tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52912413020249030.post4212610829886324133..comments2024-03-12T11:58:24.510+13:00Comments on Otagosh: "For the advanced believer..."Gavin Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17965552923012880262noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52912413020249030.post-40000812025925787742015-07-25T07:12:27.167+12:002015-07-25T07:12:27.167+12:00You can mince words and quibble over definitions a...You can mince words and quibble over definitions all you want, my friend. You are still an advanced believer and that is still a problem. However, the fact that you acknowledge that "we also agree that love, friendship, hard work and honesty are positive values and practices" speaks very highly in your favor. The fact that you can find positive things to say about an unbeliever shows that you are not as closed-minded as most advanced believers. The very fact that you read this blog also attests to that! I believe there is hope for you yet!The Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327459017793489626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52912413020249030.post-89772201256909777642015-07-23T09:51:12.411+12:002015-07-23T09:51:12.411+12:00Dear Skeptic, since my powers of comprehension are...Dear Skeptic, since my powers of comprehension are so weak, you may want to reserve the title of advanced believer for yourself. My use of the word "belief" is consistent with the definitions provided by Google and Merriam-Webster. Also, you appear to be misinformed about my beliefs regarding the Bible. I don't believe that the book was ever perfect (including when it was originally written). Moreover, as you appear to acknowledge in your comments, beliefs can be based on facts, evidence and logical reasoning. I would agree that beliefs based on those things have more value than those based on whimsical, wishful or fanciful thinking, and it appears that we also agree that love, friendship, hard work and honesty are positive values and practices.Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02865316200703641028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52912413020249030.post-31259752240926525092015-07-22T08:13:30.337+12:002015-07-22T08:13:30.337+12:00Well, whaddayaknow! There's an advance believ...Well, whaddayaknow! There's an advance believer now! <br /><br />Well, Miller, I know you can't comprehend this at this time, but perhaps I can nudge you a little in a positive direction. It seems you're using the word "belief" in many different ways. Of course, my reference implies the "belief" of a true believer - a belief based on faith. Take for example your belief the the Bible, which presently is extremely imperfect, was perfect when first written but has since become imperfect. Do you have any idea how unsupportable such a belief is? How ridiculous it sounds?<br /><br />I believe religion has some value but overall the negatives far outweigh the positives. Of course science helps us understand the world around us. Love, friendship, hard work and honesty are all positives that I value and I practice. My point is that a life based on truth (determined by facts, evidence and logical reasoning) is much more fulfilling than one based on "belief". <br /><br />And I believe that.The Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327459017793489626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52912413020249030.post-54319650254267187542015-07-20T08:15:49.943+12:002015-07-20T08:15:49.943+12:00So The Skeptic doesn't believe in anything? Do...So The Skeptic doesn't believe in anything? Do you believe that religion has no value? Do you believe that science can help us to understand the world around us? Do you believe in love? Friendship? Do you believe in the value of hard work? Honesty? "No belief is clearly the ideal state" - Really? Please explain to me what the complete absence of belief looks like.Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02865316200703641028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52912413020249030.post-83013631546615820982015-07-20T02:13:49.950+12:002015-07-20T02:13:49.950+12:00Actually, to an unbeliever "advanced" se...Actually, to an unbeliever "advanced" seems like a pretty good word for it. Just as we have "advanced muscular distrophy" or "advanced dementia", we can also have "advanced belief". No belief is clearly the ideal state, a little belief is not too bad, but when belief gets to the advanced stages it means a person is pretty far gone. The Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02327459017793489626noreply@blogger.com