Words of encouragement from scientism

[Laird]

I know, right?!

Yes! Right on! We've forgotten an important step though! Let's add it right in the middle:

• Impress upon these people that your beliefs, as opposed to theirs, are based upon an entirely reasonable proportioning of the evidence, and that you have studied such matters intensely and are far more knowledgeable in this respect than they are.
  

I hope that if I have missed any elements of the game that I will be duly corrected!

[Laird]

You forgot:

Put hidden messages in your posts.

Yes! Quite right! You're starting to get the hang of this! Some potential hidden messages include:

1. I am a highly intelligent, highly educated, inspiringly rational human being, and you guys are just bums who believe whatever makes you happy.
   
2. We have all been exposed to the same evidentiary material, however, you guys have come to manifestly (duh!) incorrect conclusions, whereas I have skillfully navigated the terrain and assessed it correctly. (For why, see #1 above).
   
3. Due to #1 and #2 above, I get to look down on and condescend to you all with "lol"s and the like - "hidden"... but not really!
   

[Laird]

Your kind of hidden message sounds boring.

Aw, don't be so hard on yourself.

I think the comparison is reasonable and although I have always believed in God in some form, when off-guard I often find myself thinking in materialistic terms, so I have an understanding of agnosticism and an acceptance of atheism but what I don't understand, is how atheists can't see that their own position is as much a belief as any religious position.  Observation alone cannot tell you there is no God, it can only tell you there is no evidence for God, and even then, only by your own personal interpretation of the evidence or lack thereof.

Personally, I don't accept the premise that "there is no evidence for God". It may be based on some kind of circularity, a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Even so, it holds under only limited circumstances.

However, I will add that I'm outside of traditional belief and my use of the term 'god' should not be taken to mean any particular religious figure.

[Laird]

Hopeful...

Guilt trip...