@kellyjay said"If there isn't a creator, none it matters"
If there isn't a creator, none it matters; whatever we come up with will be no different than someone else's views, just another opinion. While if God is real, as God, He doesn't require a study to look at all of the variables to see which one makes the most sense. A make-believe God would still be us, attempting to put another layer of validation on our views, it is true because my God said so, or the gods said so.
I disagree.
A make-believe God would still be us, attempting to put another layer of validation on our views, it is true because my God said so, or the gods said so.
You spend a lot of time applying a "layer of validation on [your] views" while asserting "it is true because [your] God said so".
@fmf saidI use logic, history, as well as scripture, yes. If what I say has contradictions, call me out; truth will not contradict itself.
"If there isn't a creator, none it matters"
I disagree.
A make-believe God would still be us, attempting to put another layer of validation on our views, it is true because my God said so, or the gods said so.
You spend a lot of time applying a "layer of validation on [your] views" while asserting "it is true because [your] God said so".
@fmf saidAre we leaving the OP to talk about me now?
"If there isn't a creator, none it matters"
I disagree.
A make-believe God would still be us, attempting to put another layer of validation on our views, it is true because my God said so, or the gods said so.
You spend a lot of time applying a "layer of validation on [your] views" while asserting "it is true because [your] God said so".
@avalanchethecat saidSimilarly, I would ask: do we need to make sense of life?
Why do you think that our life and existence needs to make sense?
@ghost-of-a-duke saidMaybe we should back up and define "purpose" -- because some prior or external intentionality seems to be implied here.
Personally, I don't think our own purpose goes any further than survival and procreation.
@fmf saidHas anyone ever suggested that you should squirt mustard up your nostrils?
I have never suggested that your faith is unthinking or not based on religious texts.
If not, they should have (in my view).
@fmf said"it is true because [your] God said so".
We're talking about your personal opinions and the things you asserted in your post addressed to me, are we not? How are we "leaving the OP"?
If you make me part of the discussion then you make me part of the discussion. If we are talking about life in general I don't need to personally call you out, as you did me.
@kellyjay saidIf you are sharing your personal perspectives and opinions, then you are making yourself part of the discussion, regardless of whether you are talking about "life in general" or a very specific assertion about the reality in which we live. I did not "personally call you out". I simply responded to what you said. It is a discussion forum, after all. There is no need to be so brittle.
If you make me part of the discussion then you make me part of the discussion. If we are talking about life in general I don't need to personally call you out, as you did me.
@fmf saidThere's no need to call anyone brittle, you arrogant jackass.
If you are sharing your personal perspectives and opinions, then you are making yourself part of the discussion, regardless of whether you are talking about "life in general" or a very specific assertion about the reality in which we live. I did not "personally call you out". I simply responded to what you said. It is a discussion forum, after all. There is no need to be so brittle.
@eladar saidMmm. I don't think it's as simple as that when it comes to belief in supernatural things. I don't think someone who believes in Jesus, for example, can decide or choose not to. I think people realize that they believe things or realize they don't. It's not a point at which a decision is made. I don't think what someone "wants" in this regard has much bearing on what they believe.
Can you believe whatever you want to believe? Of course.
@fmf saidDespite wanting to squirt mustard, horseradish, and ghost-pepper sauce up your nostrils, I'll admit I agree it's more likely than not that there are suprapersonal meshes involved in what we believe and disbelieve.
Mmm. I don't think it's as simple as that when it comes to belief in supernatural things. I don't think someone who believes in Jesus, for example, can decide or choose not to. I think people realize that they believe things or realize they don't. It's not a point at which a decision is made. I don't think what someone "wants" in this regard has much bearing on what they believe.
@fmf saidIt is as simple as that.
Mmm. I don't think it's as simple as that when it comes to belief in supernatural things. I don't think someone who believes in Jesus, for example, can decide or choose not to. I think people realize that they believe things or realize they don't. It's not a point at which a decision is made. I don't think what someone "wants" in this regard has much bearing on what they believe.