Religion

MineralMan

(148,421 posts) Wed Jan 16, 2019, 11:16 AM Jan 2019

What Kind of Statement Is: "There's probably no God?" [View all]

It's a statement with no strength at all. In fact, it's really meaningless. It means no more than saying, "There probably is a God." There's really no point in making either statement.

That anyone takes strong offense to such a weak statement is ridiculous.

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65 replies

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What Kind of Statement Is: "There's probably no God?" [View all] MineralMan Jan 2019 OP

Personally, that's always been a strange thing to me. trotsky Jan 2019 #1

When you have a considerable investment in something, it's hard to accept that it may be wasted Major Nikon Jan 2019 #2

What makes it so offensive is the implication that we cannot know for sure. DetlefK Jan 2019 #3

Uncalculable zipplewrath Jan 2019 #4

Exactly. It's why I would never make such a statement. MineralMan Jan 2019 #5

One need not quantify probability to recognize it Major Nikon Jan 2019 #10

Similarly: trotsky Jan 2019 #13

In reality positive theism makes not one but three incredible claims Major Nikon Jan 2019 #14

And that ties into the "motte and bailey" tactic! trotsky Jan 2019 #15

Positive Atheism zipplewrath Jan 2019 #21

Some do state it that way. MineralMan Jan 2019 #22

I was lectured zipplewrath Jan 2019 #23

Equivocation is a problem here. trotsky Jan 2019 #25

A straightforward assertion that deities do not exist MineralMan Jan 2019 #26

The two aren't the same zipplewrath Jan 2019 #32

I might be a positive atheist. But I don't feel like arguing for it right now. Bretton Garcia Jan 2019 #62

I don't think any of the atheists in this group are positive atheists marylandblue Jan 2019 #29

Um, I got the term from here zipplewrath Jan 2019 #33

Ok, but I'm not sure he actually is one, I suggest you seek clarification marylandblue Jan 2019 #37

I suppose you need to argue that point with them Major Nikon Jan 2019 #41

Well, sorta zipplewrath Jan 2019 #16

"But for the question at hand, there is nothing upon which to estimate"... NeoGreen Jan 2019 #18

Either way zipplewrath Jan 2019 #19

A Null Value is a Null Value, I agree. (nt) NeoGreen Jan 2019 #20

There are also those who have laid out mathematical proofs for the god question Major Nikon Jan 2019 #38

Filled with flaws zipplewrath Jan 2019 #40

The same can be said for the one you suggested Major Nikon Jan 2019 #42

Which one? zipplewrath Jan 2019 #46

How could you possibly verify? Major Nikon Jan 2019 #49

The sun or aliens? zipplewrath Jan 2019 #51

You can estimate a probability based on the lack of evidence marylandblue Jan 2019 #50

Yup zipplewrath Jan 2019 #52

Well, first we need an falsifiable definition, and we have had many marylandblue Jan 2019 #55

Who is we? zipplewrath Jan 2019 #57

We is the human race throughout history marylandblue Jan 2019 #63

This is my first foray here and here goes. Afromania Jan 2019 #6

While some people apparently see the statement that way, MineralMan Jan 2019 #7

You're right it isn't much as such. Afromania Jan 2019 #8

I commented on that very thing yesterday. Mariana Jan 2019 #9

Don't say believe zipplewrath Jan 2019 #17

Cool story bruh Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #30

Link, please? nt. Mariana Jan 2019 #34

Nevermind, I think I found it. Mariana Jan 2019 #35

Well, in this context they are zipplewrath Jan 2019 #39

Imagine if discussion about any other ideas worked that way Major Nikon Jan 2019 #11

Oddly enough that is exact the world view of the right. Afromania Jan 2019 #27

That is the exact view of the right, most of whom are religious. Mariana Jan 2019 #36

Well sort of. It isn't that the existence of Voltaire2 Jan 2019 #64

In a world that is detrimentally dominated by the meme "The Is a god"... NeoGreen Jan 2019 #12

I understand the nuance in that "probably" statement, MineralMan Jan 2019 #24

I agree, however for my part, I am not unsatisfied by the 'problably"... NeoGreen Jan 2019 #28

"nothing to ponder" zipplewrath Jan 2019 #43

Allow me to clarify... NeoGreen Jan 2019 #45

Well, exactly zipplewrath Jan 2019 #47

"...looking for aliens, or attempting to prove they don't exist." NeoGreen Jan 2019 #48

Sounds like it has a fairly straightforward meaning Loki Liesmith Jan 2019 #31

Except zipplewrath Jan 2019 #44

It seems that would make God an unfalsifiable proposition marylandblue Jan 2019 #53

Sorta zipplewrath Jan 2019 #54

Anything besides God? marylandblue Jan 2019 #56

Yes zipplewrath Jan 2019 #58

Yes, but we know what those things are marylandblue Jan 2019 #65

An anecdotal statement? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #59

There is a real difference between those two statements LiberalLovinLug Jan 2019 #60

yeah - it's probably ridiculous.... Locrian Jan 2019 #61