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The Debate Hall => Informal Debates => Topic started by: jorune on November 09, 2015, 05:00:16 AM

Title: God exists because God exists
Post by: jorune on November 09, 2015, 05:00:16 AM
Yes. I want to debate with an atheist on the existence of God via PM or chat because I need to do it for this one homework assignment of mine. Will any of you help?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: pr126 on November 09, 2015, 05:14:19 AM
Are you familiar with the fallacy of circular reasoning? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_reasoning)

Apart from that, which god are you referring to? There are so many.

Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Hydra009 on November 09, 2015, 05:17:08 AM
Quote from: jorune on November 09, 2015, 05:00:16 AM
Yes. I want to debate with an atheist on the existence of God via PM or chat because I need to do it for this one homework assignment of mine. Will any of you help?
(http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/you-suck-please-go-away.png)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Atheon on November 09, 2015, 06:42:00 AM
God exists; therefore god exists.

That's Argument No. 666:

http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/GodProof.htm
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: jonb on November 09, 2015, 08:00:58 AM
https://youtu.be/hnTmBjk-M0c
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: gentle_dissident on November 09, 2015, 08:41:28 AM
"If you believe, then you will believe" seems like a better argument.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: josephpalazzo on November 09, 2015, 08:48:23 AM
Better still: "how can you NOT believe, dumb atheist?!?"
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: missingnocchi on November 09, 2015, 08:58:15 AM
I hear if you say "Richard Dawkins" three times in front of a mirror at midnight, he comes out and gives a lecture on the evidence for evolution. Have you tried that?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Sal1981 on November 09, 2015, 09:41:35 AM
Weird assignment.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: PopeyesPappy on November 09, 2015, 10:56:44 AM
Quote from: jorune on November 09, 2015, 05:00:16 AM
Yes. I want to debate with an atheist on the existence of God via PM or chat because I need to do it for this one homework assignment of mine. Will any of you help?

I'm sure somebody here will consider a debate with you here on this forum in the debate hall if you agree to defend the existence of your particular god and not some vague undefined deity. Go ahead and start a thread in informal debates. State your position and make an opening statement.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Hijiri Byakuren on November 09, 2015, 01:22:16 PM

Quote from: PopeyesPappy on November 09, 2015, 10:56:44 AM
I'm sure somebody here will consider a debate with you here on this forum in the debate hall if you agree to defend the existence of your particular god and not some vague undefined deity. Go ahead and start a thread in informal debates. State your position and make an opening statement.
In fact, I'd be happy to do that just as soon as I get home.


Secretly a Warsie.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: AllPurposeAtheist on November 09, 2015, 02:05:29 PM
I'll debate.
Me: God doesn't exist
You: Yes he does.
Me: Whatever

This concludes our regularly scheduled debate. Now back to As The World Turns.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: aitm on November 09, 2015, 06:45:40 PM
ah…..class room assignment 597,949,294. Never heard of those assignments when I grew up, but damn they sure are popular the last 20 years, seems like every teacher in amurica is demanding someone argue with an atheist about the existence of their favorite color of gawd.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: TomFoolery on November 09, 2015, 07:06:40 PM
Quote from: aitm on November 09, 2015, 06:45:40 PM
ah…..class room assignment 597,949,294. Never heard of those assignments when I grew up, but damn they sure are popular the last 20 years, seems like every teacher in amurica is demanding someone argue with an atheist about the existence of their favorite color of gawd.

There are plenty of Christian schools (both primary, secondary and post secondary) that would probably propose such an assignment.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on November 09, 2015, 07:54:54 PM
I am willing, but time is short.  I could debate myself, and save us both time?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: aitm on November 09, 2015, 07:59:30 PM
Quote from: TomFoolery on November 09, 2015, 07:06:40 PM
There are plenty of Christian schools (both primary, secondary and post secondary) that would probably propose such an assignment.

Frankly I doubt that, not to be obnoxious, but the last thing Christian schools, teachers or parents want is their child being exposed to an atheist. Kinda like asking your kid to go on a date with a gay person to see what its like.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Hakurei Reimu on November 09, 2015, 08:03:40 PM
I have several questions:

Do you think that any productive discussion with having a debate?
Are you open to changing your mind, and what would you accept?
Do you have evidence that meets the standard of evidence that is required to change any one of our minds?

If not, then it's just a waste of time, because there's nothing you can put forward that has not been done so before and dismissed, and there's nothing we could tell you that you would not similarly dismiss. There is no productive debate to be had. The only thing that you would get is the opportunity to tell your teacher whatever how the debate went down, and all we get is an extra thread in our Formal Debates forum. You don't need a crystal ball to predict the obvious.

