Page 20 of 24 FirstFirst ... 10161718192021222324 LastLast
Results 476 to 500 of 577
  1. #476
    Veteran cantthinkofanything's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Post Count
    14,938
    Seems logical. Hit the reboot button on the Universe, and it all turns out EXACTLY as it did this time. This atom mixes with that one, form that sun, planet, etc.....until we end up with ios 5 and Justin Bieber.
    If you hit the reboot button EXACTLY the same way, then yes.

  2. #477
    Cogito Ergo Sum LnGrrrR's Avatar
    My Team
    Boston Celtics
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Post Count
    22,399
    No. It's all predetermined. People believe that the choices they make are spontaneus but their decisions are based on chemicals in their brain reacting to the results of past events which are in turn based on chemstry, physics, equations, etc.
    Given that matter on it's smallest level is all about probabilities, and not exact spots, I don't think that's quite true.

  3. #478
    Veteran cantthinkofanything's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Post Count
    14,938
    Given that matter on it's smallest level is all about probabilities, and not exact spots, I don't think that's quite true.
    Is that definitive or is it possible that we just aren't able to analyze it on the smallest level yet?

  4. #479
    Cogito Ergo Sum LnGrrrR's Avatar
    My Team
    Boston Celtics
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Post Count
    22,399
    Is that definitive or is it possible that we just aren't able to analyze it on the smallest level yet?
    All the evidence at the moment points to definitive. Now, maybe sometime in the future we'll be able to know both momentum and destination at the same time, but everything so far says we can either have the wave or the particle, but not both.

    I'm sure Agloco could explain better than I if he sees this.

  5. #480
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ElNono's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Post Count
    153,473
    Challenge accepted. Start a thread.
    Whatever happened to this?


  6. #481
    Veteran cantthinkofanything's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Post Count
    14,938
    Whatever happened to this?

    It died in 2009. They just recently convicted its doctor of manslaughter.

  7. #482
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ElNono's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Post Count
    153,473
    ^^^

  8. #483
    Believe.
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Post Count
    22,886
    Meh, I can only speak for myself, but I've pointed out in other threads dangling with this topic that I do see the value of religion as a social tool.
    It's undeniable that tools like religion or psychology have helped people find that balance you mention in their lives.

    Now, it wouldn't work for me. But if it works for somebody else, then good for them.
    Sure but that sword cuts both ways and blind faith cannot discern the difference.

  9. #484
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Post Count
    11,214
    it died in 2009. They just recently convicted its doctor of manslaughter.
    lol!

  10. #485
    Veteran AFBlue's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Post Count
    10,868
    If God has a plan for you, does that mean you really have free will?
    Must've skipped over this post initially, but it's a great question that I honestly struggle with. I'd like to believe that the choices I make are my own and that God has the power to change my path to suit his greater purpose. I don't know how that rectifies logically with pre-destination though.

  11. #486
    Veteran AFBlue's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Post Count
    10,868
    Do you acknowledge that it may just be that its just much more comforting to think that there is some grand scheme for such a tragedy like that versus the notion that its just a random event?
    I acknowledge that it's comforting to believe, but I don't believe JUST because it's comforting.

  12. #487
    Veteran AFBlue's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Post Count
    10,868
    One side clearly won the debate.

    Yet, it was dumbass vs dumbass.

    Look, you should never be called to prove a negative.

    But at the same time, you're not clever if you ask questions like why does God allow for ty things to happen..

    That's not a clever point.

    I could play theist and knock some of you asshole atheist out looking silly.
    Who clearly wins a theoretical argument that can't be proven or disproven?

  13. #488
    Long, Dark Blues redzero's Avatar
    My Team
    New Orleans Hornets
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    14,531
    Who clearly wins a theoretical argument that can't be proven or disproven?
    The argument is not about proving or disproving the existence of God. We're arguing about the reasoning behind our belief (or lack thereof) in God.

  14. #489
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ElNono's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Post Count
    153,473
    Sure but that sword cuts both ways and blind faith cannot discern the difference.
    No doubt. But as long as they don't step into my backyard and it makes them happy, what's the problem?

  15. #490
    Displaced 101A's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Post Count
    7,711
    The argument is not about proving or disproving the existence of God. We're arguing about the reasoning behind our belief (or lack thereof) in God.
    Most if not all of the theists on the board have readily admitted that they derive their belief in God from faith. Some reasoning, is involved, but, basically, it's faith.

    The atheists on the board admittedly built their belief structure from reason.

    So, if you set the determination of winner and loser from "reasoning behind our belief", you have predetermined the winner, haven't you?

    There is literally no point to this (which I have known all along, but wanted to illustrate with this post)

    However, I cannot leave the thread without one more observation:

    I don't believe that extra terrestrials have ever visited our planet. Many people do believe that. It doesn't bother me, and I certainly don't start threads to discredit their beliefs. Why do atheists continually start, and prolong (rough estimate - atheists are responsible for 70%+ of the posts in this thread) these threads? What is urging you to keep asking over, and over for believers to justify their beliefs to you - asking, pleading, over and over again for us to explain our faith to you.
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    I truly hope and pray that one day you find what it is you are searching for.

