5 reasons atheism is irrational

[Animavore]

This used to be thedistillers thread; didn't it?

Is he gone now?

[FBM]

This used to be thedistillers thread; didn't it?

Is he gone now?

Vamped, seems.

[Animavore]

This used to be thedistillers thread; didn't it?

Is he gone now?

Vamped, seems.

By Zofia?

[FBM]

This used to be thedistillers thread; didn't it?

Is he gone now?

Vamped, seems.

By Zofia?

From the story, it's damned plausible.

[Hermit]

This used to be thedistillers thread; didn't it?

Is he gone now?

Original posts split from 5 reasons atheism is irrational

And yes, he's moved on to spread his rubbish elsewhere.

[Pappa]

I find people with degrees in theology are invariably far removed from your average beleiver to the point that your standard theist would claim they don't support their brand of theism. Ironically this doesn't stop them from using their arguments when it supports their purpose, much like science; if the science supports their apologetics then they use it. If science goes against their claims then god can disobey the laws that govern the universe.

Beyond that I honestly don't think there is a difference between a theologian with a doctorate and well versed apologist.

Theology fails immediately as it is philosophy which presupposes the existence of god.

[FedUpWithFaith]

I find people with degrees in theology are invariably far removed from your average beleiver to the point that your standard theist would claim they don't support their brand of theism. Ironically this doesn't stop them from using their arguments when it supports their purpose, much like science; if the science supports their apologetics then they use it. If science goes against their claims then god can disobey the laws that govern the universe.

Beyond that I honestly don't think there is a difference between a theologian with a doctorate and well versed apologist.

Theology fails immediately as it is philosophy which presupposes the existence of god.

I agree Pappa. But theology can still be rather interesting and fun, like a game. It basically sets up a set of rules and relationships based on sacred texts or whatever and then involves interpretation with its own internal logical consistency. It's like playing out a hand of cards depending on what your dealt. It doesn't matter, in this sense, whether the cards represent anything true or false. For example, I find the contrast in theological reasoning of the power and limitations of God to be very fascinating. For instance, in most Christian theology, God must obey logic. He can't make 2 + 2 = 5. In Islam, that's not the case.

The internal inconsistencies in theology are also useful tools for atheists. So it is not a complete waste of time for atheists to study it.

[Pappa]

I find people with degrees in theology are invariably far removed from your average beleiver to the point that your standard theist would claim they don't support their brand of theism. Ironically this doesn't stop them from using their arguments when it supports their purpose, much like science; if the science supports their apologetics then they use it. If science goes against their claims then god can disobey the laws that govern the universe.

Beyond that I honestly don't think there is a difference between a theologian with a doctorate and well versed apologist.

Theology fails immediately as it is philosophy which presupposes the existence of god.

I agree Pappa. But theology can still be rather interesting and fun, like a game. It basically sets up a set of rules and relationships based on sacred texts or whatever and then involves interpretation with its own internal logical consistency. It's like playing out a hand of cards depending on what your dealt. It doesn't matter, in this sense, whether the cards represent anything true or false. For example, I find the contrast in theological reasoning of the power and limitations of God to be very fascinating. For instance, in most Christian theology, God must obey logic. He can't make 2 + 2 = 5. In Islam, that's not the case.

The internal inconsistencies in theology are also useful tools for atheists. So it is not a complete waste of time for atheists to study it.

I see your point... in a way that's similar to enjoying debate, regardless of whether you agree with the argument you're putting forward... plus I assume you're saying you find it interesting in the same way I find anthropology interesting.

Personally, I find theological logic to be torturous and tiring to follow. I feel like screaming at them for their obvious (to me) folly.

[FedUpWithFaith]

Personally, I find theological logic to be torturous and tiring to follow. I feel like screaming at them for their obvious (to me) folly.

Also agree with you here. 99+% is a bore. Much of it is procedural nonsense or the meandering of somebody trying to earn their divinity degree or further their career, not to influence foundational dogma. But many arguments on the essence and nature of God and man's relationship to Him tell us a lot about human nature and the human mind.

Since you mentioned anthropology, which you evidently also find boring, some of our best understandings of ancient cultures comes from attempting to understand and contextualize their theologies. So I can see why you find anthropology boring. I don't though.

[Surendra Darathy]

Much of it is procedural nonsense or the meandering of somebody trying to earn their divinity degree or further their career, not to influence foundational dogma.

That's it right there. I want to get right to the good stuff: Influencing foundational dogma. What do I need to do that? Some ability at spoon-bending, no doubt, like rising from the dead or riding a winged horse into the sky.

Or maybe I just need to be good at selling soap. That's anthropology, for ya.

[FedUpWithFaith]

Much of it is procedural nonsense or the meandering of somebody trying to earn their divinity degree or further their career, not to influence foundational dogma.

That's it right there. I want to get right to the good stuff: Influencing foundational dogma. What do I need to do that? Some ability at spoon-bending, no doubt, like rising from the dead or riding a winged horse into the sky.

Or maybe I just need to be good at selling soap. That's anthropology, for ya.

No, all you have to be good at is making up stories and fooling some people into believing them.

[The Dagda]

This thread should be renamed 1 thousand reasons why the OP is irrational.

[Pappa]

Since you mentioned anthropology, which you evidently also find boring, some of our best understandings of ancient cultures comes from attempting to understand and contextualize their theologies. So I can see why you find anthropology boring. I don't though.

Nono.... I don't find anthropology boring at all. It's one of my favourite things to read about. I was suggesting that you find in theology interesting the same things that I find in anthropology interesting. Things like the diversity of human thought and approaches to the world.

[Feck]

Since you mentioned anthropology, which you evidently also find boring, some of our best understandings of ancient cultures comes from attempting to understand and contextualize their theologies. So I can see why you find anthropology boring. I don't though.

Nono.... I don't find anthropology boring at all. It's one of my favourite things to read about. I was suggesting that you find in theology interesting the same things that I find in anthropology interesting. Things like the diversity of human thought and approaches to the world.

Thinking about thinking about thinking........... Meh


How can you fix your mind with your mind ?

[Pappa]

Since you mentioned anthropology, which you evidently also find boring, some of our best understandings of ancient cultures comes from attempting to understand and contextualize their theologies. So I can see why you find anthropology boring. I don't though.

Nono.... I don't find anthropology boring at all. It's one of my favourite things to read about. I was suggesting that you find in theology interesting the same things that I find in anthropology interesting. Things like the diversity of human thought and approaches to the world.

Thinking about thinking about thinking........... Meh


How can you fix your mind with your mind ?

Not thinking about thinking about thinking.... reading about how different people approach the world. Seeing that other people have completely different moralities and worldviews helps us realise that our own ways of doing things aren't intrinsically 'right'.