ivy

@Ivy

“Yawn

And around and around we go….”

That’s most unhelpful, and a little patronising..

I would really like to learn of the evidence of which you speak.

I need always to learn. An important part of being a skeptic for me is to always question, especially my own strongly held positions.

I’ve learnt that the more sure I am of being right t…[Read more]

@Ivy

“There’s way more evidence that God does exist than evidence that he doesn’t.’

Absolutely!

The bible is evidence, as is 2000 years of written testimony, personal accounts, tradition and even historical evidence (written after the fact)

What there is not is proof. There is no objective proof for the existence  of God. If there were, ther…[Read more]

@Ivy

Just so.

Simply put, the existence of god is an unfalsifiable claim. God cannot be argued into or out of existence.

For that reason, I don’t get involved in arguments  of  a definition or  qualities of a putative god.

Instead, I will post a favourite quote; Epicurus on god and the existence of evil:
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but n…[Read more]

@ivy

“I’m sure lots of people might laugh at that, but you know this is how dictators get started”

I’m not sure that’s true as a broad principle. Seems more like a slippery slope fallacy.

So far, I’ve not interpreted  the US situation  the same way. However, that’s not to say  you’re wrong. You may well be right on the money. I truly hope not,…[Read more]

@Ivy

My perception is that no one has ever had a democracy within the commonly accepted notion of “rule by the majority”.

Athenian democracy was actually  rule by referendum. IE all eligible voters voted on all important issues. Voters did not include women or slaves, approx. 2/3 of the population.

Not entirely convinced that  a claim of d…[Read more]

@ivy

I think believers are only ordinary people. (Most are VERY ordinary). They  believe for a lot of different reasons.**

I guess some prison conversions are genuine. However, I understand prison authorities are suspicious. EG when a 3oo pound Hell’s Angel called tree trunk claims he has found Jesus.

I’m sure some people  in prison really d…[Read more]

@ivy

You’d be welcome to come to Oz. A warning though, we have more than our share of climate and other morons.

A recent prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is a chronic Catholic and climate change denier. Did his best to block same sex marriage.

Of course you probably know that the happy clapper’s response to intelligence, Ken Ham, is one of …[Read more]