Originally posted by Grampy Bobby "agnostics and atheists": some reject the concept of an after life; some think it may be a possibility which they are unable to empirically or rationally prove or deny; some accept the possibility with a measure of concern.
The question I asked you was 'Have any of the atheists you've met believed in an "after life"?' Would your answer be a yes or a no?
Originally posted by FMF You are dodging the question, Grampy Bobby. I asked you what [b]you mean when you slip the word "summarily" into your statements and questions on this matter, not what individuals from other cultures mean when they use it.[/b]
The gratuitous use of site nicknames signals the segue from objectivity to subjectivity which is of no interest or value.
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby The gratuitous use of site nicknames signals the segue from objectivity to subjectivity which is of no interest or value.
This is just dodging on-topic responses to your posts.
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby The gratuitous use of site nicknames signals the segue from objectivity to subjectivity which is of no interest or value.
Originally posted by FMF The question I asked you was 'Have any of the [b]atheists you've met believed in an "after life"?' Would your answer be a yes or a no?[/b]
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby What are the temporal and eternal benefits for someone who believes
in an after life to decide to become an agnostic or an atheist?
You can't just decide to become an agnostic, or an atheist. You have to be convinced.
Originally posted by BigDoggProblem You can't just decide to become an agnostic, or an atheist. You have to be convinced.
Sure, we agree; it's a process before deciding not unlike the process before deciding to become a believer in Christ. And then having decided to become an agnostic or atheist, "What are the temporal and eternal benefits..."?
Originally posted by Grampy Bobby Sure, we agree; it's a process before deciding not unlike the process before deciding to become a believer in Christ. And then having decided to become an agnostic or atheist, "What are the temporal and eternal benefits..."?
Do you seriously think people can somehow decide to believe something that they simply do not believe?
Originally posted by twhitehead That is a poor analogy. Interest in something is quite different from belief.
[b]Similarly, when someone becomes aware of the possibility that some god or gods may exist [God consciousness] he or she may decide to summarily dismiss that possibility and by definition become an atheist. No. An atheist is someone that lacks belief in God or gods. He ...[text shortened]... f you are successful, then let us know. If you are not successful, then I have proved you wrong.[/b]
Would you describe yourself as an atheist, agnostic, theist or believer in Christ?
Originally posted by FMF Do you seriously think people can somehow decide to believe something that they simply do not believe?
Why not? You decided to not believe something you believed, so how would coming to believe something you didn't believe be any less congruent? I didn't believe it either but then later I did believe it. This doesn't mean I believed and disbelieved it at the same time.