Religion

DetlefK

(16,547 posts)

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

Wed Jan 16, 2019, 11:25 AM

Jan 2019

For experimentalists, mathematicians and agnostics it's really hard to know something with 100% confidence. It's a pure matter of statistics. 100% confidence in a statement is only possible if we have 100% of information. But we almost never have 100% of all the information that COULD possibly exist.
Because that's the crux: If you look at the data from your experiment, you also have to take into account that there is more data out there that just so happened not to show up in this one particular measurement.

That's why experimentalists, mathematicians and agnostics shy away from making hard, absolute statements: Because they KNOW that they cannot KNOW for sure.

"There's probably no God." is a statement of doubt.

Belief on the other hand is rooted in the principle that we CAN know something for sure.

The statement does refer to God, but on a deeper level it attacks the notion that belief is a valid way of thinking.

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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