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Originally Posted by photon
I think you got the part about Atheists subtly wrong.. they're not staking their eternity on having the right answer, they're saying there's no evidence of any God or Gods and therefore have to believe the resulting position; most Atheists would change their position if confronted with compelling evidence.
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I don't think anybody is saying that there is material evidence for the existence of God and an after life. The argument is based on circumstantial evidence and personal experience. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that you're staking eternity on a losing bet if I'm right. Conversely I'm wasting many of the precious fleeting moments of my short existence if you are right.
Quote:
Originally Posted by photon
"We should walk by and express what we know to be true until proven wrong." That doesn't really make any sense though, because if you know it to be true then it's been proven. It should be "believe it to be true". EDIT: At least given the general definition of "know", not a "know it in my heart" which is just another way of saying believe.
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Well I don't like the word "belief" for the same reasons you dislike the word "know": It can be misinterpreted. A ten year old boy can express a belief in Santa Claus because the concept is pleasing to him. Yet he knows that someone could prove that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Many folks believe that there is a God and a heaven because it is a comfort too them. Yet these people wouldn't want you or I to try to convince them that their belief is true or false. You would rob them of their comfort by planting doubts in their minds. I would show them a God that they are accountable too. Both of us would take them from their happy place and probably not be invited back to their dinner party.
How about the word "confident". I'm confident that there is a God and a judgment and a heaven and a hell. You are confident that these things don't exist. Agreed?