You have to believe in something!

[Peter]

If you're an atheist I'm sure you've gotten the question.

If I'm being snarky I'll say something like, "If I must believe in something irrational I choose Leprechauns". My non-snarky answer is "nature" but it doesn't feel as grand as believing in some all powerful being in charge of the universe. Maybe I have god envy.

What does a theist mean with that question?

What's a good answer for an atheist?

[Zzyzx]

In the end, we all believe what we want to believe. Only after we've arrived at our conclusion do we start looking around for ways to rationalize it.

This is where Scientific Method and Theology part company.

Science looks at evidence and seeks conclusions.

Theology starts with conclusions and seeks confirmation.

The former is intended to minimize bias. The latter maximizes and perpetuates bias.

[Ooberman]

In the end, we all believe what we want to believe. Only after we've arrived at our conclusion do we start looking around for ways to rationalize it.

This is where Scientific Method and Theology part company.

Science looks at evidence and seeks conclusions.

Theology starts with conclusions and seeks confirmation.

The former is intended to minimize bias. The latter maximizes and perpetuates bias.

Yes, I couldn't disagree more with EduChris's comment. In fact, it seems like he has abdicated all reason and control over his life.

For example, I was a HUGE NPL believer. I thought there was a scientific basis for it.

There is none. I have, despite my wish for it to be true, have come to the conclusion it isn't.

I used to believe in God, Santa (when I was younger) and many things that I later changed my mind on.


I feel sorry for EduChris.. What a horrible way to live ones life: forced to find justifications for a belief and never trying to take any other option seriously.

I'd love to be the salesperson on the other side of the counter, though! It sounds like I just have to tell him what he wants to hear.

[EduChris]

...a scientific basis for it...

From the standpoint of reason, theism vs. non-theism is not a scientific matter, but rather a philosophical one. In my experience, those who suppose that science can decide the matter typically do not understand either of these two distinct intellectual pursuits.

Beyond that, however, theism is most importantly a matter of the heart and the will--but these things are not amenable to a debate site such as this.

[EduChris]

...I would like the comfort of belief...

But again, we all have our beliefs which cannot be proven, don't we?

...I cannot summon the will to believe simply because I think it a comfort.

Don't we all have a tangle of disparate and sometimes competing desires? And don't the strongest desires typically win out?

[Overcomer]

I like the following statement by G. K. Chesterton.

"When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing---they believe in anything."

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 33:

From the standpoint of reason, theism vs. non-theism is not a scientific matter, but rather a philosophical one. I my experience, those who suppose that science can decide the matter typically do not understand either of these two distinct intellectual pursuits.

Science can, ostensibly, look at the data presented by religionists, and draw conclusions from that data. Thusfar the scientific concensus seems to be that the core claims of religious literalists can't be shown to be anything but...

Beyond that, however, theism is most importantly a matter of the heart and the will--but these things are not amenable to a debate site such as this.

In other words, they're based purely on emotion, on not on evidence, or at least reasoned conclusions regarding what evidence may be proposed.

[JoeyKnothead]

I like the following statement by G. K. Chesterton.

"When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing---they believe in anything."

Yeah, 'cause "I believe there's a god up there, and he don't like how you carry on, and how 'bout ol' Dead Jesus there, hopping up after three days and strolling through town" ain't believing "anything"

[McCulloch]

I like the following statement by G. K. Chesterton.

"When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing---they believe in anything."

Well, it is a clever play on words but certainly not true. Believers in God are more likely to believe in pseudo-science.

[dianaiad]

In the end, we all believe what we want to believe. Only after we've arrived at our conclusion do we start looking around for ways to rationalize it.

This is where Scientific Method and Theology part company.

Science looks at evidence and seeks conclusions.

Theology starts with conclusions and seeks confirmation.

The former is intended to minimize bias. The latter maximizes and perpetuates bias.

Yes, I couldn't disagree more with EduChris's comment. In fact, it seems like he has abdicated all reason and control over his life.

For example, I was a HUGE NPL believer. I thought there was a scientific basis for it.

There is none. I have, despite my wish for it to be true, have come to the conclusion it isn't.

I used to believe in God, Santa (when I was younger) and many things that I later changed my mind on.


I feel sorry for EduChris.. What a horrible way to live ones life: forced to find justifications for a belief and never trying to take any other option seriously.

I'd love to be the salesperson on the other side of the counter, though! It sounds like I just have to tell him what he wants to hear.

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[Goat]

I like the following statement by G. K. Chesterton.

"When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing---they believe in anything."

You might like that.. but can you show it to be true? It seems like one of the trite sneers against people who believe different, rather than anything of substance.