But isn't a REturn less surprising? I would think that those who had no spiritual leanings to begin with would not be likely to suddenly develop them?
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Meaning pretty much what you said already, REturning to a religion isnt quite as surprising as an atheist turning to a religion. So i dont think the OP question is all that interesting. Maybe he meant turning in stead of REturning.. :shrug:
I guess if you look at modes of expression, expressing oneself academically to the intelligent community with philosophy and reason occupies one rung on the ladder, and expressing yourself such as occupies another
Q “ greatness, in this sense, bears a relation to quality of expression and conviction (Flew went out of his way to but his nous on the line - you recreationally and anonymously lurk on a chat forum - big difference) hardly your opinions aside, the bit in bold tends to indicate the paradigm shift from atheist so a person who believes in god's existence yet doesn't believe in the after life is an atheist? :crazy: once again, your opinions aside, is a person who ascribes the creation of the cosmic manifestation to a type of singular advanced consciousness an atheist? :crazy: why? because he voiced an opinion different from yours, and you are without a doubt the yardstick of normal behaviour in this world? with your beginning 5 points you state that he didn't convert to a religion and in your conclusion you state he did - perhaps you should pay more attention to those BS professors next time you want to construct a coherent argument ....
An appeal ad populum? Any first year physics student could put Tom Bearden to shame. No, a Deist, pay attention. Where do you keep coming up with these notions? That's a Deist, again. Nope, old age. Please point out exactly where I made that claim. Of course, you can't, because you choose to obfuscate, instead.
Q no an appeal to being able to express oneself publicly in academic circles as opposed to anonymously in ad hom saturated chat rooms so a deist who believes in god's existence yet doesn't believe in the after life is an atheist? :crazy: a deist is not a person? :crazy: so the opinions of all people over 80 can be instantly rejected? :crazy: determining a deist to be a sub branch of atheism is not an obfuscation?
Then, why are you here? Is that your conclusion? Is that your conclusion? Is that your conclusion? Is that your conclusion?
I see. So you consider a person "greater" on the basis that he doesn't use the occasional swear word? Of course what you need to understand is that in general people will talk to the level of the person they are talking with. If, for instance, we were talking about some science you're not clued up on I would talk to you in 'layman terms'. So, I ask you: does the using of the word bullshit make Q not as great as Flew, (even though I can pretty much guarantee you there was the occasional swear word used by him too), or is Q talking in a way and style that is along your level of understanding? Let it be stated for the record that calling a bullshit claim bullshit does not indicate that one is any less "great" than anyone else. If you think it does, the bullshit fits.
thats one minor aspect the other is that they publicly put themselves in the arena of academic circles, which is the larger picture that necessitates the former ... writing off philosophy as BS is certainly not a good beginning point for a serious philosophical discussion
Q because I have a delusional sense of grandeur on how great I am Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! no, but it appears to be yours
Come now, you don't REALLY believe that? Your magnificence is only evident. I'm not sure where you get that, I don't ever recall claiming that deism is the same as atheism? But, I did claim that deists first come to the conclusion a god exists, then seek to provide support for their conclusion. They also don't believe in an afterlife, as well as divine revelations, miracles or prophets, none of the supernatural events one might readily gobble up.
What do I make of it heh.. Hmm.. well, upon looking at it closely, I find it to be another man's opinion. Are you or I greater than him because our opinions differ? That is seemingly your opinion. Now that someone disagrees with your opinion, does that make them greater than you? Ok lg, ok.
“ Q that's right - keep it up or I will issue you with an infraction hence deism represents quite a paradigm change for your average atheist
brilliant no, but if I had an opinion that einstein was a doofus it would probably indicate I was more into discussing football results than physics so you have an opinion that all opinions are ultimately homogeneous in terms of value, or the differences between them are irrelevant or something? (the plot thickens ...) Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!