Now, we could make the debate interesting. For instance, one of us could try to argue the case for the existence of Odin, while you try to argue against same. It would be something new and interesting for once.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: TomFoolery on November 09, 2015, 08:22:19 PM
Quote from: aitm on November 09, 2015, 07:59:30 PM
Frankly I doubt that, not to be obnoxious, but the last thing Christian schools, teachers or parents want is their child being exposed to an atheist. Kinda like asking your kid to go on a date with a gay person to see what its like.

Then explain to me Christian missionary programs? Or am I just misunderstanding the idea of sending Christians in droves all over the globe to encounter (and convert) people of various religious beliefs? Not all people who have been blinded by Christian faith their whole lives meet an atheist and have their worldview rocked: it seems to me that many find it further solidifies their faith.

Many Christian colleges offer classes in philosophical worldviews (even if they are taught from a Christian perspective).
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: stromboli on November 09, 2015, 08:29:59 PM
Quote from: TomFoolery on November 09, 2015, 08:22:19 PM
Then explain to me Christian missionary programs? Or am I just misunderstanding the idea of sending Christians in droves all over the globe to encounter (and convert) people of various religious beliefs? Not all people who have been blinded by Christian faith their whole lives meet an atheist and have their worldview rocked: it seems to me that many find it further solidifies their faith.

Many Christian colleges offer classes in philosophical worldviews (even if they are taught from a Christian perspective).

Missionaries sent to countries with a secular population do poorly. The LDS (Mormon) church has downsized and closed several stakes or wards in countries like Sweden, France,  Denmark and Japan. Their best efforts are among primarily poorly educated and superstitious people in 3rd world countries. They don't convert atheists, they convert mostly people from other Christian sects, Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam.

European countries are becoming more secular, not more religious.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: aitm on November 09, 2015, 08:52:53 PM
Quote from: TomFoolery on November 09, 2015, 08:22:19 PM
Not all people who have been blinded by Christian faith their whole lives meet an atheist and have their worldview rocked: 

Adults? Yes. Sending your kids to seek out atheists? I would not think so. But hey, its possible, just never actually met a real person who had a "real" assignment from "school". 

People send their kids to sunday school because they are too lazy or too ignorant to teach them about their own religion. They send their kids to "christian" schools mainly to avoid them dark skinned people who listen to rap and cuss in school and in general are not very proper. Secondly, they think its a lot safer then public schools and due to the inherent lack of riffraff the classes are more orderly and therefore somewhat more likely to get a better education.

Its not really about religion for most of them. But non-the-less, I would like to see a parent okay a school assignment where your child is charged with engaging atheists for a spirited debate. Maybe, but I think not.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: TomFoolery on November 09, 2015, 10:05:15 PM
Quote from: stromboli on November 09, 2015, 08:29:59 PM
Missionaries sent to countries with a secular population do poorly.

Not saying they don't do poorly, but the concept of asking people to engage communities vastly different than their own for Jesus isn't a completely alien concept.

Quote from: aitm on November 09, 2015, 08:52:53 PM
Adults? Yes. Sending your kids to seek out atheists? I would not think so. But hey, its possible, just never actually met a real person who had a "real" assignment from "school". 
Having encountered that "total Christian worldview lifestyle", it's actually not that crazy. Evangelicals send their kids out there to confront abortion supporters, which is decidedly more scary than confronting atheists. They send them on mission trips. I even once had a little boy hand me a Bible tract at a grocery store. Also, watch the documentary Jesus Camp. The thought that young children are being groomed to confront challenges to the Christian faith isn't that weird. And speaking of kids...

Quote from: aitm on November 09, 2015, 08:52:53 PMIts not really about religion for most of them. But non-the-less, I would like to see a parent okay a school assignment where your child is charged with engaging atheists for a spirited debate. Maybe, but I think not.

Did the OP declare he or she was a child in a public school? I used to work next to Dallas Baptist University and there were a lot of koolaid drinkers there happy to engage in debates for Our Lord and Savior. There are deeply Christian colleges all around the country (Liberty University, Bob Jones University, Oral Roberts University...) that have no issue putting forth a confrontational Christian agenda.

That being said, I'm not saying this person isn't lying, but it seems as though everyone is making a lot of assumptions about him or her based on the notion that they had an assignment given to them. My freshman philosophy class had an assignment every week where I was supposed to ask people about sophists or Marxists or the nature of the human soul or whatever the topic was that week. Truthfully I just made responses up rather than bother people with abstract metaphysics and ethics, but the assignment was real enough.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on November 09, 2015, 10:34:02 PM
Maybe the OP simply doesn't have an actual atheist to talk to face to face.  That would work best for any assignment.  Trolling the Internets is a second choice.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: peacewithoutgod on November 10, 2015, 01:50:34 AM
Quote from: TomFoolery on November 09, 2015, 10:05:15 PM
Not saying they don't do poorly, but the concept of asking people to engage communities vastly different than their own for Jesus isn't a completely alien concept.
Having encountered that "total Christian worldview lifestyle", it's actually not that crazy. Evangelicals send their kids out there to confront abortion supporters, which is decidedly more scary than confronting atheists. They send them on mission trips. I even once had a little boy hand me a Bible tract at a grocery store. Also, watch the documentary Jesus Camp. The thought that young children are being groomed to confront challenges to the Christian faith isn't that weird. And speaking of kids...

