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AceMgy
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Joined: 09 May 2008
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 Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: Hello |
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Well I've lurked for a bit and have decided that this is a good forum to add to my list. I've been an atheist for a good while now, but only recently have realized that, classifying myself as "extremely agnostic" previously. I'm studying physics/math at a university and hope to make an academic career out of it. I really get absorbed in gravity and could see myself doing work in quantum gravity (the LHC coming online is damn exciting!) or other physics disciplines. Quantum computing is also bizzare enough to peak my interests.
Right now I'm studying like hell for finals (technically taking a break) and wondering how the hell I'm going to get my dorm room clean in time for checkout. Sometimes I wish we didn't have to spend nearly half the year from school as I really love learning, sometimes locking myself in the library for hours. That reminds me there's some books I have to find if I don't want late fees...
So anyways looking forward to posting here. |
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RyanDzundza
Sock Puppet
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 4505
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:33 am Post subject: |
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welcome to the forums,
your potential intellect scares me 
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Felix
The Flying Humanist
Joined: 15 Feb 2008
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:35 am Post subject: |
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welcome Ace. hopefully you will be able to explain to me some of this quantum stuff it is very interesting but sometimes its just way over my head. I think I saw a video of Michio Kaku talking about quantum computers where you can run a computer with atoms instead of silicon some how. well anyways welcome to the forum.
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AceMgy
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Joined: 09 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| Felix wrote: | | welcome Ace. hopefully you will be able to explain to me some of this quantum stuff it is very interesting but sometimes its just way over my head. I think I saw a video of Michio Kaku talking about quantum computers where you can run a computer with atoms instead of silicon some how. well anyways welcome to the forum. |
Richard Feynman was once quoted as saying "If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don't understand quantum mechanics." This is profoundly true, and as an undergrad I hardly think I can help you gain more understanding in such a counterintuitive subject! I'll definitely give it my best shot, though...
Bah, can any math nerds more advanced than I tell me if the set of all infinite sequences of natural numbers is countable or not? I'm betting on no, but can't seem to prove it. |
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Raskolnikov
The Axe Murderer
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
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Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Welcome.
I do have one question though. How can someone be "extremely agnostic"? You claim that we cannot know if god exists or not twelve times more than another agnostic?
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"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, underwhich weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God, for if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."
-Thomas Jefferson
"The future is not set in stone. The future is what you make it. So make it a good one!"
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AceMgy
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| Raskolnikov wrote: | Welcome.
I do have one question though. How can someone be "extremely agnostic"? You claim that we cannot know if god exists or not twelve times more than another agnostic? |
It was something of my own invention more or less, hence the quotation marks. It was based around the assumption that a true agnostic claimed that God has a 50/50 chance of being real, and I as an extremely agnostic would see it more as 99% chance no God / 1% chance God (though I never thought about people taking it the other way). It wasn't until I realized that Atheists don't profess a 100% certainty that God doesn't exist. We have to admit that it is possible, as is true with any of the infinite unfalsifiable theories out there *insert celestial teapot reference here*, but we are so certain that we can confidently say he doesn't exist. Additionally, there is not a single mystery of the universe where implicating a "God" would help things, so no need to invent one. |
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Moloth
Coin Operated Boy
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: |
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| AceMgy wrote: | | Raskolnikov wrote: | Welcome.
I do have one question though. How can someone be "extremely agnostic"? You claim that we cannot know if god exists or not twelve times more than another agnostic? |
It was something of my own invention more or less, hence the quotation marks. It was based around the assumption that a true agnostic claimed that God has a 50/50 chance of being real, and I as an extremely agnostic would see it more as 99% chance no God / 1% chance God (though I never thought about people taking it the other way). It wasn't until I realized that Atheists don't profess a 100% certainty that God doesn't exist. We have to admit that it is possible, as is true with any of the infinite unfalsifiable theories out there *insert celestial teapot reference here*, but we are so certain that we can confidently say he doesn't exist. Additionally, there is not a single mystery of the universe where implicating a "God" would help things, so no need to invent one. |
really, here;s the question: do you actively believe in a deity? no? then you are a-theist: without belief.
EDIT: also... "theism" and "gnosticism" are two different topics entirely. theism=belief. gnostic=knowledge.
for instance, I am an agnostic atheist. i have no knowledge of a deity nor do i have belief in one. i have no belief in a deity BECAUSE i have no knowledge in one.
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Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total |
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