Ryanfire

Theli,

The only thing I said is "if god created", I didn't agree about anything. Therefore I only used the paradox created by the xians to stump them.

[ August 19, 2002: Message edited by: Ryanfire ]</p>

Ryanfire

Seanie,

Okay, if we do not define the subject at hand, how do we objectively determine an answer? You're not making any sense.

1. I'll make up a word "kwaxa"
2. Let us not define "kwaxa"

Seanie "Lets talk about kwaxa"
Me: "Okay, what are the properties of kwaxa?"
Seanie: "Not defined, but prove that it does or doesn't exist"
Me: "How do I prove kwaxa to exist without definition?"
Me: "Is it a person, place, or thing?"
Seanie: "Ha ha, you can choose to define Kwaxa however you want, but that doesn't get you out of the dilemma of proving it does or doesn't exist"
Me: <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

[ August 19, 2002: Message edited by: Ryanfire ]</p>

seanie

Your giving a definition of a leprechaun as being mythical.

If that definition is correct then leprechauns don't exist.

How do you know that definition is absolutely correct?

The validity of the definition depends on whether Leprechauns exist not the other way round. To be absolutely sure you have to prove they don't exist. We've already established that just because there's no evidence something exists doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist.
That goes for leprechauns as much as god.

I regard god as a mythical entity.

If I'm right god doesn't exist.

How do I know I'm right?

I don't.

But then I don't know for sure that leprechauns don't exist. And I'm quite happy to proceed on the basis that leprechauns don't exist so why should I regard god any differently?

seanie

Ryanfire

Just to clarify. You've been asked whether you're agnostic on the subject of leprechauns.

You reply;

You give a definition of leprechauns as being mythical then you say;

Do you see the point?

You've just assumed that the definition is correct.

'Leprechauns are mythical therefore they don't exist.'

Now most people would agree with you but that doesn't make it true. If you're going to be absolutely sure leprechauns don't exist you're going to have to prove it. Can you?

I suspect not.

And if not why aren't you agnostic on the subject of leprechauns? If you do accept that the absence of evidence in favour of leprechauns is good reason to believe they don't exist, then why not accept the same burden of proof for god.

Since there is no evidence god exists it's perfectly reasonable to work on the provisional assumption that god doesn't exist. There's nothing unreasonable about 'strong' atheism.

Come on in.

The water's lovely.

Ryanfire

Seanie, if anything I'd be swimming in the weak atheist pool

There *could* be a creator, but you're right, I don't treat it like it exists anyway.

Perhaps this may interest you.
<a href="http://ryan.real.ca/death.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Walking - Ryanfire Project</a>

It's about indefinate life/death.

seanie

Indefinite life?

Heh, heh, heh.....

I'll join the quest.

I solemnly vow to live forever.

Or die in the attempt.

Ryanfire

We're actually looking for people to contribute to the site, if you're interested. The funny thing is, we want atheists, agnostics, and theists to contribute.

Malcolm_MacDohmnall

Seanie
Leprechauns did exist.

If you know the Annals of the Four Masters(sorry the translated version is down right now) and the <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ift/ift01.htm" target="_blank">Tuan Mac Cairill</a> it is the history of Ireland that the sons of Mil drove the Tuatha De' Danann underground. They were professed to have even greater natural magics than the Druids themselves. Once defeated they went into the hills living in the forests. The Celtic invaders then would catch glimpses of them and atribute all ills befalling themselves on these "magical" people. One thing about Leprechauns that was wrong is that they were of a different race than humans. They did indeed appear to have magic tricks that did dumbfound the Celts. Some more Irish history on the <a href="http://www.ireland.org/irl_hist/hist1.htm" target="_blank">Tuatha De'Danann</a>.

[ August 24, 2002: Message edited by: Malcolm_MacDohmnall ]</p>