Did the OP declare he or she was a child in a public school? I used to work next to Dallas Baptist University and there were a lot of koolaid drinkers there happy to engage in debates for Our Lord and Savior. There are deeply Christian colleges all around the country (Liberty University, Bob Jones University, Oral Roberts University...) that have no issue putting forth a confrontational Christian agenda.

That being said, I'm not saying this person isn't lying, but it seems as though everyone is making a lot of assumptions about him or her based on the notion that they had an assignment given to them. My freshman philosophy class had an assignment every week where I was supposed to ask people about sophists or Marxists or the nature of the human soul or whatever the topic was that week. Truthfully I just made responses up rather than bother people with abstract metaphysics and ethics, but the assignment was real enough.
Do you understand why the Xtians have made atheists the most hated persons in America, to be trusted even less than rapists? It's because they cannot manipulate us, they cannot change us, and that just really scares the be...er, the bejesus out of them. Missionaries don't go on missions to work the atheist groups, whom they steer clear of with much dread - they go to the most superstitious peoples and woo them over to their own superstition. Therefore, it's not surprising that the Xtians who are dumb enough to troll around here usually have profound learning disabilities, or are unusually immature.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: TomFoolery on November 10, 2015, 08:25:12 AM
Quote from: peacewithoutgod on November 10, 2015, 01:50:34 AM
Do you understand why the Xtians have made atheists the most hated persons in America, to be trusted even less than rapists?
I had no idea atheists were the most hated people in America and more hated than rapists. Is this literal, or an attempt at hyperbole?

Quote from: peacewithoutgod on November 10, 2015, 01:50:34 AMIt's because they cannot manipulate us, they cannot change us, and that just really scares the be...er, the bejesus out of them.
I think your opinion of the atheist resolve is... misguided.

Quote from: peacewithoutgod on November 10, 2015, 01:50:34 AMMissionaries don't go on missions to work the atheist groups, whom they steer clear of with much dread - they go to the most superstitious peoples and woo them over to their own superstition.
Christians host mission trips all over the world, often in impoverished areas where there are already nominal Christians but also include Buddhists, Hindus and even the nonreligious. In attempting to make fun of Christian missionaries, all you're really doing is making fun of a large part of the world's population they witness to that doesn't really deserve your ridicule. Not all poor people practice voodoo and worship turtles for fuck's sake.

Quote from: peacewithoutgod on November 10, 2015, 01:50:34 AMTherefore, it's not surprising that the Xtians who are dumb enough to troll around here usually have profound learning disabilities, or are unusually immature.
In conclusion, I had no idea you knew so much about how all Christians view all atheists, or knew so much about the demographics of the Christians that came to these forums.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: aitm on November 10, 2015, 08:36:05 AM
Well, I can only speak of my history, I have seen at the very least several hundred so called students come into atheist forums or chats under the "guise" of a school "assignment", this is directly opposite of any real life interaction with the many teachers, educators and obviously students  I have met over the last 45 ish years of awareness of such activity where I have never met a single one on said "assignment" or given said assignment. But hey, I suppose maybe one somewhere.....
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: GreatLife on November 10, 2015, 11:42:44 AM
Quote from: TomFoolery on November 10, 2015, 08:25:12 AM
I had no idea atheists were the most hated people in America and more hated than rapists. Is this literal, or an attempt at hyperbole?

No hyperbole needed, unfortunately:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1

There are tons of other links out there which prove the same thing, just another quick example:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-atheists-we-distrust/

And to present a complete picture, the most recent polls show that atheists have actually gained ground... they are now more desirable than a Socialist for President:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/25/living/atheist-president-gallup/
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Green Bottle on November 10, 2015, 11:52:47 AM
So when's the  ''debate'' startin...?

(http://i68.tinypic.com/3348dvl.jpg)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: peacewithoutgod on November 10, 2015, 03:31:44 PM
Quote from: TomFoolery on November 10, 2015, 08:25:12 AM
I had no idea atheists were the most hated people in America and more hated than rapists. Is this literal, or an attempt at hyperbole?
It's data from a poll within the last two years. Honestly, I thought everyone who frequents this community was aware of it!
Quote from: TomFoolery on November 10, 2015, 08:25:12 AM
I think your opinion of the atheist resolve is... misguided.
Ok, but what informs your opinion on that? Can you specify conversion or reconversion cases which aren't obvious shill stories? Shill-spotting is like a taxonomic excercise, but performed on the language which a person uses, and I've never seen any make this claim of "former atheism" without making it all too obvious that he never really understood atheism for what it is. For example, it sure isn't synonymous with being an irresponsible hedonist. Just because you stop going to church, that doesn't make you an atheist (**GROAN**).

