Starboy

Verily, in so doing becomes one with it, yet is apart, but is neither here nor there.

Amos, your association engine appears to be working well, but I think your reality filter is broken. Time to replace that motivator.

Starboy

Amos

Well here it is, Rev.22;1 "I saw no temple in the city."

Starboy

Amos, you may have the last word.

Proxima Centauri

If you define a freethinker as someone who follows the scientific method it is possible for someone to try and think scientifically and come to the conclusion that religion is true.
This can happen for many reasons. Someone may be mislead by religious web sites etc. Someone may attach importance to coincidences in their lives or in other people's lives. Someone may not know the answers to the fine-tuning argument.
Before Charles Darwin there was no satisfactory explanation for life without intelligent design.
People who follow the scientific method sometimes disagree with each other.

HelenM

Imo, you still don't know nearly enough about me to have any legitimate basis for claiming I'm not being honest.

You don't know what I have to show for it. Who am I to you - a stranger on the Internet!

That sort of comment indicates a thoughtless stereotyping I wonder at, in someone who claims to be a freethinker - or, in fact, any kind of thinker. What benefit did you derive from making such a disparaging comment?

take care
Helen

galiel

Not if they follow the tenets of critical thinking, which includes checking multiple sources of information.

This, too, is incompatible with critical thinking and the scientific method.

First of all, I had to look it up to know what you were referring to, so clearly it is not the main factor in shaping a skepctical worldview. And one does not need to know much science to refute that one, it is a simple matter of logic and of following the path of causality.

But now there is. Most scientists 100 years ago were theists. Most scientists today are not.

Of course they do, since science makes no claim to the truth. However, there are degrees of disagreement. There are no reputable scientists today who disagree that the Earth is round, that it revolves around the Sun, that life evolves, that the universe is billions of years old.

I find it fascinating that people are so intent on associating with the prestige of science, while attempting to cling to their irrational religious beliefs, which science continualy debunks.

[ October 03, 2002: Message edited by: galiel ]</p>

HelenM

Fwiw, my church's mission statement is: "Helping people in our community and around the world discover the life-changing power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

So, if that's what you mean, yeah, I'd heard of it!

take care
Helen

GeoTheo

Starboy,
Let me clear up a misconception you have. You don't think I value impiricism. I do value it. I do not reject it at all. I just don't think it is the only tool in my drawer.

Starboy

HelenM,

You had four choices in responding to my last post:

1: You could have stated your reasons for your acceptance of Christianity in greater detail such as GeoTheo.

2: You could have ignored the post altogether.

3: You could have admitted that you haven't examined the basis of your faith and you don't care to.

4: Or you could duck the issue and deflect criticism back to me.

I don't think you would be so offended if my comments were not close to the mark, since as you point out, we are Internet strangers. The response you chose reinforces my claim that you are dishonest, if not with me at least with yourself. It is you who have claimed to be a freethinker, not I. You make a claim and offer no justification and yet when you are called on it you lack the honesty to either supply justification, decline to respond, or admit you have none.

The benefit I derive is confirmation of my opinion about Christians, and a demonstration of Christian dishonesty to all who lurk here. Thank you for your cooperation.

Starboy

GeoTheo

Starboy, define dishonesty. I have the impression you have a much broader definition than most people. Are you saying everybody knows theres no God so anyone who professes to be a Christian is a liar?