| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
SpecterOpacus
Divine Intervention saves raids.
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 1551
Local time: 7:39 PM
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
  |
|
I was recently discussing with a friend about the statement I said to someone else regarding a newborn's initial knowledge being limited to only instinctual actions such as urinating or sucking. They are born with no religion, no knowledge other than instinct.
This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do.
But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how.
Yeah. >_>
_________________
"Of the voluntary acts of every man the object is some good to himself." -Thomas Hobbs
"Those who are obsessed with practice, but have no science, are like a pilot out with no tiller or compass..." -Leonardo da Vinci |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
Azrael
Celestial Teapotist
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 540
Local time: 6:39 PM
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| SpecterOpacus wrote: | I was recently discussing with a friend about the statement I said to someone else regarding a newborn's initial knowledge being limited to only instinctual actions such as urinating or sucking. They are born with no religion, no knowledge other than instinct.
This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do.
But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how.
Yeah. >_> |
This requires an experiment. First, we strap a bible to the newborn, throw it off a roof, and see if it lives. Then, we strap another to The Origin of Species and throw it off the roof. For the control we won't strap anything to one.
_________________
I'm not insane, at least that's what the voices in my head tell me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
redraiderdude187
The Madcap Laugher
Joined: 19 Jan 2007
Posts: 1152
Local time: 6:39 PM
Location: Houston, Texas
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| Azrael wrote: | | SpecterOpacus wrote: | I was recently discussing with a friend about the statement I said to someone else regarding a newborn's initial knowledge being limited to only instinctual actions such as urinating or sucking. They are born with no religion, no knowledge other than instinct.
This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do.
But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how.
Yeah. >_> |
This requires an experiment. First, we strap a bible to the newborn, throw it off a roof, and see if it lives. Then, we strap another to The Origin of Species and throw it off the roof. For the control we won't strap anything to one. |
Dead Baby jokes?!!? TOOOO SOOOOONNNNN!!!!!!!
_________________
Above the hive, beyond the lynch mob, where two and two always make four. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lumpymunk
Forum Master
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
Posts: 2190
Local time: 6:39 PM
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| SpecterOpacus wrote: | I was recently discussing with a friend about the statement I said to someone else regarding a newborn's initial knowledge being limited to only instinctual actions such as urinating or sucking. They are born with no religion, no knowledge other than instinct.
This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do.
But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how.
Yeah. >_> |
There is a line, blurred maybe, between behaviors we are biologically predispositioned to engage in and enjoy that could result in beliefs about those actions, and concepts that we are taught by elders/culture/experience/whatever. Like dropping a baby in water, it swims. Stick a tit in it's mouth, it sucks. Hand it a bible, it won't pray.
Case Closed
for more on the blank slate issue, you might get some leads here.
_________________
“Here, here's American Gladiators. Watch this, shut up, go back to bed America, here is American Gladiators, here is 56 channels of it! Watch these pituitary retards bang their fucking skulls together and congratulate you on the living in the land of freedom. Here you go America - you are free to do what well tell you! You are free to do what we tell you!” ~ B.Hicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNOPu_wU6hs |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Azrael
Celestial Teapotist
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 540
Local time: 6:39 PM
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| redraiderdude187 wrote: | | Azrael wrote: | | SpecterOpacus wrote: | I was recently discussing with a friend about the statement I said to someone else regarding a newborn's initial knowledge being limited to only instinctual actions such as urinating or sucking. They are born with no religion, no knowledge other than instinct.
This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do.
But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how.
Yeah. >_> |
This requires an experiment. First, we strap a bible to the newborn, throw it off a roof, and see if it lives. Then, we strap another to The Origin of Species and throw it off the roof. For the control we won't strap anything to one. |
Dead Baby jokes?!!? TOOOO SOOOOONNNNN!!!!!!! |
Of course for consistency we would need triplets...
_________________
I'm not insane, at least that's what the voices in my head tell me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr_C
Reckoner
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 6752
Local time: 5:39 PM
Location: Pale Blue Dot
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| SpecterOpacus wrote: | I was recently discussing with a friend about the statement I said to someone else regarding a newborn's initial knowledge being limited to only instinctual actions such as urinating or sucking. They are born with no religion, no knowledge other than instinct.