Quote from: TomFoolery on November 10, 2015, 08:25:12 AM
Christians host mission trips all over the world, often in impoverished areas where there are already nominal Christians but also include Buddhists, Hindus and even the nonreligious. In attempting to make fun of Christian missionaries, all you're really doing is making fun of a large part of the world's population they witness to that doesn't really deserve your ridicule. Not all poor people practice voodoo and worship turtles for fuck's sake.
In conclusion, I had no idea you knew so much about how all Christians view all atheists, or knew so much about the demographics of the Christians that came to these forums.
Wow, that's a heady conclusion to jump to on my opinion of the people missionaries go to, based on what I said about missionaries, and not those people!

On the missionaries, their operating principles do in fact steer them to the more superstitious peoples of the world, wherever they may be - and a logical conclusion for why is that they are the easiest to convert! They really don't have to leave our country to find godless people at all, but they can keep themselves in business by going to poorer countries and setting up conversion camps.

On the people who they convert (not the people or their country as a whole): how much do you know about the superstitions of Africa and Papa New Ginea? I haven't actually been to either place, but articles from reliable sources describe some horrifically scary stuff they believe in, and this AFTER the missionaries came! Witch trials are going on right now in these countries against young girls, every time somebody gets sick, and the convicted "witches" are put to death by mob justice. Such executions have become more frequent in recent decades, not less - go google it. People who practice this terror have taken a very strict, literal interpretation of what they've found in their bibles, and they don't have the Western understanding of how we cherry-pick our interpretations. The lesson here is that introducing into a culture concepts (not just ideas) which they don't understand can be a very dangerous action.

But there's much, much more to the problem which makes them easy prey for Xtian missionaries, there is the complication of cultures with multiple religious ideas co-mingled to the point that large communities are open to anything because there are few things they have had good reason to reject. Why not, when you never worshiped a "jealous" god? Their cities are full of practicing Xtians who co-mingle in voodoo practices, as did Europe with its pagan practices for centuries after converting to Xtianity. So, how does this present a problem? Only that every African animal with large tusks is in danger of going extinct because they believe tusks give them virility, or something like that (I'll bet you had all the blame pinned on trophy hunters - I'm not defending them, but it's much more the black market for dudes who think it will cure a limp dick). Xtians among them. Oh, and don't get me started on how they deal with AIDS, and just how helpful Xtian ideas have not been with that! Of course not everyone there is that stupid, but I'm afraid you've no idea just how much stupidity rules these cultures.

Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Unbeliever on November 10, 2015, 06:03:02 PM
Considering the kind of God depicted in their Bible, I'm extremely relieved that their God doesn't exist! What it would be like to live under such a petulant godchild is too frightening to contemplate. I sometimes wish there really was a hell, so those who thought up the idea could go there.

:angry:
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: aitm on November 10, 2015, 07:01:52 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on November 10, 2015, 06:03:02 PM
Considering the kind of God depicted in their Bible, I'm extremely relieved that their God doesn't exist!

Boy howdy, could you imagine a life where a gods face juts out of the occasional cloud and sends lightning, pestilence, drought and hordes of locusts?  Holy shit, what kind of love would one give that eh?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Unbeliever on November 10, 2015, 07:13:25 PM
If such a God really existed, we'd have to destroy it.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on November 10, 2015, 07:19:41 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on November 10, 2015, 06:03:02 PM
Considering the kind of God depicted in their Bible, I'm extremely relieved that their God doesn't exist! What it would be like to live under such a petulant godchild is too frightening to contemplate. I sometimes wish there really was a hell, so those who thought up the idea could go there.

:angry:

Our ancestors were childlike in an infant terrible way.  But we are reverting to form recently.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on November 10, 2015, 07:20:11 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on November 10, 2015, 07:13:25 PM
If such a God really existed, we'd have to destroy it.

Quoting Mahayana Buddhists?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on November 10, 2015, 07:22:28 PM
Quote from: aitm on November 10, 2015, 07:01:52 PM
Boy howdy, could you imagine a life where a gods face juts out of the occasional cloud and sends lightning, pestilence, drought and hordes of locusts?  Holy shit, what kind of love would one give that eh?

