I find that comment to be over simplified.
I would like to point out that believing in something beyond what I can see and analyze using rational principles, does not preclude believing in something beyond that.
For example; I accept the influence that evolution has on the ecosystems I live in. I marvel at sciences like physics and geology. I am happy and secure in accepting all the material things I see around me, and dealing rationally with everyday phenomena.
But absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Just because matter is composed of atoms, and people have “visions” that can be explained by neurology, and gravity is what keeps heavenly bodies in their elliptical orbits, does not mean that there is not a benevolent force around us who is the Essence of Life, who can nourish us spiritually and help us to understand ourselves and, by guiding us to that understanding, can help us in our struggle to treat one another with kindness.
How can someone tell me I am “total[ly] abandon[ing] [my] determinative faculties”? That is so insulting. I love my determinative faculties and I have made an effort to cultivate them.
In fact, considering my life so far, I would be stupid not to have faith. To rationalize many of my experiences would suck the joy out of them. My faith gives my life fullness. It does not make me stupid, and for anyone to say so is pompous, insensitive and close-minded.
Uh, Peculiar Pixie, wouldn’t “Now Zenster is pissing me off, too” be a more accurate title for your thread? Or if I take umbrage at your post would it be fair for me to complain “Now the theists are pissing me off”?
Hey Pixie, what to join forces? Lesbians and Christians on parade! That’d fuck up the Republicans, wouldn’t it?
I once got into an argument similar to this. People without religious faith, interestingly enough, tend to put all their faith in science. It’s a more rational faith, but a faith nonetheless. The problem here is, many of these people believe very strongly that science holds all the answers to the universe in much the same way Christians believe God holds the answers to the universe. The fault with this logic is that science does NOT have all the answers because all the questions have yet to be asked scientifically. I agree, Pixie, to assume that your beliefs are the right beliefs and saying other people are not as intellignet for not agreeing with your beliefs is arrogant beyond words. Science can be wrong. Science used to say the atom was the smallest thing in the universe, then they cracked it open and found all kinds of things inside it. They said we had found all the large mammals, but then discovered a deer in Viet Nam (I’ll find a link for that later, unless someone else knows what I’m talking about). Science has been wrong in the past, it can be wrong again, just like religion. There’s nothing wrong to believe in what you believe in, but don’t be so arrogant as to assume everyone else is wrong. nebuli - yes, she should have specified Zenster since he doesn’t represent the speaking voice for all atheists in the world, but come on, that’s a nitpick and has nothing to do with what she said in the OP.
If you want to rant about the treatment atheists give you then by all means do it here in the Pit. But if you want to discuss what theists and/or atheists believe and why, or how science is falliable or if you want discuss the validity of faith in a scientific age then GD really is the place for that.