This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do.
But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how.
Yeah. >_> |
How about this for an answer:
My 3 year old wouldn't know anything about God if she hadn't been taught it. She didn't introduce the word to us, we did to her. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tonyman1989
Forum Master
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2554
Local time: 7:39 PM
Location: I was hoping you could tell me.
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| SpecterOpacus wrote: | I was recently discussing with a friend about the statement I said to someone else regarding a newborn's initial knowledge being limited to only instinctual actions such as urinating or sucking. They are born with no religion, no knowledge other than instinct.
This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do.
But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how.
Yeah. >_> |
I think it's Implicit Atheism.
| Quote: | | But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how. |
Why would they lose such important info?
_________________
"If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for a reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed." Albert Einstein
"For then we will know the mind of God." Stephen Hawking
"We admit that we are like apes, but we seldom realise that we are apes." Richard Dawkins |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
baddogma
antitheist
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 9908
Local time: 8:39 AM
Location: Colorado
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| Quote: | | This friend said that I really don't know that. I don't know what a newborn's knowledge is. I said in retort that we don't have any evidence that they do. |
Tell your friend some one in Colorado thinks they are a fucking idiot!
_________________
Join http://www.sefora.org/
Evidence>Faith |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pr126
resident misanthrope
Joined: 03 Jan 2005
Posts: 8851
Local time: 11:39 PM
Location: Londonistan
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Newborns also instinctively know the geographical location of their birth and choose a deity accordingly within seconds of exiting the birth canal.
Amazing, isn't it?
_________________
“The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody had decided not to see.” - Ayn Rand |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Moloth
Fateless
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
Posts: 23104
Local time: 6:39 PM
Location: Warner Robins, GA
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| pr126 wrote: | Newborns also instinctively know the geographical location of their birth and choose a deity accordingly within seconds of exiting the birth canal.
Amazing, isn't it? |
stop that!
_________________
-=The Believer is Happy; the Skeptic is Wise=-
www.Moloth.com
Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pr126
resident misanthrope
Joined: 03 Jan 2005
Posts: 8851
Local time: 11:39 PM
Location: Londonistan
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
baddogma
antitheist
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 9908
Local time: 8:39 AM
Location: Colorado
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You mean whispered from the baby to the father....
_________________
Join http://www.sefora.org/
Evidence>Faith |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SpecterOpacus
Divine Intervention saves raids.
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 1551
Local time: 7:39 PM
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
None of you really answered my question. Hm.
Edit: Nevermind, she got it. /sigh
_________________
"Of the voluntary acts of every man the object is some good to himself." -Thomas Hobbs
"Those who are obsessed with practice, but have no science, are like a pilot out with no tiller or compass..." -Leonardo da Vinci |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gettin' In Tune
Forum Master
Joined: 03 Aug 2007
Posts: 2678
Local time: 6:39 PM
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| SpecterOpacus wrote: | | But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how. |
Awhile back I was watching an episode of feral children; children that have been isolated and confined for years. It is a small and rare sample size and perhaps not the best control group, but these kids showed no inclination of compreheding a deity. After some time (maybe within a few years after birth) it is almost impossible to teach them a language. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SpecterOpacus
Divine Intervention saves raids.
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 1551
Local time: 7:39 PM
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Newborns are agnostic-atheist? |
|
|
| Gettin' In Tune wrote: | | SpecterOpacus wrote: | | But really, I don't know how to answer it perse. I mean, we do know that newborns aren't born with knowledge with any sort of deity or religion, I just am not sure how. |
Awhile back I was watching an episode of feral children; children that have been isolated and confined for years. It is a small and rare sample size and perhaps not the best control group, but these kids showed no inclination of compreheding a deity. After some time (maybe within a few years after birth) it is almost impossible to teach them a language. |
That is exactly what I used to show her. ;D Good eye.
_________________
"Of the voluntary acts of every man the object is some good to himself." -Thomas Hobbs
"Those who are obsessed with practice, but have no science, are like a pilot out with no tiller or compass..." -Leonardo da Vinci |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Live Video and Chat Room
Freethought Videos
FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Register