I love an on-line comic called Sinfest: The Comic To End All Webcomics ... where the Bible god does something like that, usually with sock puppets.  But there are many gods in this one, including a Buddha boy and Satan.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: SoldierofFortune on November 15, 2015, 11:38:05 AM
Actually we the former religious people who turns atheism after inquisition and inquiring can't find any evidence on the existience of any god.

we honestly try to believe but wouldn't be able to do because everything is clear about bible and the god that the bible or quran deduce.. Ä°t canT be from god. it must be written by a human like us. so there is no any holy shit.

although we discovered there is no god, we didn't stop discovering the world which is only home. there is very much to discover and learn but theists thinks that only one ''book'' helps them understand the world and the nature of humanity.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: peacewithoutgod on November 15, 2015, 01:01:09 PM
Quote from: Baruch on November 10, 2015, 07:19:41 PM
Our ancestors were childlike in an infant terrible way.  But we are reverting to form recently.
WE are? No, it isn't "we", Theist! An atheist cannot possibly respond to the infantile hatred of those who won't tolerate those who will not be manipulated by them without being accused of behavior similar to theirs, but it's only because they taint us to smell like them when they throw their own shit at us.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Hijiri Byakuren on November 15, 2015, 01:47:38 PM

Quote from: peacewithoutgod on November 15, 2015, 01:01:09 PM
WE are? No, it isn't "we", Theist! An atheist cannot possibly respond to the infantile hatred of those who won't tolerate those who will not be manipulated by them without being accused of behavior similar to theirs, but it's only because they taint us to smell like them when they throw their own shit at us.
If you're implying that it's impossible for an atheist to be a mass-murdering fuckhead, history would like to have a word with you.


Secretly a Warsie.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: peacewithoutgod on November 15, 2015, 02:06:06 PM
Quote from: Hijiri Byakuren on November 15, 2015, 01:47:38 PM
If you're implying that it's impossible for an atheist to be a mass-murdering fuckhead, history would like to have a word with you.


Secretly a Warsie.
No, Warsie, that isn't the argument I'm trying to make. I thought Baruch's statement was on arguments, both philosophical and political between atheists and theists. Of course anybody can be a mass-murdering fuckhead, even if it's easier to drive religious people in that direction with the belief that they are doing good by obeying their god. When atheists lose it and harm others, they have to know it's wrong, whether or not they care.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on November 15, 2015, 02:23:07 PM
Quote from: peacewithoutgod on November 15, 2015, 02:06:06 PM
No, Warsie, that isn't the argument I'm trying to make. I thought Baruch's statement was on arguments, both philosophical and political between atheists and theists. Of course anybody can be a mass-murdering fuckhead, even if it's easier to drive religious people in that direction with the belief that they are doing good by obeying their god. When atheists lose it and harm others, they have to know it's wrong, whether or not they care.

You may be right, about dictators who claim to be atheist like Stalin or Mao.  But if they really were atheists, and whether they thought what they were doing was wrong ... is hard to determine.  Dictators tend to be secretive and don't like interviews.  You may also be right, if the myth of a particular religion, dampens the conscience of the religious asshole ... the statistics on this are much more available.  But one has to always guess if they are being honest and non-delusive when being interviewed.  And yes, I am trying for focus on "fuckhead" more than on ... they have the wrong ideology or wrong theology ... I think those are secondary ... but they are easier for us to talk about, because again, we don't necessarily know any of these "fuckheads" personally ... but their behavior is part of the public record.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Jannabear on January 09, 2016, 07:32:56 PM
Quote from: jorune on November 09, 2015, 05:00:16 AM
Yes. I want to debate with an atheist on the existence of God via PM or chat because I need to do it for this one homework assignment of mine. Will any of you help?
I'll debate you, and by the way, god exists because god exists doesn't make any sense, elves exist because elves exist, magical butt plugs exist because magical butt plugs exist, under your logic I can justify the belief in the illuminati, flying dildos, pretty much any bullshit that pops into my head.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on January 09, 2016, 08:40:57 PM
You may be waiting awhile on the field of honor ... most people find an excuse not to use this end of the forum.  And remember kids, don't use an electric butt plug while in water, not even if it is UL rated ;-)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: kevin007 on January 10, 2016, 04:43:01 AM
I would ask if you could change your assignment to something reality based, something that may help you in the future..
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: josephpalazzo on January 10, 2016, 08:13:11 AM
Typical trolling tactic: I have a homework on ... (fill in the blanks), can anyone help me?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: SGOS on January 10, 2016, 08:47:19 AM
His actual assignment was to find out how many responses he could get from a single post in an atheist forum.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: shynes0086 on April 06, 2016, 10:52:45 PM
You can math debate.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on April 06, 2016, 11:11:11 PM
Quote from: shynes0086 on April 06, 2016, 10:52:45 PM
You can math debate.

Debate on!  Math = maths in England ;-)  Which is more correct?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Hijiri Byakuren on April 07, 2016, 11:30:59 AM
Quote from: Baruch on April 06, 2016, 11:11:11 PM
Debate on!  Math = maths in England ;-)  Which is more correct?
"Math" is the first four letters of "mathematics" and therefore is the correct abbreviation. Anyone who says otherwise is a poopyhead.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Unbeliever on April 07, 2016, 06:51:49 PM
A theistic type of God can't logically exist, due to the many incompatible properties (http://infidels.org/library/modern/theodore_drange/incompatible.html) it would possess.


