(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The thread that was the shining light of the last two debating sections(ugh, really?) that was God vs Fact has been trashed or something(ugh, again) so this thread is here to take the place of that one.

Some extremely basic terminology...

Theist: believes in a god(s).
Deist: believes in a god(s) that created the universe but subsequently abandoned it and/or believes that reason and observation of the natural world are sufficient to determine the existence of god(s).
Atheist: does not believe in a god(s).
Agnostic: does not claim to know if a god exists or believes that such knowledge cannot be known, depending on the definition. Typically when I personally use this label I'm referring to the former.
Gnostic: claims to know one way or the other if a god exists.

There are some more but that's the basics down. I'm an agnostic atheist. What are you and why?

Edit: Thanks to whichever mod/admin butchered the thread's title and poll. The poll now makes no sense whatsoever.

This is a difficult topic. People really take these things too seriously. Science can explain almost everything about how the earth was made and all now. Honestly, I think. people just believe in a higher being out of fear. Religious people, be honest with yourself. Do you really believe in a god or are you just afraid of what happens when you die, can you just not accept that when you die you will be gone and your just afraid? I dont know, man. If god does everything for a reason then why is there things like kids in Africa who haven't eaten in days, why do 6 year olds get molested every day?

Why do you think that?



Why do you believe?

I believe because I have always felt like God has always been there beside me. I was taught that God knows everything and loves us. And, believe it or not, in my greatest time of need (I'm not going to say what exactly because it's personal) he gave me a sign that he was there and never abandoned me. Also, I go to church and I am surrounded by people who believe in him. So this makes that connection with God that much stronger because I am not the only one who believes in him. For some reason, my belief in him has kept me from taking the wrong path or making the wrong choices. That is why I believe.

I am a very religious person and I understand where you are coming from not only because of science but, because I use to think a little bit like you. When I was younger, I was afraid of dying just like everyone else but that is not why I am religious. If one day I die, Ill embrace it because there is nothing I will be able to do to change that. I am actually interested at what will happen in the afterlife not afraid. That doesn't mean I'm going to go and commit suicide or something lol. I'm gona say a quote someone said that just says it all. "If there isn't a God but people believe in him, there is no problem. But, if there is one and we don't believe in him then that is when we have a problem." There is something else you got to ask that I made up myself through thinking about this topic. What if all that misery in this planet, all the bullshit that people do to hurt you in everyday life, all this science that makes us say we live in a modern era and ask ourselves why do people still believe in religion is all just to pull us away from God or make us not believe in him. Because after all, in this life and world just like the bible says, the devil is ruler here.

"No offend but we live in 2013" That is exactly what I was talking about. Just because we live in a modern era where we have advanced technology and have different lifestyles compared to the past people want to throw out religion out the window. Last time I checked, science has not proved religion to be wrong. I'm not mad or anything just saying.

If you don't believe in religion that is fine everyone can believe what they want. But, even if you don't believe and the devil is real, you can't shy away from him by not believing he is not real. That is like saying I don't believe a knife can cut me then you go and try it and guess what? It does and you are bleeding. That is probably a bad comparison but idc lol

Science - I hate to generalize - never has had the sole aim of attempting to disprove the claims made by religions (again a rather large thing, with practically infinite belief systems). Lets make it clear that it is about learning about reality through evidence and observation. If the conclusion of whatever is being studied in a scientific study happens to contradict a religion, that is an indirect effect as there is no intent or a "go after" religion type attitude - and even if there ever is, the scientific method is based upon evidence and must more trustworthy than empty claims based upon nothing. I think that it's important to understand this as many theists believe that scientists of any field have a personal vendetta against them, which is just delusional and ignorant.

Now should I give you some examples of when (any) religion has been wrong and science right on a topic? I have a problem of what religion we are discussing, let's presume Christianity. So firstly humanities "creation", Christianity claims a God created humans as they are and all other animals, of course we now know we have evolved over millions of years. We accredit this theory to Darwin but it has become so sophisticated and full of evidence since, I find it difficult to picture any theist disputing this as they would literally have to change reality. There are many more points I could make on the Universe, creation in general and the amazing technical and health developments due to scientists. However...

...I think you will raise a point that this doesn't disprove a God's existence, you would be correct. However specific religions' ideal of a deity and it's credibility is seriously questionable and the many discrepancies formed due to scientific discoveries, help in attempting to disprove and highlight the absurdities of religion. This would make a God's existence less likely, but not impossible, the laws of logic would not allow anyone to asset that something, anything does not exist. You may have heard you cannot prove a negative (it's a logical fallacy known as an argument from ignorance), but as I say including the points I raised it does lower the probability of existence by a huge amount.

I haven't been here again in a while, so hi again guys. I will wait for your reply if I remember to come back and visi

"theists believe that scientists of any field have a personal vendetta against them, which is just delusional and ignorant."

I never said scientists have a personal vendetta against theists. It is just that people like you, judging from what you just said, throw facts about science to argue with us. I would say that is an ignorant assumption that people make when they are arguing whether or not there is a God. I understand where you are coming from because I also at one point favored science over religion and even questioned my religion. But, even with all those scientific discoveries, that is not going to change my belief in God. Only time will tell once we are dead and we are in the after life. If there is one. Then we will see whether there is a God or not. Those who believed in one while they were alive, no harm was done. Now, I don't speak for terrorist who believe God tells them to do stupid shit like killing people because I am Catholic. So I am not even going to go there. And, for those who didn't believe well that is not my problem. Again, I just don't see anything wrong with believing in a God. Call me ignorant call me whatever for believing it doesn't matter to me.

Welcome we are glad to have you back.

Did I just spot Pascal's Wager or some derivative of it?