One tactic that I've noticed recently in debates is shifting the burden of proof in what I admit is a somewhat clever way. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, so a claim "god exists" requires a substantial amount to back it up.
The tactic is to turn this around by instead...
It could be because I'm tired, but I'm having a hard time understanding what the main question is. Is it why atheists are atheists or why some religious people don't think others should have freedoms? If the latter, are you referring to freedom to believe or freedom to, for example, get married...
That passage reminds me of the absurd claim that anyone that doesn't follow god automatically follows Satan even if they don't know or believe it. I know that within Christian mythology this is believed, but while I know that it isn't implied that it's a conscious decision, too many Christians...
Yes, they are. It can also be true of atheism if children are raised to accept atheism and to not question, which to me would be just as harmful as doing the same thing with a religion.
My previous Christian self would have agreed with you.
I would have agreed with this as well. People can...
I've heard some Christians say that "true" Christians must be a certain way. Salvation isn't genuine if it's out of fear or if certain conditions aren't met.
On the other hand, I'm convinced that the main reasons that Protestants and Catholics are Christians are as follows, in no particular...
Suffering exists because we live in a world populated with countless life forms with different intentions. There are also laws of physics and biological processes that prevent bodies from lasting forever.
A claim is as justifiable as the evidence that supports it. No god claim has met the burden of proof, yet there is proof of often conflicting natural explanations in multiple fields of science. Over time, supernatural causes were replaced with natural ones as understanding of reality grew. Demon...
My user name? My name is Roger, and I'm an atheist, usually the atheist in any group of people. I first made it on XBL, and it wasn't taken, so yay. It means that I don't believe in... any supernatural force. Some atheists do, which I don't understand, since it seems that their skepticism would...
Yes, because a non-theist can be a deist or a pantheist.
I can imagine it; in fact I forget that theism exists until I see a church (which is every time I drive) or hear something religious.
Looking at religious and non-religious countries, it seems like non-religious ones are better off. I...
My worldview regarding god is defined by my lack of belief in one. I haven't looked into humanism enough to know whether or not I would consider myself one. In terms of politics, I tend to be literal with most views but don't label myself a democrat because I don't change my views to match those...
If there's no evidence for god, then that's on him. The least one would expect if required to believe in something is evidence as a valid reason to believe it. It would sort of be like police arresting people for wearing red shirts, which was a new secret law that no one was told about.
Asking...
It's not known whether or not physical existence had a beginning; if the laws of conservation have always applied, then the total energy and matter of all universes (however many there are including one if this is it) or of individual universes -- depending on how it applies and whether or not...
I don't really know what it means to be enlightened, but after learning basic astronomy I've never been able to look at clear night sky without being completely amazed.