If it cannot logically exist, then it does not, in fact, exist.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on April 07, 2016, 07:44:15 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on April 07, 2016, 06:51:49 PM
A theistic type of God can't logically exist, due to the many incompatible properties (http://infidels.org/library/modern/theodore_drange/incompatible.html) it would possess.


If it cannot logically exist, then it does not, in fact, exist.

Alas your education doesn't yet include non-standard logics, such as fuzzy logic.  Though some people must already know it, since their thinking is so fuzzy ;-)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Nateswoodworks on April 09, 2016, 11:00:56 PM
I have to admit I am confused and disappointed. I am confused as to why you have a debate section asking others to debate, believers and not; but then ridicule when the invite is accepted. I am confused on why bother declaring rules that one must agree to if those same rules will not be upheld.
Most of all I am disappointed; if what I have seen here is a representation of what exists in the debates; than what is the point? Isn't the existence of a debate forum to invite and house debates; not to just mock and attempt to overwhelm? I ,like many, like to have intelligent and respectful debates; I hope that I am not alone on this.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: stromboli on April 09, 2016, 11:29:50 PM
Quote from: Nateswoodworks on April 09, 2016, 11:00:56 PM
I have to admit I am confused and disappointed. I am confused as to why you have a debate section asking others to debate, believers and not; but then ridicule when the invite is accepted. I am confused on why bother declaring rules that one must agree to if those same rules will not be upheld.
Most of all I am disappointed; if what I have seen here is a representation of what exists in the debates; than what is the point? Isn't the existence of a debate forum to invite and house debates; not to just mock and attempt to overwhelm? I ,like many, like to have intelligent and respectful debates; I hope that I am not alone on this.


Not personally a debater, but put the shoe on the other foot for a minute. We are atheists. We are a minority. Most of the time the first 2 pages of a thread are trying to explain what atheism is, because the prevailing attitude is that atheism is a religion, we are pagans, satanic, hate god and a whole laundry list of false ideas. They also almost universally insist that morality comes from god-it doesn't- and we've proved that. The last theist, Little Nipper, either didn't respond to or address or even read any of the links we provided- quite a number of them in fact.

And if you are disappointed that we have a defensive attitude or mock people, its because we deal with the continual narrow minded unquestioning belief in dogma and beliefs that they cannot prove, period.

Now if you want to debate, simply state the topic and and request a debate.

QuoteWritten with truth, compassion, and kindness as a Christian wanting nothing more than to share the invite.

Nice sig. Why don't you explain that to the righteous Christian in Colorado Springs that killed people at a Planned Parenthood clinic or the last gay man that got tossed off a building in Syria, or the gays hunted down and killed in Africa or the women being executed for witchcraft. By Christians.

Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on April 10, 2016, 08:24:48 AM
The format of "informal debate" is self-contradictory.  Really if one wants to debate, it should be in the formal section.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: stromboli on April 10, 2016, 10:27:34 AM
Quote from: Baruch on April 10, 2016, 08:24:48 AM
The format of "informal debate" is self-contradictory.  Really if one wants to debate, it should be in the formal section.

Would actually agree with that. We do a lot of "informal" debating that really isn't. I think that any one wanting to debate an issue with a  particular individual should request it. As I said I'm not a debater, but it should be done in an organized way.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on April 10, 2016, 12:56:37 PM
Quote from: stromboli on April 10, 2016, 10:27:34 AM
Would actually agree with that. We do a lot of "informal" debating that really isn't. I think that any one wanting to debate an issue with a  particular individual should request it. As I said I'm not a debater, but it should be done in an organized way.

Debates also have to be one-on-one ... no gang banging ;-)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Mike Cl on April 10, 2016, 04:02:11 PM
Nates, your sig: "Written with truth, compassion, and kindness as a Christian wanting nothing more than to share the invite.', raises red flags for me.

I assume you are trying to show that you are a reasonable, compassionate and kind person--one who likes to discuss things about religion.  That is laudable, I guess.  But your 'written with truth' statement is a bit much for me to swallow.  Since you have identified yourself as a christian I would suggest your 'truth' to be quite the opposite for me.  Your truth is baseless since it is based on belief and not empirical evidence.  And that statement puts my hackles up a bit--in case you cannot tell.  You are making a flat statement with the intent I should accept it.  Well, I cannot--and I contend that your truth is simply a lie you chose to accept as truth.  Maybe you could show that I am wrong in that--but I doubt it. 

I will not accept you with open arms.  But I will treat you with the same courtesy you show me.  I am willing to discuss anything you'd like.  But I don't know about an official debate. 
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: doorknob on April 10, 2016, 05:11:31 PM
Um Christians seem to think that logic and science are mocking them when they become frustrated that logic and facts do not agree with their religion. The Christians that get kicked off the forum are people who did not come here to debate but to preach to us. We don't take kindly to that. It's against the rules.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: alexxmedeiros on October 14, 2016, 12:12:00 AM
Quote from: Unbeliever on April 07, 2016, 06:51:49 PM
A theistic type of God can't logically exist, due to the many incompatible properties (http://infidels.org/library/modern/theodore_drange/incompatible.html) it would possess.


