Why I Could Conceivably Become a Theist

[Twiler]

Various theists here have indicate that evidence, logic, morals and so forth are irrelevant when assessing a faith, because cosmic deities are unconcerned with such foibles. They speak of opening our eyes..

Now, I don't see why I should spend any time searching for signs from any specific deity, that would seem unfair. If they are in fact unconcerned with evidence, logic and morals, then I see no way to tell where to start the search. Thus, I will continue to hold the default position of atheism.

If, however, a deity delivers an unmistakable demonstration of his/her/its existence, then I would become a theist. I don't know what this could be, as I can't imagine any demonstartion that couldn't be put down to a hallucination. I assume that this wouldn't be a problem to any actual deity that exists.

I would not, however, support that deity until I could be assured of its good intentions.

 

[Complexity]

If you personally experienced something that persuaded you that there is some form of supernatural creature, you are having a stroke, hallucinating, or suffering some form of mental illness.

 

[SOdhner]

If you personally experienced something that persuaded you that there is some form of supernatural creature, you are having a stroke, hallucinating, or suffering some form of mental illness.

As a card-carrying deist, I heartily endorse this statement.

I'll add one more possibility, though, which is that one of the beasties I bred in my lab could get loose and cause a stir. People aren't used to hairless winged cheetas that have been engineered to be bioluminescent. I would understand some confusion.

 

[Complexity]

I thought you said 'cheetos'.

Changes a lot.

 

[SOdhner]

I thought you said 'cheetos'.

Changes a lot.

Less than you would think.

 

[Brian-M]

As a card-carrying deist, I heartily endorse this statement.

May I see this card?

 

[Darth Rotor]

If, however, a deity delivers an unmistakable demonstration of his/her/its existence, then I would become a theist. I don't know what this could be, as I can't imagine any demonstartion that couldn't be put down to a hallucination. I assume that this wouldn't be a problem to any actual deity that exists.

A reasonable position to take.

I would not, however, support that deity until I could be assured of its good intentions.

You may or may not retain that position if part A comes to fruition.

DR

 

[SOdhner]

May I see this card?

No. The card is so ill-defined and vague that it's impossible to see. Still, even though I have absolutely no reason to do so I believe it's in my wallet.

 

[Brian-M]

Ah, a God-metaphor card. Carry on.

 

[quixotecoyote]

I've got a pope card, does that count?

 

[Trent Wray]

Various theists here have indicate that evidence, logic, morals and so forth are irrelevant when assessing a faith, because cosmic deities are unconcerned with such foibles. They speak of opening our eyes..

Now, I don't see why I should spend any time searching for signs from any specific deity, that would seem unfair. If they are in fact unconcerned with evidence, logic and morals, then I see no way to tell where to start the search. Thus, I will continue to hold the default position of atheism.

If, however, a deity delivers an unmistakable demonstration of his/her/its existence, then I would become a theist. I don't know what this could be, as I can't imagine any demonstartion that couldn't be put down to a hallucination. I assume that this wouldn't be a problem to any actual deity that exists.

I would not, however, support that deity until I could be assured of its good intentions.

I think this is a good point (the highlighted portion). Let's say that the god of the bible appears and proves his existence, for example. Why should we trust that God? And what I wonder, is what that says about those who would bow down out of fear or those who would stand up and demand answers before following (assuming we were given a choice). But I'm not sure what it would say about a person is anything ... ?

 

[Meadmaker]

A reasonable position to take.

You may or may not retain that position if part A comes to fruition.

DR

If I see some long haired dude appearing in the clouds, with a whole lot of winged friends, one of whom blows a big trumpet blast as they start descending Earthward, I think I would decide to instantly repent of all my sins, chief amonst which, at that point, would be unbelief and blasphemy.

Of course, my logical mind would tell me that it was an hallucination, and my cynical self would question the good intentions of what appears to be the Lord of Hosts making a second, more spectacular, incarnation. However, my practical side would note that I couldn't go too far wrong with an instant change in my atheist ways.

