I am an atheist thread 3

[NaturalEnquirer]

Though again, I have to repeat that the style at least gets response

Mea culpa. Consider it a compliment - your posts require more than an off-the-cuff response.

Also, being a Friday night, I have partaken of a beer or two, so am back in chat mode. I am partially through with your response though.

However, there is part of it that I could post that would be useful to get out, and save us time later:

"“Please proceed to step 2.”

Take it easy on me! If I had more time, I’d attempt to work with your example of an improbable event, but how to work with it at the moment escapes me. The reason for this is you’ve given the reason for it being an improbable event is that it is the combination of improbable events. While this is absolutely true, it boils down to ‘it is improbable because it’s improbable’ Could you come up with any other single event that you could consider to be the most (or very) improbable?

Cheers!

Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to rush you, I was just trying to signal my response.

I don’t think I’m invoking an infinite regress. I thought I explained why the fundamental improbable events are improbable - they indicate a spontaneous reversal of entropy, which thermodynamics tells us don’t fly.

Maybe a more mundane example. Let’s say n number of coin flips, all coming up heads. The probability of that would be 1/2^n. As n gets big, that gets pretty darn improbable.
If you want a value of n, let’s say a billion.

Now – proceed to step two!

 

[phooney]

But that is still only highly improbable because of multiple less improbable events…

Sorry to do this… feel free to ignore my feeble presentation of Dawkins’ argument lol

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

Well, OK. How about a die with a billion sides, coming up on a particular face on a single roll. That’s one event.

 

[_A]

No it isn’t.

I love this A style of one line replies. It really makes the conversation a lot easier.

I am also happy that you chose simple opposition.
Now, what does your god do that can be measured in reality?

 

[_A]

OK… so which attributes of your old favorite, Zeus, are similar to the Christian God?

They are both invented stories about impossibly powerful beings with no physical evidence to back them up.
Just for starters.

 

[_A]

Uh,…

…you’ll have to rent the movie!

Is that because it is an offensive (to our hosts) reference you are making, and you are afraid to clarify it?

 

[_A]

for Kissimmee, FL °F | °C

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A rough winter in sunny Florida here to.

Keep yourself warm, smith!

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

They are both invented stories about impossibly powerful beings with no physical evidence to back them up.
Just for starters.

I didn’t ask for attributes of the stories, I asked for attributes of the characters involved. So “invented” is irrelevent.

Is Zeus claimed to be omnipotent?
Nope.
Eternal?
Nope.
Benevolent?
No.
Creator of the Universe?
No.

Does he have anything in common with God, besides being more powerful than humans?

 

[c659smith]

But that is still only highly improbable because of multiple less improbable events…

Sorry to do this… feel free to ignore my feeble presentation of Dawkins’ argument lol

And the Atheist’s creed is?

 

[phooney]

How about both being responsible for the creation of the first human woman?

Sure, one took a more hands on approach, and one just ordered it, but they were both responsible in mythology.

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

How about both being responsible for the creation of the first human woman?

Sure, one took a more hands on approach, and one just ordered it, but they were both responsible in mythology.

I’m sure you’re right about that – like I said, my Greek mythology is pretty rusty.

Kind of a tenuous reason to claim that the alleged entities are identical, isn’t it?

 

[phooney]

And the Atheist’s creed is?

No such thing as an atheist’s creed. I guess you haven’t been paying attention in this life, lucky you believe you’ll have an infinite amount of time, you’ll probably need it

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

And the Atheist’s creed is?

What?

 

[phooney]

I’m sure you’re right about that – like I said, my Greek mythology is pretty rusty.

Kind of a tenuous reason to claim that the alleged entities are identical, isn’t it?

shrug

That was just one property off the top of my tipsy head. Not too much seriousness tonight please

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

shrug

That was just one property off the top of my tipsy head. Not too much seriousness tonight please

Fair enough.

 

[_A]

I didn’t ask for attributes of the stories, I asked for attributes of the characters involved. So “invented” is irrelevent.

Is Zeus claimed to be omnipotent?
Nope.
Eternal?
Nope.
Benevolent?
No.
Creator of the Universe?
No.

Does he have anything in common with God, besides being more powerful than humans?

OK, forget Zeus…how about the flying spaghetti monster? Or Allah?
They are all equally valid stories. You don’t have to have something as ridiculous as ‘omnipotence’ as a claim before you reject them.

 

[_A]

And the Atheist’s creed is?

I didn’t know there was one…do go on.

 

[lkddav]

Whoa, hang on there, les. I told A no such thing. You are mixing me up with someone else. Please check out the dialogue leading up to that post again.

.

AOG

You are correct ! I got you mixed up with NA. I do apologias !!

les

 

[_A]

Fair enough.

That’s it, I am going to join phooney for a drink! Who is with me ?
(booze, tea or hot chocolate are all acceptable libations)

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

OK, forget Zeus…how about the flying spaghetti monster? Or Allah?
They are all equally valid stories. You don’t have to have something as ridiculous as ‘omnipotence’ as a claim before you reject them.

Both of these examples are, of course, derived from the Judeo-Christian God. So are you conceding that there is something unique about that entity?