If it cannot logically exist, then it does not, in fact, exist.

Are you saying that it is impossible for the Christian God to exist?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Hijiri Byakuren on October 14, 2016, 08:30:57 AM
Quote from: alexxmedeiros on October 14, 2016, 12:12:00 AM
Are you saying that it is impossible for the Christian God to exist?
Every god humans have come up with (including Yahweh) has specific feats attributed to them. Since we can often prove that these feats never happened, it's pretty easy to conclude that the gods they are attributed to also don't exist.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Mike Cl on October 14, 2016, 09:53:08 AM
Quote from: alexxmedeiros on October 14, 2016, 12:12:00 AM
Are you saying that it is impossible for the Christian God to exist?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah, that sounds reasonable.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Cavebear on October 15, 2016, 09:10:20 AM
Well perhaps we could all just agree there are no deities of any form or nature and save him some time?  LOL!
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Cavebear on October 15, 2016, 09:55:18 AM
Or you could make him do his own homework...  I got trapped in that by some kid who was SUPPOSED to be researching seed germination and found the gardening site I was at, at the time and just kept asking questions.  LOL!
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Gregory on April 06, 2020, 04:37:56 AM
If God exists, my whole life is a lie.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on April 06, 2020, 12:25:14 PM
Quote from: Gregory on April 06, 2020, 04:37:56 AM
If God exists, my whole life is a lie.

You are a Cretan (a person from Crete).  In ancient times, the regular paradox was "I am a Cretan" ... because it was popularly believed that all Cretan are liars ;-)

G-d doesn't exist.  For the same reason that radio programs don't exist.  Only material exists (if we include radio waves as being materialist).  Human thought for that same reason, and software ... also don't exist.  Neural activity exists, but that isn't thought.  Electrical impulses in a computer exist, but that isn't software.  This is why AI is a lie, even if your life isn't.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: SoldierofFortune on April 08, 2020, 08:16:22 PM
If god exists, why not to show itself...

Is this the life we are living an exam whether we believe or not and according to our belief and way of life, we will be rewarded or punished afterlife.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on April 10, 2020, 12:33:56 PM
Quote from: SoldierofFortune on April 08, 2020, 08:16:22 PM
If god exists, why not to show itself...

Is this the life we are living an exam whether we believe or not and according to our belief and way of life, we will be rewarded or punished afterlife.

I see and hear G-d all the time.  If you define water as not wet, then when you shower, you don't get wet.  Or are you "all wet"?

No, life isn't an exam.  It is purgatory.  Have you made your bed yet?  Shaved?  Taken a dump?  You have N days to do these things over and over until you get them right ;-)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: SoldierofFortune on October 03, 2020, 06:17:14 AM
God exists bcs I say so.

Argument from authority
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on October 03, 2020, 06:48:31 AM
Quote from: SoldierofFortune on October 03, 2020, 06:17:14 AM
God exists bcs I say so.

Argument from authority

human = demi-god, so you or I have that authority, given self awareness.  Politicians and clergy are not legitimate authorities nor are they self aware.  The sabbath was made by man for man.  G-d is a useful strawman for any authority.  Brahman vs atman vs jiva.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: aitm on October 03, 2020, 08:24:53 AM
I am not impressed by a god who threatens punishment to his followers for behaviors he uses openly and often. Who does he think he is...Donald Trump?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Cassia on October 03, 2020, 09:37:27 AM
Quote from: aitm on October 03, 2020, 08:24:53 AM
I am not impressed by a god who threatens punishment to his followers for behaviors he uses openly and often. Who does he think he is...Donald Trump?
I am evaluating whether a god of some type is even possible. That is to say I am slowly becoming a strong atheist. I can not find a testable definition of any "god". The lists of attributed characteristics often oppose each other and require supernatural exceptions to be true. I do still believe non supernatural but super advanced aliens are possible and probable.

So is anything "supernatural" even possible? There is ZERO evidence supporting anything supernatural. Just because we can think about gods (or even about ourselves), imagine gods, and dream about gods doesn't add one iota of evidence towards anything supernatural.

However my conclusions buck the cohesion of the tribe. People united in belief are powerful even if the beliefs are nonsense. In fact, the beliefs are more effective if they are nonsense and unique to the group. Cooperation amongst large groups of us has allowed Homo Sapiens to dominate the planet (alongside insects, who often cooperate as well).
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on October 03, 2020, 10:33:27 AM
Quote from: aitm on October 03, 2020, 08:24:53 AM
I am not impressed by a god who threatens punishment to his followers for behaviors he uses openly and often. Who does he think he is...Donald Trump?

