Bill wrote:
Bill wrote:
Quote:What evidence do you have for God's existence that is any more compelling than that of Casper? Does the theme of a story grant credibility to it? Are you relying on Ad Populum? Ad antiquitatem ? How can you know either was anything but the conception of a storyteller?
Among the silliest things atheists do when arguing with agnostics on the question of the existence of gods
is to pose questions about flying teapots, spaghetti monsters, pink unicorns, and Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Essentially, they are defining gods as impossible things
and then pretending there is some sort of clever logic at play in asking the agnostic why he does not react to all of those things the same way. It is an absurd argument used by atheists the way Christians sometimes use the "God gave us free will."
a kind of desperation. I feel sorry for the poor atheists when it happens.
No, Bill
I am not acting on ad populum nor ad antiquitatem fallacies. I simply am saying to you that I have enough evidence available to me to determine that Casper the Friendly Ghost is a fictional character
and that I do not have enough evidence available to me to determine if there are gods or no gods.
Quote:Frank Apisa wrote: Quote:Do you believe Vampires do not exist?
No
but I am willing to guess they do not exist
at least not on planet Earth. I would say the evidence points to their being folklore creatures.
So, it is fair to say you are agnostic about the existence of Vampires? Further, since you couldn't possibly know; of what use is your guess one way or another? What kind of an A$$hole would opine about something they couldn't possibly prove? :wink:
It doesn't take an a$$hole to opine about something unproven
in fact, by definition, all opinions are about things unproven. I certainly have never suggested that people should refrain from opining or guessing about unproven things
but I have had several a$$holes suggest I have.
If you have enough evidence to make a guess or offer an opinion
I say do it. If you don't
do not. What is so hard to understand about that?
Quote:Frank Apisa wrote: Quote:Do you believe Genie's do not exist?
No
but since they are defined as folklore or fairytale creatures, I am pretty sure they do not.
So, it is fair to say you are agnostic about the existence of Genies? Further, since you couldn't possibly know; of what use is your guess one way or another? What kind of an A$$hole would opine about something they couldn't possibly prove? :wink:
It doesn't take an a$$hole to opine about something unproven
in fact, by definition, all opinions are about things unproven. I certainly have never suggested that people should refrain from opining or guessing about unproven things
but I have had several a$$holes suggest I have.
If you have enough evidence to make a guess or offer an opinion
I say do it. If you don't
do not. What is so hard to understand about that?
And very often, a guess is not of much use. Is that a criterion for making a guess?
Quote:
Frank Apisa wrote: Quote:Do you believe Darth Vader does not exist?
No
I know Darth Vader does not exist. Darth Vader is a fictional character in the Star Wars series.
What evidence do you have to God's existence that is any more compelling than that of Darth Vader? Does the theme of a story grant credibility to it? Are you relying on Ad Populum? Ad antiquitatem ? How can you know either was anything but the conception of a storyteller?
Among the silliest things atheists do when arguing with agnostics on the question of the existence of gods
is to pose questions about flying teapots, spaghetti monsters, pink unicorns, and Darth Vader.
Essentially, they are defining gods as impossible things
and then pretending there is some sort of clever logic at play in asking the agnostic why he does not react to all of those things the same way. It is an absurd argument used by atheists the way Christians sometimes use the "God gave us free will."
a kind of desperation. I feel sorry for the poor atheists when it happens.
No, Bill
I am not acting on ad populum nor ad antiquitatem fallacies. I simply am saying to you that I have enough evidence available to me to determine that Darth Varder is a fictional character
and that I do not have enough evidence available to me to determine if there are gods or no gods.
Quote:
Frank Apisa wrote: Quote:And finally, do you believe gods do not exist?
No.
So you are atheist as far as Casper and Darth Vader are concerned, but agnostic about the existence of Vampires, Genies and God.
I am not atheistic about Casper and Darth Vader. Atheism has to do with denying the existence of gods
not cartoons and fictional characters. I find it amazing that you are attempting to engage me in this conversation, Bill, without knowing something as basic as that.
Quote:It would appear that your agnosticism depends on your own willingness to lend credibility to stories you've heard.
I am willing to make guesses about some things
and unwilling to make guesses about other things. What the hell is your problem with that.
Some things I have enough evidence upon which to base a guesss
Casper, Darth Varder, Genies, Vampires, flying teapots and all that shyt
and some things
especially the existence of gods
I do not have enough evidence upon which to base a guess.
What the hell is your problem with that?????
Quote:
The exact same amount of evidence exists for the nonexistence of each of the above entities (NONE), correct?
No
absolutely phuking not!
Please provide all the evidence you have that gods do not exist
and I will go through this exercise with you. If not
blow it out you're a$$. Because you are the person claiming "the evidence for the nonexistence of each" is exactly the same
so all I have to do is to present one more piece of evidence that you present to show that gods do not exist
and you will be shown to be wrong.
It is interesting to me that you claim there IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT GODS DO NOT EXIST
yet you are willing to claim they do not exist. What kind of abject fool would do something as ignorant as that
and actually brag about it in public?????
