I really stay moral as more of a "just in case" scenario. Quite frankly I hate all of you and a freedom from these religious hindrances would bring me much joy. But it's probably better for your sake if I act on the chance that there is someone judging me.

Dude, life IS just electrical impulses through the brain. Lifeless electrical impulses is an oxymoron, that's like tasteless salt.

There are electrical impulses that are not part of a living thing. Lightning for example.

BRenolds1:

Considering that hundreds of millions of atheists are able to get along just fine without the policing of God to prevent them from living despicable lives, your views come across as ridiculous, and they makes you sound like possibly the worst kind of person: one motivated only by self-interest, even at great cost to everyone else. I don't think you understand what it means to fear God.

I believe that God has given all of us conscience. Whether one has faith in God or not does not change this. You ignore your conscience by regarding your fellow man/woman with such disrespect and contempt.

You need to see a psychologist, my friend. If the only thing keeping you from doing this kind of stuff is the metaphorical cake at the end of the test, you need help.

...Because the cake is a lie?

Now you've done it, Hydrogen. You've just incited my unfathomable spiral off the precipice into vice and mutually assured destruction. I hope you're happy.

What about doing right things just because they're right? Human punishment, divine punishment...the motivation to do right shouldn't always be negative. Shouldn't a person feel good about doing right?

I believe in a deity, but I'm always deeply, deeply troubled by people who claim that without religion there would be no morals. It shows a general willingness to refuse to take responsibility for oneself, and it shows a lack of faith in humanity. I think that people can choose to be good, whether or not they are in fear of retribution of a human or divine variety.

Also, this article seemed interesting in relation to this topic: http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/kurtz_23_1_1.htm



I do believe that a deity exists, but I don't believe that if there isn't one, Life loses meaning. I think it gets a new kind of meaning. If there is no divine, there's no big picture or big plan, you're not part of something bigger than yourself, you are just yourself. And if there's no divine, and sentience just happened, then you should be grateful, always, for the breathtaking, staggering coincidence that made you, specifically, with thoughts and emotions, out of the chaos of the universe. If there's no God and the life you live now is all you get, with nothing afterwards, then make it count. Help people to make theirs count too, because they only get one, also. Do right, enjoy life to the hilt, and when you're gone even if your soul is gone, maybe people will remember you.

I do believe in the divine, though, so what I just typed is, for me, more of an exercise in imagination than anything else.

Hence, Existentialism

I'm down with making my own meaning or living without.

Don't think I'll ever tire of posting this comic.
http://xkcd.com/167/

God exists, look around us. The chances of life being the result of an explosion in space are the same as the dictionary being the result of an explosion in a printing press. I have had a few experiences in which I was quite sure God was standing over my shoulder guiding me, usually followed by an inspiration.
Secondly, the definition of faith is belief sans the need for proof, if you need proof you have no faith.

I agree with Rowan completely. I couldn't have said it better myself.

That might be true, but what if there are a billion billion printing presses? One of them is bound to make a dictionary.

There are a billion billion (estimated) planets, so life's odds are actually pretty good. And by necessity, we're going to end up on one of the planets that actually made life, because if we didn't, we wouldn't exist.

I believe that you have missed the point...

Then perhaps you should state it instead of uselessly pointing out a lack of understanding.

My point was the entire rest of the post.

To me, it looks as if you had three points. I adressed the logical problems with the first point, but seeing as I can't speak for your personal experience, nor do I place much value in faith in the first place, I didn't adress the last two.

OOOh, I believe we have both had a misunderstanding.
My statement about faith is kind of an admonishment to those who simply want proof.
My dictionary point is something I personally believe.
My personal experience is something which to me proves God's existence, it also restored my wavering faith.

This is not simply a "personal belief". This is a claim about probabilities. Pjmburg correctly pointed out that your evaluation of the probability was incorrect, given an arbitrarily large number of opportunities.

That may prove God's existence to you, but it doesn't hold much (if any) weight in a (somewhat) formal debate.

Is it equally right to have faith in God as it is to have faith in (for instance) a teapot orbiting the sun? If not, what makes one kind of faith better than the other?

As to the different kinds of faith, one is not faith by definition, it is a proven fact.
I concur to your statement that it was informal, I think I have already explained my choice to use it though. (elsewhere, don't look for it here, you will drive yourself crazy)

Rowan, infinite monkey theorem. Infinite monkey theorem, Rowan.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Yeah, a thousand monkeys and a thousand typewriters and a thousand years... yeah. I just do not really believe in the big bang. The chances are astronomical (Q.o... Yeah, I groaned as well...)
If we were the result of this, we would all be completely different, we would have very few similarities, our ability to reason (though greatly diminishing now) would be different, I cannot remember where I had that epiphany or why, but I do remember the thought.
Yes, I guess I kinda am, Faith is almost a necessity for human life.

Faith is not a lack of need for evidence. It is believing something without evidence, and defending that belief against any evidence to the contrary. If I approached you on the street and said "For a hundred dollars, I'll give you this magical potion which will allow you to fly. However, I can't tell you how it works or show you anyone flying," would you buy it? I would hope not.

That argument makes no sense. Please clarify and explain your reasoning.

You are correct, I worded that terribly.
I do have to say, with my common sense, I would probably buy it, but I would probably buy it to derive the contents... I am shocked... nobody groaned at my pun... (makes note to try harder)


Indeed, The cake is most definitely a lie... Though truthful is the pi...
First you will be baked... then there will be cake...


[Please don't double-post. Use the edit button.]