Getting mad at somebody else's invisible big brother ... is kind of silly too.

@Cassia, you aren't doing anything wrong, by being you (and this applies to everyone else).

If one defines natural as everything, then there is no supernatural.  But in pre-modern times, there was no dichotomy between natural and supernatural, that is a modern meme, that gradually expanded over time.  To a pre-modern, there is no word for natural or supernatural.  Things just are.  There is no word for religion, because that is just "how we live".  It is very hard, for a modern person, to think like an ancestor, nor would most want to (they want to be a Vulcan like Spock).  I happen to be into this way of thinking however.  Took me until I was 58 to reach this understanding (meta-rhetoric).  And it definitely helps me understand my Native neighbors.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Mike Cl on October 03, 2020, 10:58:15 AM
Quote from: Cassia on October 03, 2020, 09:37:27 AM
I am evaluating whether a god of some type is even possible. That is to say I am slowly becoming a strong atheist. I can not find a testable definition of any "god". The lists of attributed characteristics often oppose each other and require supernatural exceptions to be true. I do still believe non supernatural but super advanced aliens are possible and probable.

So is anything "supernatural" even possible? There is ZERO evidence supporting anything supernatural. Just because we can think about gods (or even about ourselves), imagine gods, and dream about gods doesn't add one iota of evidence towards anything supernatural.

However my conclusions buck the cohesion of the tribe. People united in belief are powerful even if the beliefs are nonsense. In fact, the beliefs are more effective if they are nonsense and unique to the group. Cooperation amongst large groups of us has allowed Homo Sapiens to dominate the planet (alongside insects, who often cooperate as well).

Supernatural--not possible.  Sort of like the term 'natural' on products.  Anything we can make is natural since we use the stuff our universe has supplied to us--everything is natural.  Since that is true, then there cannot be anything supernatural. 

And I like your observation on 'groups'.  They are helpful--for sure!  I find it interesting that humans find it hard to unite tightly under the banner of love, consideration, equality, ---add other positive attributes as you see fit.  Yet humans can be united fairly easily under nonsense and hate and fear.  Maybe evolution has taught us too well that groups can survive better if united against predators or others.  So, maybe we atheists and humanists  types are fighting evolution as well as nonsense.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on October 03, 2020, 06:45:43 PM
Quote from: Mike Cl on October 03, 2020, 10:58:15 AM
Supernatural--not possible.  Sort of like the term 'natural' on products.  Anything we can make is natural since we use the stuff our universe has supplied to us--everything is natural.  Since that is true, then there cannot be anything supernatural. 

And I like your observation on 'groups'.  They are helpful--for sure!  I find it interesting that humans find it hard to unite tightly under the banner of love, consideration, equality, ---add other positive attributes as you see fit.  Yet humans can be united fairly easily under nonsense and hate and fear.  Maybe evolution has taught us too well that groups can survive better if united against predators or others.  So, maybe we atheists and humanists  types are fighting evolution as well as nonsense.

Which love?  Eros leads to competition over women or gay lovers.  Agape is too abstract.  Philos is a man willing to die for another man.  Originally a man defending his family was the same as defending his property.  Today, let the women put on scanty armor and be Wonder Bitch ;-)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Unbeliever on October 03, 2020, 07:45:14 PM
Quote from: aitm on October 03, 2020, 08:24:53 AM
I am not impressed by a god who threatens punishment to his followers for behaviors he uses openly and often. Who does he think he is...Donald Trump?

Either God is Trump or Trump is God, according to all those sTRUMPets.
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on October 03, 2020, 08:08:34 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on October 03, 2020, 07:45:14 PM
Either God is Trump or Trump is God, according to all those sTRUMPets.

Sorry, Biden in blackface is your mammy ;-)
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Unbeliever on October 14, 2020, 02:35:40 PM
And you're the poison that has driven people from this forum with your blatherskite. Has that been your intention all along? Did you figure that if you spewed enough crap the posters here would be so disgusted that they'd go elsewhere for real discussion?

Well, given the number of people who we no longer hear from, it's been working.

Will you be more happy when we're all gone, when you'll have the place all to yourself?
Title: Re: God exists because God exists
Post by: Baruch on October 14, 2020, 04:20:23 PM
Quote from: Unbeliever on October 14, 2020, 02:35:40 PM
And you're the poison that has driven people from this forum with your blatherskite. Has that been your intention all along? Did you figure that if you spewed enough crap the posters here would be so disgusted that they'd go elsewhere for real discussion?

Well, given the number of people who we no longer hear from, it's been working.

Will you be more happy when we're all gone, when you'll have the place all to yourself?

Poison?  Stalin did nothing wrong.  All things pass, a web site for kvetching Boomers will run out of Boomers some day.  As it should.  The X-Gen and Millennials will have to do their own thing.

You have a much better like to post ratio than I have.  So salty are your tears ;-)