using the same methods.

'One of the biggest downsides of utilizing paraphrasing is that it makes you to completely rely on someone else's content. You don't have your own ideas or thoughts. This stunts your own knowledge growth and academic writing skills. That's why it is always recommended to only utilize paraphrasing when the need arises.'

And that is why when we say : "ok , we take all those definitions as valid , and we say to you 'This is your viewpoint when adressing the most fundemental question of existence; this is what you belive'."

And you say : 'No,...'

And we say 'Ok , Sorry we taught you belived it.'

And you get that as offense , Why?
(As a joke would neccessary make the discussion any different.)

But in fact , nothing you say would make it less or more equivalent to the definitions.

It may have a contribution with further conclusions and how the other reacts on that.

Patience is important in personality.

Yes, you've made it very clear already that you don't care what people's positions actually are. You only care about imposing on them what you feel like their positions should be.
Which transforms in these kind of answers.
Do you think that your choice is compromised; when you look at his different definitions?

It seems to me that your answers are pretty convincing as how to demonstrate the problem of 're-phrasing'.

Again: this is exactly what strawmanning someone's position is.
Which is Steelmanning , demonstrated.

Read the above dictionary definition again. Most people here identify as an atheist in the sense of point 1. You insist that they must identify as an atheist in the sense of point 2. And you then critisize them / argue against them on that basis. This is nothing more or less then a dishonest strawman.
Or could it be that is neither of that.
We don't tell you to say that you are Atheists..
And even when we rephrace it , what's the problem ? Is the term 'Atheists' labeled by Atheists criteria?

Why should we even take anything you say as serious , since we can demonstrate the oposite?

We keep pointing this out to you, and you keep doubling down on your dishonest ways.
Yes , most of you use this argument of Authority.

But when it is demonstrated that your methods are not consistent then we might say 'If there is no consistency in the methodology you use , where is the Logic then'?

The first time we use that methodology on the view-point , you reject it , Why?

This is just an observation , nothing personal.
 
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Ajax

Active Member
Just as the atheist does with God, you blindly and falsely assume that alcohol only causes society harm because it harms a small number of people that become addicted to it and they in turn can harm others. But most humans can and do use alcohol to great positive benefit without hurting anyone. Just as most people do with their faith in their gods.

Your own analogy bears out the irrational and untrue bias that fuels most atheism. And that bias is being created by using one's personal experience as proof of some otherwise false 'universal truth'. "It's bad for some so it's bad for all."
You have it completely wrong my friend. As far as I know (because I'm not one), most atheists do not have anything against God, they simply do not believe in anything supernatural. If someone can prove the existence of supernatural, they will accept it. It doesn't seem possible though...
The whole argument could end by answering if you accept that others have the right to not believe in something unproven. It's that simple.
 
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9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
They can explain why they think they are elephants. But that still doesn’t make them elephants. Atheism is not a person. Nor is it an identity. It’s a philosophical assertion in relation to the theists proposition. So someone claiming to be an atheist and then denying the philosophical assertion is being illogical and/or dishonest.

Or - hear me out - they just haven't bought into the framework and definitions that you personally came up with and try to pass off as objective truth.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
You have it completely wrong my friend. As far as I know (because I'm not one), most atheists do not have anything against God, they simply do not believe in anything supernatural. If someone can prove the existence of supernatural, they will accept it. It doesn't seem possible though...
Atheists never seem to grasp that no one cares what they don't believe. Why do they think their non-belief matters to anyone? Why do they label themselves anything at all?

I think the reason is that they DO believe that God/gods don't exist. And they DO believe that their atheist beliefs are superior to the beliefs of all theists. And they do really want all those silly superstitious theists to know it.

Just like the religious zealots are true believers in their own gods. And just like they believe their religious belief is far more wise and righteous than atheism. And just as they too want all those atheist sinners to know it.

Turns out these two groups are mirror images of each other. Both completely defining themselves by their "beliefs", and jacking themselves up with the zealotry and imagined superiority of their righteousness. And neither willing to even listen to or consder the validity of the other.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Or - hear me out - they just haven't bought into the framework and definitions that you personally came up with and try to pass off as objective truth.
Over 200 posts in and I'm still waiting for a logical rebuttal, from ANYONE. But nope. Still mostly just whining and complaining and personal slurs.
 
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