Are you an atheist?

[dan-cat]

When did I attempt to argue from authority or ad hominem? Despite many posts implying the contrary, I didn't attack anyone's intelligence, or their political beliefs. If you are refereing to the original post, I was simply restating one of Dawkin's conclusions for the benefit of those who hadn't read the book. I wasn't saying it was a fact, and I wasn't saying it to attack anyone in particular.

Perhaps I misunderstood.

Could you please explain what Dawkins correlation between level of education and atheism has to do with your poll?

 

[Rich]

No they are just the opposite. The cranks are those that insist it can only be divine intervention for everything in life and those who insist that any creature above man can't exist. The latter has always puzzled me with the evolutionists.

So you're now suggesting that God is a creature?

 

[Rabbie]

But have you observed it yourself.

No but i have read the peer reviewed literature.

As a side note why do the galaxies further away that are moving faster mean the expansion is slowing down.

Because they show the expansion speed at a previous time. The evidence shows that the red shift at a certain distance is roughly constant. See Hubble's work for confirmation of this.

 

[Alisa]

Perhaps I misunderstood.

Could you please explain what Dawkins correlation between level of education and atheism has to do with your poll?

ok, I will. I read the book, came to work, and wrote a post about how I can't get Microsoft's stupid tree view to scroll automatically while dragging an item (btw, if you know the answer, can you please respond to that post? It is in the VBA section). Anyway, I was sick of working on that, so I thought hey, lets see what the percentage of atheists is on this board, just for fun? I don't have any international figures for comparison, but I know that less than 5% of U.S.-ers self identify as atheist. The results of my poll so far indicate that there are probably more atheists on this board than there are in the general population of the U.S., although it is hard to tell for sure because lots of people on this board are not from the U.S.
So that's it. I was just bored and thought it would be a good way to waste some time. It wasn't meant to insult anyone's intelligence. And also, why would I bother arguing with you all if I didn't think you were intelligent?

 

[Mike375]

By that I assume(always dangerous I know) that you enjoy hair-splitting. I suspect that 500 years ago you would have been arguing over the number of angels that could dance on the head of a pin.

From your previous posts in this thread I know that you are not a supporter of organised religion so I would not doubt the accuracy of your post

The reason for it is simple. Any supernatural that can handle or play a part in the universe is not likely to have some personal interest in man.

As to the Bible/Koran I somethimes think there is truth there but all that is written would indicate a low horsepower supernatual.

But to totally deny the potential for a supernatural (or more than one) is to lock out potential answers while at the same time making a declaration that no other being in the universe is higher than man. Remeber that chimp is 97% of our DNA but look at the enormous difference between chimp and man.

 

[Rabbie]

No they are just the opposite. The cranks are those that insist it can only be divine intervention for everything in life and those who insist that any creature above man can't exist. The latter has always puzzled me with the evolutionists.

As someone who believes in Evolution and who has studied the literature I can assure you that there are many evolutionists who don't not regard Mankind as the ultimate pinacle of evolution. In fact if you read Dawkins you would find he claims that it was a religious fallacy to claim that man was the ultimate "made in the image of God". You really should read him. You might learn a little more.

 

[Mike375]

So you're now suggesting that God is a creature?

Well I am inclind to think any supernatural will be life like and thus a creature of sorts. Can't tell you what one looks like

 

[Rich]

but look at the enormous difference between chimp and man.

What difference?

 

[Brianwarnock]

As to the Bible/Koran I somethimes think there is truth there but all that is written would indicate a low horsepower supernatual.

QUOTE]

Perhaps one of His underlings has been left in charge and the reason we are in a mess is that It has forgotten to apply the Service Pack.

Brian

 

[Mike375]

As someone who believes in Evolution and who has studied the literature I can assure you that there are many evolutionists who don't not regard Mankind as the ultimate pinacle of evolution. In fact if you read Dawkins you would find he claims that it was a religious fallacy to claim that man was the ultimate "made in the image of God". You really should read him. You might learn a little more.

I am aware of what he says.

Thus if we use Dawkins then the universe should contain beings above and beyond man. How far above.....is there a limit?

