Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by 3equ3cp1fsw0n on July 1, 2011 at 2:18pm

@ Sassan - I have never heard Hitchens, Harris, or Dawkins say they discount the possibility of an after-life 100%. Did I miss something?

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Hevenstone on July 1, 2011 at 2:51pm

Unless I'm much mistaken, Dawkins admitted a little ambiguity in "The God Delusion". And note: he prefers the phrase "there probably is no god". He's said so publicly.

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Permalink Reply by 3equ3cp1fsw0n on July 1, 2011 at 6:01pm

I'm sorry I did not clarify my statement. I believe there is the possiblity of an after-life with no God involved or needed. Although I agree an after-life is very improbable, I 100% believe there is no God, in terms of how humans generally understand the concept of God (all knowing, intelligent morals and justice decider, etc.).

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on July 2, 2011 at 2:16am

@Flower,

Hmmmm, I've never thought about an afterlife WITHOUT God in it.  I guess that means no angels either, right?  Is this afterlife eternal or are there stages to it?  Is it a blissful place or is there some sort of conflict possible?  If it's eternal, I hope membership is optional or that there's some sort of conflict available.  Just the thought of an eternity of bliss really creeps me out. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on July 2, 2011 at 2:21am

@Nathan Hevenstone,

I think Dawkins, as a scientist, is simply avoiding certainty and maintaining objectivity.

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 1, 2011 at 5:04pm

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on July 2, 2011 at 2:39am

All the guests were pretty humorous but Hitchens really stole the show, as usual.  As likeable as the other guests were, Hitchens didn't pull any punches.  You gotta love it.

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Permalink Reply by Isaac on July 1, 2011 at 3:20pm

@Sassan

While I fit into your definition of atheism, and while I'm sure that we'd agree very well about whether or not it is possible for gods/supernatural stuff to exist, I don't think your definition is correct. An atheist is just someone who doesn't believe that a god exists. Your definition describes a naturalist. We both agree that reincarnation is bullshit, but many Buddhists believe in it, while not believing in a god, thus making them atheists, by definition. I also do not consider agnosticism to be a third option to atheism vs theism. Agnosticism is the position that the existence of god is unknown or unknowable. This has nothing to do with whether or not someone actually believes in a god. I'd even argue that religious folk that say that one can't prove/disprove the existence of a god are technically agnostics, by definition.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Minion on July 1, 2011 at 3:56pm

I have heard Dawkins stand on the subject and he states that because we don't know so there is a small (very small) possibility, no mater how unlikely.

There is a difference between being agnostic (not knowing) and atheist (not believing) so for intellectual honesty the position of agnostic/atheist maybe more accurate for many.

 

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Permalink Reply by Sassan K. on July 1, 2011 at 5:08pm

But Dawkins does say there is the "possibility" of anything since we can't prove it false. That was the way he was phrasing/expressing it.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Minion on July 1, 2011 at 10:16pm

LOL thanks for clarifying that.

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Permalink Reply by Atheist Exile on July 1, 2011 at 11:08pm

I've heard several accomplished scientists state that if there were something new that suggested God or the supernatural exists, they would have to address it the same as any other evidence and that if that evidence held up to scrutiny, they would have to revise their thinking accordingly.

As it stands, there is no evidence or valid argument (a priori or a posteriori) for God or the supernatural.  Therefore, the question of God or the supernatural is not within scientific purview.

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