There are people who continue to observe Yule, or have brought it back, in the context of Pagan traditions. Some people translate it outside religious context, like Christmas. I don't know who subscribes to what here, and I don't put up a tree.
Spoilers THE ORVILLE S1, E12: "MAD IDOLATRY" - SEASON FINALE
- Thread starter Mudd
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I consider myself as an agnostic as well. Although, I have met "devout atheists." However, you're analogy isn't a good one. Someone's belief about the existence of god is a true or false statement about a condition of the universe (or, an I don't know). God exists--true or false. In the baldness analogy, you'd need to state, hair exists on the head--true or false. Hair color doesn't work here because you're mixing properties--existence of hair with color of hair. But, there's more to it than that. Baldness is easily proven. The existence or non-existence of god is not proven either way.
You couldn't be more wrong about that. At least in the case of the definitions I know.
Atheists believe that god does not exist. Agnostics just don't know.
For me, I tend to think there is no god, but I also acknowledge both that the universe is a weird ass place AND there is no evidence that proves god doesn't exist. There's a huge difference between that agnostic uncertainty and the simpler and unsubstantiated statement that "god does not exist."
Huge difference.
Yes, and I do put up an ornamental tree every year! Tend to be in December!
That is the difference between them. Atheists believe there is no god. Agnostics aren't sure.
Instead of being obtuse, why don't you say what atheism means to you rather than vaguely stating what it is not.
This is the definition of agnostic, which is my view. There's no hard evidence either way, so I don't know. There's an accepted uncertainty there that doesn't exist in either the religious or atheist views. I'm quite happy to say that I don't know. When you don't have sufficient evidence either way to really know, that seems to be the logical opinion. But, that's me.
In the end, I don't care what people consider themselves. It just gets confusing with the different terminology and personal definitions. I'm not religious but have no issue with those who are.
There are crazies who write New Age books claiming Kelly was really an alien from outer space who visited in ancient times.
The meaning of one has evolved as our materialism has, the other has not. Pretty simple.
Exactly so.
People who wear crosses are not endorsing the public execution of criminals.
The attempted Confederate battle flag analogy is dumb.
So has "one nation under God"--or at least Supreme Court justices have argued.
ETA: By the way, the Confederate Flag did evolve. Remember how it was sanitized in the 70s on shows like Dukes of Hazard, only to make a comeback as a subliminally racist emblem?
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I can't believe you are so daft to ignore how often it is argued that the Confederate flag represents something different. How many times was it made just this summer?
Like I said before I consider myself at atheist, but I will admit there are times I do wonder if fate, or destiny, or even something like Star Wars' Force might not be real. At times it just seems like there are just to many weird coincidences and connections that pop up throughout history and people lives.
If something like that is real, I can't really see it being an actual anthropomorphic being sitting in some higher plane making conscious decisions about things happening on Earth, though. It seems to me it would be something gravity, just a natural force that has developed throughout the universe.
If something like that is real, I can't really see it being an actual anthropomorphic being sitting in some higher plane making conscious decisions about things happening on Earth, though. It seems to me it would be something gravity, just a natural force that has developed throughout the universe.
Orville has been off for a week and a half and j already miss it. Might end up buying the season after Christmas, maybe.
I think that given the evidence I have seen, the best explanation is that we live in a natural universe with no God, but as I have not seen any definitive proof, I can not say for sure there is not one. Only that if any human being is exactly right about the nature of God, it's strictly a coincidence.
By your standards that would make me an agnostic, but I would consider myself an atheist. An agnostic is somebody who weighs the possibility of no God and the possibility of a specific interpretation of God relatively equal.
My observation about religious people is that their religion validates them doing what they wanted to do anyway. If people want to help people and do good, religion validates their desire to do good. If people want to hurt people and make themselves better than others, religion validates that too. You can hardly blame the religion. Religion is a mirror to your shadow self.
By your standards that would make me an agnostic, but I would consider myself an atheist. An agnostic is somebody who weighs the possibility of no God and the possibility of a specific interpretation of God relatively equal.
My observation about religious people is that their religion validates them doing what they wanted to do anyway. If people want to help people and do good, religion validates their desire to do good. If people want to hurt people and make themselves better than others, religion validates that too. You can hardly blame the religion. Religion is a mirror to your shadow self.
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And on that note...
Merry Christmas! God bless each and every one of you!
And a Happy Christmas to you, too!
That is wrong. But we have been over this many times in this thread.
Atheism is the absence of belief in God, gods or higher powers.
Happy Holidays!
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