Profiling the atheist

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(2018-11-19, 07:54 AM)malf Wrote: The Skeptics Guide to the Universe Podcast have an interesting segment on crafting a naturalistic metaphysic this week with guest philosopher Devin Bray. 

https://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/697

The conversation begins at just past the hour mark

I'll check it out - but just to be clear my point wasn't there exists no naturalist metaphysics but rather the very disputes of what is the right metaphysics (along with varied pictures of science with respect to Consciousness/Causality/Information/etc) leave reasonable persons to fall across a spectrum of positions on how they judge the anecdotal component of paranormal phenomenon.

OTOH, I'd agree that this same dispute leaves arguments like those of the aforemention theologian Edward Feser for a metaphysics in support of his brand theism/sin/conservatism as ones that can also be discarded by reasonable people. Same with any other view point - New Age Witchery, Buddhism, etc.

That all such claims to the Ground of reality can be discarded - to an extent - by reasonable people invites, at least in these matters, a certain regard for secular ideals in democracy. Part of what I was referring to when I suggested Skeptics should push for their political aims directly insofar as these aims are Reasonable rather than trying to exclusively grab the the "Iron Throne" of Rationality.
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'

- Bertrand Russell


(This post was last modified: 2018-11-22, 03:58 AM by Sciborg_S_Patel.)
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  • Oleo
The author of the blog should have renamed this post, "How to build a giant strawman." Echo-chamber masturbation. That said, no doubt queue the back-slapping and high-fives from the church of the anti-atheists. Talk about some low-hanging fruit! 
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  • fls
https://youtu.be/Y201QzDdzbg

I'm not very good at these issues but this video seems only talk about the problem one way.I am a young atheist , but I would not have to deny God's existence because we cannot deny that there may be a higher force that exists,The idea of atheist was nothing wrong but I met many people who were atheist act as religion pointed out the mistake of religion but forget about themself as a religion
(This post was last modified: 2019-01-08, 05:41 PM by Vy Chấn Hải.)
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Does it really make sense to refer to any group based on a set of ideas, as a "religion" (other than metaphorically)? In the absence of worship of some sort of supernatural entity or a faith which seems unjustified, why call something a "religion"?
(2018-11-15, 01:36 AM)Steve001 Wrote: What your supposed to do is acknowledge you could be wrong. I find your utter incapacity to acknowledge you could be wrong just as irritating.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! ROFL   Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee ! LOL

With not a hint of of irony either!!! ROFL

Oh help me - I can't stop laughing! ROFL
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(2019-01-08, 11:19 AM)Brian Wrote: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! ROFL   Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee ! LOL

With not a hint of of irony either!!! ROFL

Oh help me - I can't stop laughing! ROFL

An utterly stupid thing to say. And I'd bet you have no idea why.
(2019-01-07, 01:14 PM)fls Wrote: Does it really make sense to refer to any group based on a set of ideas, as a "religion" (other than metaphorically)? In the absence of worship of some sort of supernatural entity or a faith which seems unjustified, why call something a "religion"?

Maybe they don't worship a supernatural entity at all, but I can see dogma things and the worship people like Dawkin. Maybe I used the word of religion right here, but in addition to not supernatural stuff I don't see a difference.
Not to be confused I do not call all atheist act like religious people.
Buddhism is quite bizarre they are still considered a cult although a large part of them seems impossible to be considered a supernatural belief, but they can still be called religious or perhaps being confused by the meaning of religion from Here because I am quite bad english.
(This post was last modified: 2019-01-08, 05:44 PM by Vy Chấn Hải.)
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(2019-01-08, 04:03 PM)Steve001 Wrote: An utterly stupid thing to say. And I'd bet you have no idea why.

 Can't call something stupid just by the thing you believe it is stupid  Smile
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(2019-01-08, 05:38 PM)Vy Chấn Hải Wrote:  Can't call something stupid just by the thing you believe it is stupid  Smile

I used the wrong word. I should have used ignorant. I was saying to him he is uninformed about my position.
I wonder how much of what drives some skeptics is simple envy?

Sometimes people see others taking comfort in something like an afterlife and because they cannot feel the same they want to spread their misery.
'Historically, we may regard materialism as a system of dogma set up to combat orthodox dogma...Accordingly we find that, as ancient orthodoxies disintegrate, materialism more and more gives way to scepticism.'

- Bertrand Russell



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