What Is Your Evidence?

[momoney555]

MANY SKEPTICS SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RELIGIOUS ARE JUST WEAK PEOPLE  WHO NEED A CRUTCH TO LEAN ON AND THEIR RELIGION IS JUST A FARCE. DO YOU HAVE EVIDENCE IN YOUR LIFE THAT GOD IS REAL?   HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED A MIRACLE OR ENCOUNTERED AN ANGEL?


My Own Evidence:

Numerous times throughout my life, I have received money from very unexpected sources as an answer to prayer.  The miraculous thing about it was that the amount of money I received would turn out to be the exact amount (to the penny) to cover the need I had prayed about.  Throughout my life, this has also happened in response to prayer for better jobs, a house, a new car, a lost loved one returning home.  Of course I cant say that every situation I have prayed about turned out like I wanted it to.  The answer to some prayers has been "no", but I do know my prayers have all been heard and are still being  heard.

[Falconer02]

My Own Evidence:

Numerous times throughout my life, I have received money from very unexpected sources as an answer to prayer.  The miraculous thing about it was that the amount of money I received would turn out to be the exact amount (to the penny) to cover the need I had prayed about.  Throughout my life, this has also happened in response to prayer for better jobs, a house, a new car, a lost loved one returning home.  Of course I cant say that every situation I have prayed about turned out like I wanted it to.  The answer to some prayers has been "no", but I do know my prayers have all been heard and are still being  heard.

Hey Momoney,

I've had all of these things happen to me. The difference is that I don't believe in your god and I don't pray. I just work hard and keep focused. And not to mention why would this god really care about your specific monetary means, your car, your home, etc. when there's millions of praying people that are homeless, suffering, starving, dying, etc. in Africa each day? It would seem like you're worshipping a "trolling god" who plays favorites...



You may believe whatever you wish, but don't forget to give yourself a pat on the back for overcoming the odds. Because that's what it sounds like to us freethinkers.  

[falcon9]

MANY SKEPTICS SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RELIGIOUS ARE JUST WEAK PEOPLE  WHO NEED A CRUTCH TO LEAN ON AND THEIR RELIGION IS JUST A FARCE. DO YOU HAVE EVIDENCE IN YOUR LIFE THAT GOD IS REAL?   HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED A MIRACLE OR ENCOUNTERED AN ANGEL?

False attributions of effects to supernatural 'causes' are not valid evidence.

My Own Evidence:
Numerous times throughout my life, I have received money from very unexpected sources as an answer to prayer.  The miraculous thing about it was that the amount of money I received would turn out to be the exact amount (to the penny) to cover the need I had prayed about.  Throughout my life, this has also happened in response to prayer for better jobs, a house, a new car, a lost loved one returning home.  Of course I cant say that every situation I have prayed about turned out like I wanted it to.  The answer to some prayers has been "no", but I do know my prayers have all been heard and are still being  heard.

Many athletes, (for example), have certain ritual behaviours which they engage in prior to/during their sport.  The performance of these rituals has no affect on their performance other than to serve as a reassuring routine.  There's no cause & effect magical relationship between "prayer" and any significant event falsely attributed to "prayer".  A belief that there is does not make it so and such a belief constitutes an unsupported claim.

[alaric99x]

I don't pray but I've also received unexpected amounts of money at various times in my life, and also in the exact amounts that I needed, because I always used all the money for something.  I would say that's sufficient "proof" that your god is sending me money without even being asked.

[falcon9]

I don't pray but I've also received unexpected amounts of money at various times in my life, and also in the exact amounts that I needed, because I always used all the money for something.  I would say that's sufficient "proof" that your god is sending me money without even being asked.

That's as much 'attributible evidence' as claiming "satan" sent funds without being asked would be.
 

[alaric99x]

Well, to tell the truth, I can't really be sure what entity or spiritual diety might have sent me the funds, but it was always a miracle and spiritual giving when unexpected money arrived.  Yesterday I found a shiny penny in the parking lot, undoubtedly somebody's god planted it there for me to find.  Idiots....

