Quote:
Originally Posted by RickyMaveety
But, you know, belief is a funny thing. It's sort of chicken and egg .... I have no idea which comes first, the belief or the rationale for the belief. I sometimes wonder if I stopped believing in a god about the same time I found out that Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the venerable Tooth Fairy were just stories. I know I didn't have a fully formed concept of atheism at that time .... but I definitely went through a "what did you just say?" moment there. And, it was all downhill for my relationship with Christianity after that.
Not that any of those symbols are intended to be associated with Christianity. Just that the same people who put up a Christmas Tree near the church and taught me the words to "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" were the same ones who were trying to persuade me that people really rose from the dead (and I'm not just talking Jesus here .... there are other Biblical examples). And, I started to realize that I simply did not believe any of the stories .... not that I am devoid of beliefs, or things that I hold on faith (such as multiple universes), just that I don't believe the Bible, I don't believe in a god, and I don't believe that Jesus was the son of a god I don't believe in.
|
I very much share your views, Ricky. I certainly believe that Jesus was a real person, and that he was preaching "how to lead a good life", but that's as far as it goes.
Quote:
|
I have reason to believe (and a very strong faith) that the Sun will not go nova this Thursday. I hope I am correct in my belief, otherwise I just wasted a crap-load of money on a new dishwasher.
|
Given the fact that novae can only occur in binary star systems, and we don't live in such a system, I think that you can use your dishwasher with confidence for the future!
Quote:
|
I have reason to believe (and a very strong faith) that the energy that makes up the living part of my being didn't simply pop into existence sometime in post WWII New Mexico. I have reason to believe (and faith ... blah, blah, blah), that I "am." You know, the "I think, therefore I am" view, which I believe (there's that word again) was brilliant.
|
Have you read Plato's "Phaedo"? He makes some fascinating arguments in that for the independent existance of the soul, which I personally found pretty convincing.
Quote:
|
I rather think you will understand this line of thought.
|
Absolutely!