One thing i have noticed is an overabundance of people in this particular forum whose only argument is "prove it". There is a concept that many are familiar with, called faith, that allows them to believe the unproved. Why does everything have to be proven for you to believe that it exists. You have not personally seen atoms, yet you believe that they exist nonetheless.

Also, why is the burden of proof always on those of faith to prove that their Supreme Being exists? Why can't you prove difinitively that they do not exist? Is it because there is no proof either way? Or is it some other, deeper reason?

Please do not respond with any smartass answers, and please do not go apeshit and start attacking everyone, as i am interested to see the genuine responses of people.

it is a precept of rational thought. if you want to engage in nonsensical fantasies and believe them to be true, then fine, no one's stopping you. go ahead, you don't have to prove anything.

but if you are making a claim about a deeper understanding of the objective universe that you expect others to also understand and believe, then you must back it up for them, no?

if your own beliefs do not abide by rational principles such that others can reproduce your tests, then how can you expect others to believe? that's crazy, and even more than that, it's a self-centered, delusional expectation.

otherwise, you could claim that god exists and is a little green goblin named xantor, but you can't question him, or you'll go to nantibex, which is a big flower filled with feces that will digest you in shit juices for the rest of eternity.

the onus of proof is always on the claimant.

another way to think about it... if someone makes a claim about the nature of reality, there is an infinite number of thoughts that the rest of humanity is free to feel regarding the claim... if it has any substance, then people will or will not arrive at the truth of the claim of their own free will... however, if belief is forced upon them without proof and they are prohibited from questioning the claim, then their thoughts are effectively enslaved, and the very soul of humanity is violated.

after all, the human animal is not defined by its ability to simply percieve the one truth, but by its ability to perceive a great multitude of possibilities, and somehow arrive at a multitude of truths.

^^You know, I never really broke it down like that. But you are completely correct.

I think the original question came from observing the multitude of people that were simply replying to any claim of a higher being with "bullshit. Prove it", which, to me is simply an ignorant reply.

yeah, i know... but what can you do?

the irony is that most people come to discount the probability of god existing because they find that religions are simplistic and rigid... and then many of these same people will turn around and hold on to the equally simplistic and rigid atheistic 'religion.'

I have broken my faith down to its basic components, and have come to the conclusion that religion is useless (no offense to anyone else, but i dont see a need for it). I have faith in what i believe, and leave all the other bullshit out. I dont need a big gathering of people led by a primped band director to tell me how to talk to my God, especially since my God is my friend, not some scary parental figure that means to let me burn forever in a place lorded over by some dude in a fucked up halloween costume..

On another note, one of the funniest things i find about damn near all Christian-based denominations is that they dress up in their nicest clothing to go to church. Doesnt it say in the bible to be humble? I find it hilarious because most of these hypocrits are going to church to practice a hollow religion that they really dont believe in (and, of course, to compare clothing), not to exercise their faith.

quote:Originally posted by dead_people_killer:

I have broken my faith down to its basic components, and have come to the conclusion that religion is useless (no offense to anyone else, but i dont see a need for it). I have faith in what i believe, and leave all the other bullshit out. I dont need a big gathering of people led by a primped band director to tell me how to talk to my God, especially since my God is my friend, not some scary parental figure that means to let me burn forever in a place lorded over by some dude in a fucked up halloween costume..

On another note, one of the funniest things i find about damn near all Christian-based denominations is that they dress up in their nicest clothing to go to church. Doesnt it say in the bible to be humble? I find it hilarious because most of these hypocrits are going to church to practice a hollow religion that they really dont believe in (and, of course, to compare clothing), not to exercise their faith.



Sounds good, sounds good