 

[Mike375]

No but i have read the peer reviewed literature.
Because they show the expansion speed at a previous time. The evidence shows that the red shift at a certain distance is roughly constant. See Hubble's work for confirmation of this.

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Got it.....need 10 characters

 

[dan-cat]

ok, I will. I read the book, came to work, and wrote a post about how I can't get Microsoft's stupid tree view to scroll automatically while dragging an item (btw, if you know the answer, can you please respond to that post? It is in the VBA section). Anyway, I was sick of working on that, so I thought hey, lets see what the percentage of atheists is on this board, just for fun? I don't have any international figures for comparison, but I know that less than 5% of U.S.-ers self identify as atheist. The results of my poll so far indicate that there are probably more atheists on this board than there are in the general population of the U.S., although it is hard to tell for sure because lots of people on this board are not from the U.S.
So that's it. I was just bored and thought it would be a good way to waste some time. It wasn't meant to insult anyone's intelligence. And also, why would I bother arguing with you all if I didn't think you were intelligent?

Great response

If you re-read your original post though. It does come across as a bit prejudical against people who would disagree with your position doesn't it?

If that wasn't your intention then fine, sorry. My bad.

 

[Alisa]

Thus if we use Dawkins then the universe should contain beings above and beyond man. How far above.....is there a limit?

Not necessarily. I think you are using the concept of "above and beyond" from a human perspective. From the perspective of natural selection, the only "above and beyond" that matters is surviving long enough to reproduce, and reproducing successfully. Everything else is completely beside the point. So what you are saying is, are there beings that survive and reproduce "better" than us. Probably. But so what. The entire concept only applies to natural begings, not SUPERnatural beings, which is what you claim god is.

 

[Rabbie]

The reason for it is simple. Any supernatural that can handle or play a part in the universe is not likely to have some personal interest in man.

As to the Bible/Koran I somethimes think there is truth there but all that is written would indicate a low horsepower supernatual.

But to totally deny the potential for a supernatural (or more than one) is to lock out potential answers while at the same time making a declaration that no other being in the universe is higher than man. Remeber that chimp is 97% of our DNA but look at the enormous difference between chimp and man.

Thanks for your reply. I still don't see how you reach the conclusion that eliminating the possibilty of the supernatural means that I believe that nothing in the universe is higher than man. Since I only know of Life on earth I cannot have a definite opiniion on how advance these life forms may be. Even considering life here on Earth I can think of creatures that are faster than Man or bigger than Man or stronger than Man Even if you consider bacteria like MRSA able to kill man despite being much much smaller.

By the way since I posted in answer to you that a chimp has 97% shared DNA with us I scarcely need reminding of this

 

[Alisa]

If you re-read your original post though. It does come across as a bit prejudical against people who would disagree with your position doesn't it?

Please accept my apologies, that was not my intention.

 

[Rabbie]

Great response

If you re-read your original post though. It does come across as a bit prejudical against people who would disagree with your position doesn't it?

If that wasn't your intention then fine, sorry. My bad.

A gracious reply from you too. I hope that we can argue these things without falling out.

 

[dan-cat]

A gracious reply from you too. I hope that we can argue these things without falling out.

Yep lets keep trying. This has been a great thread so far.

 

[Alisa]

I hope that we can argue these things without falling out.

Me three. Otherwise, who will help me when I am stuck on my project?

 

[Rabbie]

I am aware of what he says.

Thus if we use Dawkins then the universe should contain beings above and beyond man. How far above.....is there a limit?

It may well do. As has already been said the universe is a vast place and we have not explored much of it yet so we just don't know yet. Is there a limit? probably not given sufficient time.

 

[Mike375]

Alisa

I can only base the following on Ausralia.

In the professions atheism is much less common with the highest earners. For example, medical specialists that are staff specialist are far more likley to be atheist than the private practice specialists. Yet the highest academic qualifications are usually found with the private practice specialists.

It is rare to find atheism in high earning sales and especially where the sales are canvassed for.

Atheism is most common in occupations that are salaried and when the person has a degree of academic qualications and doubly so if those qualifations don't provide a lot of opportunities for higher incomes.

I suspect the reason for the above is when a person pushes very hard they simply turn up more things that seem to be unexplainable. They often go to the brink of disaster but some helping hand from nowwhere just seems to catch them in time.