If I saw something that convinced me I had miscalculated the odds on Pascal's wager, I think I would switch my bet.

 

[Complexity]

If I see some long haired dude appearing in the clouds, with a whole lot of winged friends, one of whom blows a big trumpet blast as they start descending Earthward, I think I would decide to instantly repent of all my sins, chief amonst which, at that point, would be unbelief and blasphemy.

Of course, my logical mind would tell me that it was an hallucination, and my cynical self would question the good intentions of what appears to be the Lord of Hosts making a second, more spectacular, incarnation. However, my practical side would note that I couldn't go too far wrong with an instant change in my atheist ways.

If I saw something that convinced me I had miscalculated the odds on Pascal's wager, I think I would switch my bet.

I'm afraid that this is exactly the position that I would expect you to take.

It is not a rational, moral, or ethical position.

 

[154]

If, however, a deity delivers an unmistakable demonstration of his/her/its existence, then I would become a theist. I don't know what this could be, as I can't imagine any demonstartion that couldn't be put down to a hallucination. I assume that this wouldn't be a problem to any actual deity that exists.

I would not, however, support that deity until I could be assured of its good intentions.

If I see some long haired dude appearing in the clouds, with a whole lot of winged friends, one of whom blows a big trumpet blast as they start descending Earthward, I think I would decide to instantly repent of all my sins, chief amonst which, at that point, would be unbelief and blasphemy.

Of course, my logical mind would tell me that it was an hallucination, and my cynical self would question the good intentions of what appears to be the Lord of Hosts making a second, more spectacular, incarnation. However, my practical side would note that I couldn't go too far wrong with an instant change in my atheist ways.

If you are, or get, familiar with the prophetic scenarios,
you will probably have some cause and opportunities for reflection and reconsideration,
and maybe soon.

 

[Complexity]

If you are, or get, familiar with the prophetic scenarios,
you will probably have some cause and opportunities for reflection and reconsideration,
and maybe soon.

What utter nonsense.

 

[advancedatheist]

If, however, a deity delivers an unmistakable demonstration of his/her/its existence, then I would become a theist.

However, the existence of a creator god doesn't imply that life has to have any meaning or purpose. A god could, without logical contradiction, have created human life without those qualities.

 

[Aepervius]

If you personally experienced something that persuaded you that there is some form of supernatural creature, you are having a stroke, hallucinating, or suffering some form of mental illness.

Or some mega powerful alien creature is playing god for his own interrest , to have for example easy sklave.

Granted this has a, shall we say, extremly low probability of hapenning, but if I experienced something as described by the OP, I would think "alien playing me trick" would have a higher probability than "god is giving me evidence" (although admitely many order of magnitude lower than the other reason you cited).

 

[Mirrorglass]

I would not, however, support that deity until I could be assured of its good intentions.

I agree with the rest of your post, but I think you forgot something important. At least the Christian God seems to have some very bad intentions for nonbelievers. I would consider this good enough reason to serve Him, if He existed - even if He was just as big jerk as fundamentalist Christians say.

 

[Cavemonster]

I would believe in a god if provided with a model of the universe including a god that had better explanatory and predictive power than the models we now use.

I would ascribe to that god only the qualities essential to or discoverable through that model.

The same thing we do with subatomic particles, distant planets, and new insect species.

It's not impossible, but current observations hold no hints of such a model being useful, and our whole history of observation makes it vanishingly unlikely that such a god would be much like the one described by any major religion.

 

[Twiler]

I agree with the rest of your post, but I think you forgot something important. At least the Christian God seems to have some very bad intentions for nonbelievers. I would consider this good enough reason to serve Him, if He existed - even if He was just as big jerk as fundamentalist Christians say.

People - including deities - won't learn to be different unless you tell them they're wrong,