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techstepgenr8tion
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01 Feb 2009, 1:43 am

Fraya wrote:
PLA wrote:
Agnosticism is not "just fence sitting". It is an episthemological position.

However, absolute skepsis, accurate or not, is not useful in approximating truth.
It is a mindset of lazy fatalism - which is naturally also a valid option.


*shrug*

I just find it annoying how agnostics seem to think they've discovered something amazing when just about everyone theist or atheist has thought of it also and in the end decided to make a decision.

The point I was trying to make though is that contrary to what they believe it's not "getting the best of both" it's "deciding not to decide" and generally just opting out of that whole segment of life.

At least theists and atheists have chosen and so can move on with living... the agnostic will always have it hanging over their heads that they will be wrong in the end no matter what.

If there is no god then they were foolish for believing in one if there is then they are damned to hell for doubting.


I think agnosticism is at best a temporary position. If someone decides to opt that way for life its like Penn from Penn and Teller joked - if your a hypocrite you have the good fortune of being right either way ;).

Of course, to be fair, I can't diss those who truly search their souls and find its the most honest position they can come up with - Dave Horowitz admits to agnosticism but for the most part he keeps his dialog trained on politics rather than religion.



slowmutant
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01 Feb 2009, 10:41 am

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No I can not, because I do not believe God and science to be mutually exclusive or in opposition.


Nor do I. Why doesn't anyone understand that? :(



ruveyn
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01 Feb 2009, 11:06 am

slowmutant wrote:
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No I can not, because I do not believe God and science to be mutually exclusive or in opposition.


Nor do I. Why doesn't anyone understand that? :(


Perhaps. But the Bible is clearly in conflict with scientifically established ideas. Look at how Jacob bred spotted and stripped sheep to swindle his father in law Laban. And the creation myth? The Sun of the forth day after plants! Jeepers!

So it is possible to be scientific and religious but it is not possible to be scientific and take the Bible as inerrant.

Now the Fundies have elevated the Bible into a God-Artifact. It is idolatry plain and simple. If there is another war I hope every Holy Book is destroyed by flames and fire. Then if Mankind recovers, it will be without the dreadful relic weighing them down.

ruveyn



slowmutant
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01 Feb 2009, 1:41 pm

Would "every holy book" include the Torah?



slowmutant
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01 Feb 2009, 1:47 pm

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The things the God of the gaps seems to answer are all generally answerable, we just don't have the answer


If we don't have the answer, how can these things be answerable? D'oh!



PLA
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07 Feb 2009, 6:52 am

ruveyn wrote:
slowmutant wrote:
Quote:
No I can not, because I do not believe God and science to be mutually exclusive or in opposition.


Nor do I. Why doesn't anyone understand that? :(


Perhaps. But the Bible is clearly in conflict with scientifically established ideas. Look at how Jacob bred spotted and stripped sheep to swindle his father in law Laban. And the creation myth? The Sun of the forth day after plants! Jeepers!

So it is possible to be scientific and religious but it is not possible to be scientific and take the Bible as inerrant.

Now the Fundies have elevated the Bible into a God-Artifact. It is idolatry plain and simple. If there is another war I hope every Holy Book is destroyed by flames and fire. Then if Mankind recovers, it will be without the dreadful relic weighing them down.

ruveyn

I disagree on the matter of book-burning.
Fundies would simply write new books, either as wholly new books, or as new editions of lost books.
It would not necessarily even slow them down.

On an unrelated note:
Quote:
However, absolute skepsis, accurate or not, is not useful in approximating truth.
It is a mindset of lazy fatalism - which is naturally also a valid option.

I would like to exchange the word "fatalism" for "surrender".


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