Vorhis the Wolf

My main reason for not believeing in any religon is dinosars. We know that they existed, but there is almost no mention of them in any holy book anywhere. If people can put in stories about burning bushes and floods you would think that they would mention a few 25ft tall reptilian carnivores roaming around.

Mageth

But forget about Thor. Thor is just stupid.

You infidel! Thor is the one true god! That's obvious since the holy books describing Thor have been around centuries longer than any writings describing the IPU! Further, far more people have believed in Thor than in the IPU. If that's not enough, some of them even died for their belief in Thor! And don't forget the archaeological evidence that shows the people who wrote about Thor really lived in towns and cities like they described!

Tenpudo

In response to the OP, I don't believe in God for the same reason I don't kiss Hank's ass.
Damn, looks like I'm too late. JenniferD beat me to the reference.

For the record, I consider myself agnostic in principle, strong atheist in practice. This means that while, intellectually speaking, I allow for the remote possibility of the existence of something which roughly corresponds to what people refer to as "god", the utter lack of evidence for any interaction with said being leads me to conclude that it does not exist (and even if it did, it would of necessity not impact my life in any way).

Actually, I think this does a much better job of explaining my position. Thank you, Abacus! Mind if I filch it?

JubalsCall

The Bible does meantion somethings that could have been dinosuars. How do you know that just didn't call them by a different name? Also do Holy Books mention every animal in the world. Just because we are fasinated by dinosuars now, does not mean that people were intrested in them when the books were written. What if they were just regular animals to them that needed no special attention?

Just a speculation.

Tibbs

Mageth

The Bible does meantion somethings that could have been dinosuars.

That's a laugh. Was the bible written 65 million years ago?

How do you know that just didn't call them by a different name?

Umm, because they'd been extinct for 64 million years?

Also do Holy Books mention every animal in the world.

Well, the bible claims to have squeezed two or more of every animal onto the ark.

Just because we are fasinated by dinosuars now, does not mean that people were intrested in them when the books were written. What if they were just regular animals to them that needed no special attention?

Right, a Tyrannosaurus Rex or a Brachiosaurus (not to mention a pack of Velociraptors) are just "regular animals" that need no special attention.

They weren't interested in dinosaurs because they knew nothing of them.

Mageth

And now a serious reply to your post:

A rather weak reason. The reason holy books don't mention dinosaurs is that they've been extinct for about 64 million years, so one wouldn't expect a holy book to mention them.

JubalsCall

I'm seeing what everyone is saying now a little better.
But I don't think that believing in God, not believing in Him, or lack of belief in Him is the default at all. None of these are defualt. Both are in some way a positive or negative statement.

I would definately have to agree that belief in God is not the default mode. It is definately a positive statement where there should be burden of proof.

But why is "lack of believe" any different?
How is atheism the default mode?
This is my mean question I'm trying to understand.

And how does not believing in the IPU effect my life in any way? Just because something is invisible doesn't mean it's on a different spiritual plain. But you guys made it up, who am I to say that? But that's a whole nothing discussion.


Tibbs

JubalsCall

I was coming from the young earth creation side.
Which you'll probably say is stupid anyway. But that's another section of the forum.

Tibbs

Jayhawker Soule

I'm sitting here looking at this great (!) picture of my 2-year-old granddaughter. What do you think she believes?

Ensign Steve

When you were born you didn't believe in god. Somebody had to tell you about it later. Probably your parents. That is why it is the default position. If nobody told you about god, you would still have no reason to believe in it. Maybe that position is real easy for me to understand, since my parents are atheists, too. A belief in anything is a thing to have. If you don't have that belief, then you lack it. You don't necessarily have something in place of it, you just don't have it.

Quote:

And how does not believing in the IPU effect my life in any way? Just because something is invisible doesn't mean it's on a different spiritual plain. But you guys made it up, who am I to say that? But that's a whole nothing discussion.

Your description of the IPU is a perfect description of what I feel about god. "You guys just made it up." Note, that's just my position, and not the same as all atheists.

Jen