[falcon9]

Well, to tell the truth, I can't really be sure what entity or spiritual diety might have sent me the funds, but it was always a miracle and spritual giving when unexpected money arrived.  Yesterday I found a shiny penny in the parking lot, undoubtedly somebody's god planted it there for me to find.  Idiots....

"Evidence" has a specific meaning-parameters which do not include attributing effects randomly to causes.  This bit of reason escapes those who randomly attribute effects to supernatural causes.


“You can not convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it is based on a deep-seated need to believe.”
-– Carl Sagan

[alaric99x]

Does this mean you're contradicting me?  So, explain how the penny ended up in the parking lot, how can you possibly explain that if it wasn't the act of some beneficent entity?

[alaric99x]

You know, it's getting close to the end of the month and I'm really just trying to get to my 30 posts again.  Incidentally, Sagan was one of my favorite authors, I'm sure I read everything he ever wrote.  He died too young, RIP.

[alaric99x]

Babble on and Babylon.  Incidentally, I've been to Babylon, and Kish and Ur and some other ancient cities in Iraq.  I took a trip down the Tishle (Tigris) and up the Elphat (Euphrates).  I entered the Ishtar gate in Babylon and saw the blue ceramic tiles, but the most decorative and elaborate were missing.  No problem with that, those tiles were on an imitation Ishtar gate, taken away by German archeologists and on display in a museum in Berlin, my home city at the time and where they still are today.

[falcon9]

Does this mean you're contradicting me?  So, explain how the penny ended up in the parking lot, how can you possibly explain that if it wasn't the act of some beneficent entity?

As you know, (given your previous posts), the burden of proof rests with those who would claim that the penny was left for you by some "benefi-cent entity", rather than on a skeptic who isn't required to 'prove' that "gonad-the-powerful sprite" didn't leave you a cent, (or sense).

[hawkeye3210]

Does this mean you're contradicting me?  So, explain how the penny ended up in the parking lot, how can you possibly explain that if it wasn't the act of some beneficent entity?

Was it heads up or heads down?

[alaric99x]

Well, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that you understand that I'm making the same absolutely moronic assertions as many others have made.  Some coincidence happens, Oh schitt, it's magic, don't understand stastistics, must have been some kind of god or magic force that made it happen.  I just have trouble understanding how a people who consider themsevlve so advanced can be so gullible and stupid.  I've lived in Europe about half of my life, almost exactly, and they can be pretty stupid too over there, but they're not nearly as gullible about religion as they are over on this side of the pond.

[alaric99x]

Does this mean you're contradicting me?  So, explain how the penny ended up in the parking lot, how can you possibly explain that if it wasn't the act of some beneficent entity?

Was it heads up or heads down?

Well, thank you for asking, but I don't remember where the head was pointing, all I can tell you is that it was a shiny new penny.  I've never found so many coins in the 12 years I was in Europe.  They're not poor, but they're not too proud to bend over and pick up a penny.  You're often poorer than they are, but you're too proud to pick up those cents.  No problem, I have more than enough, but I never have a problem bending over to pick up one more cent.

[falcon9]

Well, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that you understand that I'm making the same absolutely moronic assertions as many others have made.  Some coincidence happens, Oh schitt, it's magic, don't understand stastistics, must have been some kind of god or magic force that made it happen.

Understood.  Although many different peoples used to attribute weather phenomenon or agricultural ups & downs to random supernatural influences, its still somewhat prevalent among religious adherents today. 

I just have trouble understanding how a people who consider themsevlve so advanced can be so gullible and stupid.  I've lived in Europe about half of my life, almost exactly, and they can be pretty stupid too over there, but they're not nearly as gullible about religion as they are over on this side of the pond.

British Traditional Wicca.  The runic magic of scandanavian countries and Germany. Drudism.  Times change - at least in some societies; then we have the judeo-xtians and muslims who are a few thousand years behind the times.