True skeptics are 'conspiracy theorists'

[gumboot]

Is that really rational?

All beliefs, religious or otherwise can have several contradicting sides.

<(((><

In my experience contradiction is a fundamental requirement of religious beliefs...

-Gumboot

 

[D'rok]

Thanks for the patronizing answer to my rhetorical question. Now how about the following question: Of what value is the type of belief usually referred to as "faith" if two or more individuals can have beliefs that contradict one another?

Truth functional value of faith = 0

Warm and fuzzy feeling value of faith = lots and lots, regardless of silly delusions and contradictions

Warm and fuzzy usually wins over pesky cold hard reality, I'm sorry to say.

 

[AZCat]

Truth functional value of faith = 0

Warm and fuzzy feeling value of faith = lots and lots, regardless of silly delusions and contradictions

Warm and fuzzy usually wins over pesky cold hard reality, I'm sorry to say.

If I want a "warm and fuzzy feeling" then I go find a friendly dog or cat, not an aloof invisible being.

 

[D'rok]

If I want a "warm and fuzzy feeling" then I go find a friendly dog or cat, not an aloof invisible being.

I think it's more the warm and fuzzy feeling of making the vast and seemingly incomprehensible universe small, safe, comfortable and manageable. Easy answers are happy answers

That and satisfying the hairless monkey need for strong social bonds.

These aren't defenses of faith, just observations about it.

 

[g4macdad]

If I want a "warm and fuzzy feeling" then I go find a friendly dog or cat, not an aloof invisible being.

You are entitled to your opinion, but that in no way invalidates what I said.

<(((><

 

[AZCat]

I think it's more the warm and fuzzy feeling of making the vast and seemingly incomprehensible universe small, safe, comfortable and manageable. Easy answers are happy answers

That and satisfying the hairless monkey need for strong social bonds.

These aren't defenses of faith, just observations about it.

This hairless monkey has never really understood the whole concept of "faith", hence his reliance on household pets in lieu of invisible beings.

 

[g4macdad]

In my experience contradiction is a fundamental requirement of religious beliefs...

-Gumboot

Odd comment coming from a Bush-Backer.

<(((><

 

[D'rok]

This hairless monkey has never really understood the whole concept of "faith", hence his reliance on household pets in lieu of invisible beings.

I'm with you on that. I have a warm and fuzzy thing purring next to me right now.

I also have inlaws who are people of faith, so I have to accept the things I don't understand.

 

[gumboot]

Odd comment coming from a Bush-Backer.

<(((><

What makes you think I'm a bush-backer?

You realise I'm not even an American, yes?

-Gumboot

 

[g4macdad]

What makes you think I'm a bush-backer?

You realise I'm not even an American, yes?

-Gumboot

Maybe this will jostle your memory.

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2502160#post2502160

Talk about contradictions.

<(((><

 

[gumboot]

maybe this will jostle your memory.

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2502160#post2502160

Talk about contradictions.

<(((><

You translate "my opinion of him has risen" with "I would vote for him"? Interesting.

That comment by him led me to believe he's not a complete and utter oblivious moron, and has a pretty decent sense of humour.

Doesn't mean I want him to marry my sister...

-Gumboot

 

[AZCat]

I'm with you on that. I have a warm and fuzzy thing purring next to me right now.

I also have inlaws who are people of faith, so I have to accept the things I don't understand.

I don't have in-laws, but I do have friends and family who are people of faith. The rule is simple: they don't bother me and I don't bother them. One grandmother though occasionally asks my mother if her children are still atheists, as if it is a "phase" we are going through.

 

[g4macdad]

You translate "my opinion of him has risen" with "I would vote for him"? Interesting.

That comment by him led me to believe he's not a complete and utter oblivious moron, and has a pretty decent sense of humour.

Doesn't mean I want him to marry my sister...

-Gumboot

So religious guys are OK as long as they exhibit no morals and are funny?

<(((><

 

[gumboot]

I don't have in-laws, but I do have friends and family who are people of faith. The rule is simple: they don't bother me and I don't bother them. One grandmother though occasionally asks my mother if her children are still atheists, as if it is a "phase" we are going through.

My Aunt is a certified Christian minister. Man how I love stirring trouble with her...

-Gumboot

 

[gumboot]

So religious guys are OK as long as they exibit no morals and are funny?

<(((><

Where do you hide all these strawmen?

-Gumboot

 

[AZCat]

My Aunt is a certified Christian minister. Man how I love stirring trouble with her...

-Gumboot

My great-uncle is a lay-something-or-other in the Episcopalian(sp?) church, but he's one of the sanest people I know. The rest of the believers are all run-of-the-mill midwestern Protestants who know well enough to stay away from certain topics when I'm back home for a visit (my profanity has been known to peel paint - quite useful when renovating a house). None of them are as much fun as your Aunt sounds...

 

[g4macdad]

Where do you hide all these strawmen?

-Gumboot

Yup! Same old tricks as your hero the Bush.

<(((><

 

[D'rok]

I don't have in-laws, but I do have friends and family who are people of faith. The rule is simple: they don't bother me and I don't bother them. One grandmother though occasionally asks my mother if her children are still atheists, as if it is a "phase" we are going through.

My side of the family is thoroughly godless. Christmas get togethers can be fun.

 

[D'rok]

Yup! Same old tricks as your hero the Bush.

<(((><

Is this supposed to be coherent?

 

[gumboot]

Yup! Same old tricks as your hero the Bush.

<(((><

Yawn...

I'm not a fan of big business, I'm not a fan of conservatives, I'm not a fan of unilateral US military action, and I'm DEFINITELY not a fan of religion.

I really can't think of anything that would inspire me to vote for George Bush in an election. Were I an American, frankly I'd move somewhere nicer... like New Zealand...

-Gumboot