  16. #491
    Long, Dark Blues redzero's Avatar
    My Team
    New Orleans Hornets
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    14,531
    Why not ask?

    And prayer doesn't do anything, so you can stop wasting your time.

  17. #492
    Go to baselinebums.com NASpurs's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Post Count
    30,565
    Why not ask?

    And prayer doesn't do anything, so you can stop wasting your time.
    That's like the third time you mention that in this thread. Does praying bother you that much?

  18. #493
    Believe. mingus's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Post Count
    4,242
    I don't believe prayer does anything, but to say to someone to quit wasting their time is ing stupid. I've said and I'll say it again: Until you've walked in someone's shoes you can stop the ing lecturing. One size does not fit all.

  19. #494
    Believe. mingus's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Post Count
    4,242
    That's like the third time you mention that in this thread. Does praying bother you that much?
    He's definitely scarred. Nobody demonstrates the amount of flat out hate this guy does without having some serious trauma.

  20. #495
    Cogito Ergo Sum LnGrrrR's Avatar
    My Team
    Boston Celtics
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Post Count
    22,399
    That's like the third time you mention that in this thread. Does praying bother you that much?
    I know this was directed to redzero, but I don't mind people praying for me. I understand the intention behind it, even if I don't think it will bring about any true change.

    In the same way, I'm offended by people who think I'll be going to for not believing, because I see the intention behind that, not because I'm worried about going to a place I don't believe exists.

  21. #496
    Believe.
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Post Count
    22,886
    No doubt. But as long as they don't step into my backyard and it makes them happy, what's the problem?
    Thats the whole point. They don't. It would be lovely if people were to take the Martin Luther and Buddha thing and make religion solely a personal experience. Thats not even remotely what happens.

    A large part of the problem is that what has been uncovered to be the truth often is at odds with what religious texts say. For as much as you hear about science isn't really at odds with religion, thats just lip service. The observed facts and theories developed from science do not even remotely jive with any of the major religions.

    I actually have a measure of respect for people that at least try and force observable facts to fit with religious precepts. To me that at least speaks for a desire for truth. So much of what you see is just picking and choosing whats left that is both convenient and not patently absurd. At least Deuteronomy is now out of favor.

    Party platforms are notoriously rife with Judeo-Christian ideals and our foreign and domestic policy are in large part dictated by them as well. Far too many decisions this country makes are based on what is at its core is a lie.

  22. #497
    Long, Dark Blues redzero's Avatar
    My Team
    New Orleans Hornets
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    14,531
    He's definitely scarred. Nobody demonstrates the amount of flat out hate this guy does without having some serious trauma.
    Sure, e-psychiatrist.

    And that was the second time I mentioned prayer, not third.

    And it still does nothing.

  23. #498
    🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 ElNono's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Post Count
    153,473
    Thats the whole point. They don't. It would be lovely if people were to take the Martin Luther and Buddha thing and make religion solely a personal experience. Thats not even remotely what happens.

    A large part of the problem is that what has been uncovered to be the truth often is at odds with what religious texts say. For as much as you hear about science isn't really at odds with religion, thats just lip service. The observed facts and theories developed from science do not even remotely jive with any of the major religions.

    I actually have a measure of respect for people that at least try and force observable facts to fit with religious precepts. To me that at least speaks for a desire for truth. So much of what you see is just picking and choosing whats left that is both convenient and not patently absurd. At least Deuteronomy is now out of favor.

    Party platforms are notoriously rife with Judeo-Christian ideals and our foreign and domestic policy are in large part dictated by them as well. Far too many decisions this country makes are based on what is at its core is a lie.
    Some people find meaning/happiness in life through fairy tales. Other people do it through getting high or having the shrink listen to their babbling for hours on end. If it helps them though, good for them.

    I agree that some get carried away and feel the urge to tell the rest of the world how revealing their experience was. I have no problem with them either, unless they can't take "not interested" for an answer. Then there's the nazi-like who wants to ream their core bull through everyone's throat (ie: your platform comment). Those are definitely a problem.

    I think a lot of these people are not looking for 'truth'. They're just looking for something much less complicated, comforting and that provides a degree of meaning to their lives. We can discuss all day whether it's a bunch of baloney or not, but as long as they keep it to themselves and, as I like to say, "works for them", then good for them.

  24. #499
    Go to baselinebums.com NASpurs's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Post Count
    30,565
    Sure, e-psychiatrist.

    And that was the second time I mentioned prayer, not third.

    And it still does nothing.
    Exactly, third time.

    And for something that does nothing, it sure bothers you.

  25. #500
    Long, Dark Blues redzero's Avatar
    My Team
    New Orleans Hornets
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Post Count
    14,531
    And for something that does nothing, it sure bothers you.
    It bothers me that people still pretend that it does something.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •