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Well, from a purely philosophical standpoint, I tend to agree that I can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God. As such, I used to describe myself as
by caf 16y ago
Well, from a purely philosophical standpoint, I tend to agree that I can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God. As such, I used to describe myself as an agnostic.
However, more recently I have recognised that underneath that, deep down I just don't believe that there is a God - while simultaneously acknowledging the unprovability of this belief. So I now self-describe as atheist, and the reason why seems to be a deep-seated feeling that the theory of the existence of God just doesn't sit right. A non-God Universe is just somehow more... elegant.
It's also worth pointing out that I don't see a good practical reason to believe in a God, either. Since the God-theory makes no testable predictions, it is of little value in explaining the world around us. Explaining the past in terms of miracles perpetrated by an ineffable being gives us no guide for what to expect in the future, and is thus not worthwhile, even if it is correct.
- robryan 16y agoNot only does it have little value in explaining the world around us but it encourages people just to accept the world around them as is and not attempt to understand it better.
- tome 16y agoI strongly disagree. I think some forms of religion, Christianity included, are very good at explaining how to understand the world and the forces (especially good and evil) at work in it -- and it encourages its adherents to change the world for the better. I also happen to think that these religions' interpretations of the world are wrong.
- robryan 16y agoHmm, well I would separate moral guidance and a knowledge for how things around us works. On a moral level some of religion's teachings are great, I personally though don't take more than that from religion and think that it promotes being content with knowing less about our world and universe in order to make it's stories and non moral teachings more relevant.
- tome 16y agoI agree with your stance, but I disagree that religions don't encourage adherents to understand the world. As I said in the GP, I think the way they encourage adherents to understand the world is mistaken, but it still exists!