Why Do You Believe What You Believe?

Just a question of curiosity, feel free to respond as much or as little as you see fit.

Originally posted by JakeChess
Just a question of curiosity, feel free to respond as much or as little as you see fit.

Why not start us off? Why do you believe what you believe?

Welcome to the forums.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Why not start us off? Why do you believe what you believe?

Welcome to the forums.

Thank you. I'm an atheist. I am open to the existence of a deity or deities, but I have not personally seen any evidence of such. How about you?

Originally posted by JakeChess
Thank you. I'm an atheist. I am open to the existence of a deity or deities, but I have not personally seen any evidence of such. How about you?

We appear to have bought our boots from the same atheist shop sir.

I don't believe in the existence of God, but rather hope i'm mistaken.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
We appear to have bought our boots from the same atheist shop sir.

I don't believe in the existence of God, but rather hope i'm mistaken.

I could go either way. The Christian faith is more than slightly unappealing to me. To quote LaVey; "It must be odd creatures who can be content with strumming a harp and praying for all eternity." In the scenario that there is a deity of some description at the helm of the ship, I picture a more Deistic interpretation of the catalyst of creation that leans more towards said deity being an observer as opposed to this ever present force helping people win the lottery and other such things.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
We appear to have bought our boots from the same atheist shop sir.

I don't believe in the existence of God, but rather hope i'm mistaken.

I feel as you do G of D. Absolute belief however can be highly destructive and limit our search for understanding.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
We appear to have bought our boots from the same atheist shop sir.

I don't believe in the existence of God, but rather hope i'm mistaken.

Why do you hope you're mistaken?

Originally posted by OdBod
I feel as you do G of D. Absolute belief however can be highly destructive and limit our search for understanding.

I find absolutes to be damaging. I feel that you should not only question your beliefs, but anything around you. It's good to be open minded and admit that you don't know and can be wrong.

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
Why do you hope you're mistaken?

My chances of immortality would vastly improve. Currently all my hopes lie in a sufficient intake of spinach.

Originally posted by JakeChess
Just a question of curiosity, feel free to respond as much or as little as you see fit.

I don't believe in anything but I resonate with...well whatever resonates me.
There is no 'this is true but this isn't for me"

Originally posted by JakeChess
Thank you. I'm an atheist. I am open to the existence of a deity or deities, but I have not personally seen any evidence of such. How about you?

does that not make you an agnostic?

Originally posted by JakeChess
I find absolutes to be damaging. I feel that you should not only question your beliefs, but anything around you. It's good to be open minded and admit that you don't know and can be wrong.

Good luck with getting people to admit they're wrong around here

Originally posted by karoly aczel
does that not make you an agnostic?

Technically no. Atheism is just a lack of belief in a god. If you really want to split hairs, I'm an agnostic deist. I admit that there could or could not be a god, but I personally reject the idea of god as described in Abrahamic religions in favor of one that does not interfere with humanity, merely observing.

In short, Atheism and Agnosticism can go hand in hand depending on how you define them.

Originally posted by karoly aczel
Good luck with getting people to admit they're wrong around here

I don't think that'll happen. And I'm alright with that. People will believe what they will, doesn't mean I'm going to get bent out of shape when they call me a heretic or something of that phylum.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
My chances of immortality would vastly improve. Currently all my hopes lie in a sufficient intake of spinach.

Immortality seems like it could be a trap to me. What happens when you've done everything there is to do and seen everything there is to see and met everyone there is to meet, and are tired of it all, and just want to be done?