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You're A Theist Because...

firedragon

firedragon

Veteran Member
Rival said:
Of most of the theists I have met, of all stripes, none are theists because they:

- Want a purpose in life so they look for a theistic religion that gives them something to do. Not only is this shallow, the illusion will die quickly. Even religions may not propose a concrete idea as to the purpose of life and this may be found in a mystical philosophy or otherwise.

- Are afraid of death.This is insincere and, again, the illusion will die quickly.

- Are born into it. Most serious practitioners I know have evaluated their faith and found it solid. Nowadays many people who are born into faith families have the option to evaluate their faith, find it wanting, and leave. Even if this isn't the case in real life, certainly on the internet one has the freedom to be honest.

These are the most common 'reasons' I hear being put forward by prominent atheists (Dawkins, for example, has used all three). People are theists for all sorts of reasons, and I find it irresponsible for other people to try to tell us why we believe, as if there's some sort of strange pity-party going on for us. And yes, 'My life experience' is a completely valid reason for being a theist.
Click to expand...

Reasonable assumptions.

The thing is, to conclude and generalise to all theists like you did, you would need to an extensive research. I think about 57% people in the world either follow the Quran or the Bible. I don't have true numbers of people who believe in other scriptures like the Vedas, Smrithis, Pitakas etc. So the majority of the world are theists of some sort.

So I believe you should do an extensive research to make a conclusion like this. Take a good sample size from all kinds of locations around the world and prior to that you should build a solid hypothesis based on a qualitative study.

Or, you can make assumptions based on your own position. Said with all due respect because though you did in my opinion make an assumption like many others do, you did not insult people in the O.P. So again, this is said with all due respect.
 
H

Holdasown

Active Member
Rival said:
Of most of the theists I have met,
Click to expand...

If a theist used this statement we would get told we can't because atheists are not a uniform group yet you can use it for all theists even ones not in the same religion. Bigotry plain and simple.
 
SalixIncendium

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Holdasown said:
If a theist used this statement we would get told we can't because atheists are not a uniform group yet you can use it for all theists even ones not in the same religion. Bigotry plain and simple.
Click to expand...

Atheists are a uniform group to the extent that they lack belief in existence of a supreme being or deities just as to the extent theists are a uniform group to the extent that they believe in the existence of a supreme being or deities.

So I'm failing to understand your assertion that you cannot use the quoted statement or how bigotry comes into play.
 
Rival

Rival

se Dex me saut.
Staff member
Premium Member
I'll rewrite my OP for the reading impaired of RF.

'You Are A Theist Because..' [This is the hypothetical atheist speaking]

[In the OP I, Rival, the theist, speak]

Here are some reasons some, mainly prominent, atheists put forward as to why they think theists are theists.
I have met some theists. Very few of them believe in a deity for the reasons I am about to put forward.
However, some atheists incorrectly believe these are the reasons people are theists.

[List reasons in OP]

[Elmo shoots self]
 
Last edited:
Sunstone

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I am forced to strenuously object to the way the OP characterizes all atheists and leprechauns as wearing purple socks. This is absolutely false and a clear indication of the poster's bigotry towards elephants, an animal not known to frequently wear purple socks.
 
H

Holdasown

Active Member
Rival said:
I'll rewrite my OP for the retarded of RF.

'You Are A Theist Because..' [This is the hypothetical atheist speaking]

[In the OP I, Rival, the theist, speaks]

Here are some reasons some, mainly prominent, atheists put forward as to why they think theists are theists.
I have met some theists. Very few of them believe in a deity for the reasons I am about to put forward
However, some atheists incorrectly believe these are the reasons people are theists.

[List reasons in OP]

[Elmo shoots self]
Click to expand...

So you are a super special non retarded theist. Nice.
 
Audie

Audie

Veteran Member
Holdasown said:
If a theist used this statement we would get told we can't because atheists are not a uniform group yet you can use it for all theists even ones not in the same religion. Bigotry plain and simple.
Click to expand...

Seeking out hypothetical (gasp) hypocrisy in the
other is a tiresome game.

The more so when it is so contrived, as in
the above.
 
Rival

Rival

se Dex me saut.
Staff member
Premium Member
Sunstone said:
I think your moon rocket just exploded on the launch pad.
Click to expand...
There's a part in Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet (of course the Cyberman one) where the Doctor says, after the screens go blank,
'I'm afraid the spaceship...exploded, my dear.'
And I wanted to make a GIF of it, but for the same reason I can't read blogs I can't make GIFs. My PC decides to freak out and the drivers stop working and it restarts.
 
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