The God Delusion - by Richard Dawkins

[FlyingPig]

There is enough feeling and belief of a higher being for more than half of the world to accept this, therefore it should not be discounted out of hand.

Yes it can - Dawkins explains why. Why shouldn't more than half the world be wrong?

Atheism is a detachment from superstition, a recognition of there being no credible evidence of a higher being...By that I cannot imagine a true atheist...

I have no idea what that sentence means.

They may be wrong, but it should not be discounted...Only when it is proven beyond doubt that God does not exist should it be discounted, and that will not happen.

You have no idea what that sentence means???

As I said earlier, most atheists will Christen theie children, get married in a church, and are in some way superstitious.

[Tragic]

But then you are basing your life on something that has not been disproven beyond reasonable doubt, but has had no proof whatsoever offered for it, rather than sticking to things at least to some extent grounded in reality.

[happybhoy]

Arguing about the existence of God is pointless, one side questions the proof in faith, the other side questions the faith in proof. It's like the old question about a tree falling in a forest when no-one is there - it can never be answered because the question denies an answer. So you say you believe in God, fair enough, I can't disprove that, but when you say I believe in a Christian God who says you shall not do this, you shall not do that, you shall not do 8 other things, my question is where do these specifics come from, why the belief in this one view. By taking it from the general to the specific you take it to a place where it can be questioned and when it is it is found to be shot through with inconsistencies and failings in internal logic.

[Tragic]

Arguing about the existence of God is pointless, one side questions the proof in faith, the other side questions the faith in proof. It's like the old question about a tree falling in a forest when no-one is there - it can never be answered because the question denies an answer. So you say you believe in God, fair enough, I can't disprove that, but when you say I believe in a Christian God who says you shall not do this, you shall not do that, you shall not do 8 other things, my question is where do these specifics come from, why the belief in this one view. By taking it from the general to the specific you take it to a place where it can be questioned and when it is it is found to be shot through with inconsistencies and failings in internal logic.

Good post. It may be pointless but it is quite interesting, and if it's interesting maybe it isn't pointless...

[AndrewT]

They may be wrong, but it should not be discounted...Only when it is proven beyond doubt that God does not exist should it be discounted, and that will not happen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russel%27s_teapot

[Sark79]

Instead, I think we should be asking the religions for tolerance of all other religions (and also atheism). Respect other's beliefs and they might just accept yours.

Can't we just all get along?

It would be nice if we could all get along. Sadly,I feel that the divide between each of the religions is only going to become greater.  I am 100% non religious, but I come from a background where faith plays a part up to a point.  Up until recently I couldn't understand how a person could believe in God, but I am beginning to see why it can be a comfort for some people.  We live in an uncertain World and if a person can take the good parts of whatever religion they favour then that is great.  I will continue to operate from the corners of my own mind and live by my own code though. 

The main thing that irritates me about religion are those who feel they are the Number 1 believer.  An example of this is the 'Worst Family in America' who criticise other Christians because they are not worshiping in the correct way. It is hard for me to understand religious belief, however from an outsiders viewpoint surely part of religion is taking the areas that can make a benefit to ones life.  Why does it always have to be followed so exactly?

I am going to get this book from the library next week.

[FlyingPig]

I dont find my belief in God a comfort or hard.. I know where you are coming from with your post..

Most religios people are okay wth other religious beliefs, and the people who believe in them.. Its the minority as always...




 

[happybhoy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russel%27s_teapot

Spooky, I'd just gone to Russell's Teapot to look at the 'Know your bible' bit.

[fearisthekey]

The Catholic church categorically declares that should someone (especially a catholic) declare that the existence of God cannot be known by reason alone and without any act of faith (faith being a 'divine gift') then that person should be declared a heretic and excommunicated from the Church, anathema sit. The acceptance of the existence of a Divine Creator is not a matter of faith for catholics, but is achievable by reason alone. Unlike, for example, faith in Jesus as the Son of God.

This reasoned conclusion of the existence of God is established through various means, such as the cosmological argument, etc.

The entire basis of these arguments for the existence of God, the facts on which the arguments are based, have been demonstrated emphatically to be wrong.

So the (misunderstood) atheist's rationale goes something like this:

-The belief system of those who declare that there is a God, an intelligent Mind who created the universe, is flawed, based on the reasons they themselves give for that belief.
-The atheist does not need to demonstrate the lack of existence of a god. The notion of god was declared by those who state that he exists, the burden is on those who declare this to provide reasons for doing so. Atheists declare that the reasons given by the believers for the existence of god are flawed.

You, as a christian, probably do not accept my belief that the earth was created by a flying spaghetti monster that orbits Mars. You cannot demonstrate to me that there is no flying spaghetti monster that orbits Mars. Would you declare yourself unreasonable in refusing to hold my beliefs?

I think that most belief systems actually rest ultimately on a flawed understanding of the scientific basis of atheism/agnosticism.

Lastly, much of the declared evidence on earth for intelligent design, for example functional organs and the order of things, life, etc etc, have since been shown attributable to other causes, facts not available to those who brought Christianity and other such myths into being.

[FlyingPig]

Right I am going play some poker...... May god be with you.......

[Sark79]

I dont find my belief in God a comfort or hard.. I know where you are coming from with your post..

Most religios people are okay wth other religious beliefs, and the people who believe in them.. Its the minority as always...




 

Yea, unfortunately the minority are often the cause of the problems.


I was thinking more of the many times we hear individuals who say things such as  "My faith in God helped me"  or " I owe my thanks to God".    It is a common theme through every belief system and religion.  It always has been and always will be.  Like Sword says, it is sad we can't all just get along.  We all believe in basically the same thing, it is just tiny differences that cause the problems.

 The non believing golf pro says  " I won this for my Kids " , The golf pro who attends church and is a believer says  " I won this for my Kids and God helped me today ".   They are both the same, it is just a tiny difference in their thought processes.  I know people who argue over these small differences.  I say, let people believe what they want to.

[Tragic]

Rubbish isn't it . Good topic though cheers for everyones opinions, think I might take FlyingPigs advice for a bit now haha. Book should be here Tuesday so Dawkins can be happy at least he's getting some more cash, maybe that will keep him warm at night where God doesn't.

[FlyingPig]

The people who cause the problems are the ones with no respect.

Regardless of everything, stripped to the barebones, that is about respect. Regardless of religion you should tolerate and most of all respect and value difference..


Edit --- I am really going now,,,, Poker and Glastonbury has my 100% concentration now.

[Robert HM]

Right I am going play some poker...... May your god be with you.......

FYP, in homage to the late Dave Allen

[AndrewT]

Right I am going play some poker...... May your god be with you.......

FYP, in homage to the late Dave Allen

Amen to that...