Phil, it should come as no surprise that we're pretty much of the same mind. I'm not sure I can give out many more passes to faith. I'm not ready to be an activist, though.
Rowan, Richard Dawkins addresses many of your points, with respect to polytheism as well. I'd be happy to summarize/point out/address them further(The basic gist: One need not be an expert in Leprachuanology to disbelieve in Leprechauns. Burden of proof, or evidence, rests on those making the assertion, otherwise, one could claim ANYTHING exists. The Flying Spaghetti Monster illustrates this).
"I'm an epicenter for remarkable coincidence" Humans are remarkable at recognizing and perceiving patterns where none exists. It is thought the false positive is a leftover survival skill.
Rowan,I don't think you're any of the horrible things you've been described as by evangelicals of all stripes. I don't think any theist is stupid,deluded or mentally deficient, or anything like that. As I said, I'm happy to continue the discussion considering a polytheistic worldview (I stopped by paganism for a few years on my way to atheism), but to this atheist, faith is, dynamically individualized or not, not a virtue.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-09-01 07:51 am (UTC)Rowan, Richard Dawkins addresses many of your points, with respect to polytheism as well. I'd be happy to summarize/point out/address them further(The basic gist: One need not be an expert in Leprachuanology to disbelieve in Leprechauns. Burden of proof, or evidence, rests on those making the assertion, otherwise, one could claim ANYTHING exists. The Flying Spaghetti Monster illustrates this).
"I'm an epicenter for remarkable coincidence"
Humans are remarkable at recognizing and perceiving patterns where none exists. It is thought the false positive is a leftover survival skill.
Rowan,I don't think you're any of the horrible things you've been described as by evangelicals of all stripes. I don't think any theist is stupid,deluded or mentally deficient, or anything like that. As I said, I'm happy to continue the discussion considering a polytheistic worldview (I stopped by paganism for a few years on my way to atheism), but to this atheist, faith is, dynamically individualized or not, not a virtue.
-Bo from Valentine Wolfe