[QUOTE=jasong;342967]Yes, I "agree" with that. (the scare quotes are there because I agree it's a possibility even though I don't believe it is actually true)[/QUOTE]Then we are in complete agreement. I don't believe the proposition that something is mysteriously making C-14 atoms disappear is actually true.


Isn't solipsism a wonderful belief system? If followed "religiously" all the world would agree with one another and live in peace and harmony. Interpret the scare quotes to your own taste.

[QUOTE=chappy;342939][url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/atheist-chaplains-worm-food_n_3393122.html?utm_hp_ref=religion&ir=Religion[/url]


"They don't believe anything," said Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas)[/QUOTE]

Reminds me of a conversation I had with my colonel when I was a soldier six weeks after I was drafted in the army:

- Well, it has been a good time so far to have you in my unit, but I want you to visit the chaplain, soldier!
- Sir, with all respect to the chaplain, but I am not religious.
- OK, then go see the humanist counselor (Dutch army does have them, as well as both protestant, catholic, jewish and humanist 'homes of relief' for the military)
- Sir, I saw invitations and announcements of him on the bulletin board, he appears to be a nice fellow, but I am used to take care of my own matters.
- Hmmm, in that case I want you to visit the physician.

I went there and he asked what was wrong. 'I don't know' I said, 'I hoped you would tell me, the colonel has sent me.'
His answer was clear. 'Ah yeah, well, he meant the shrink, I think.'

So, I went to the military shrink and he asked me if I wanted to remain in the army or not. After signing 11 documents I was released from the army and spent the rest of the year as a computer programmer working for a commercial company with double the pay I had as a draftee.

The unit commander was glad to be rid of me so the rest of the unit could be brought back into line again. I still wonder what the chaplain would have told me.

Four years later I volunteered for the Gulf war of '91 in another army and had a wonderful and interesting time.

[QUOTE=jasong;342968]Mr. Silverman claimed that faith is "believing in something that you know isn't true," which has many Christians throwing their hands up in disgust.[/quote]So, Christians can show us objective evidence that that "something" is true?

[QUOTE=xilman;342973]...
Isn't solipsism a wonderful belief system? If followed "religiously" all the world would agree with one another and live in peace and harmony. Interpret the scare quotes to your own taste.[/QUOTE]

Wouldn't everyone's solipsism disagree with everyone else's?

[QUOTE=davar55;342994]Wouldn't everyone's solipsism disagree with everyone else's?[/QUOTE]

Not necessarily.

Some agree with others.

[url]http://www.satireandcomment.com/0208toast.html[/url]

Hey you Agnostics! Put that in your celestial pipe and smoke it!

[QUOTE=cheesehead;342987]So, Christians can show us objective evidence that that "something" is true?[/QUOTE]
The evidence is the Holy Spirit. If people don't want to have an encounter with Him, He won't bother to show himself. So each side has ample evidence to satisfy themselves that God does or doesn't exist.

[QUOTE=jasong;343008]The evidence is the Holy Spirit. If people don't want to have an encounter with Him, He won't bother to show himself.[/QUOTE]

That's not evidence.

That's belief.

Very different things.

.....and how do you know a bodiless spirit is male?

[QUOTE=kladner;343017].....and how do you know a bodiless spirit is male?[/QUOTE]

'Cause He's a dick.

[QUOTE=chappy;343026]'Cause He's a dick.[/QUOTE]

Is he a dick?

Or are the followers?