A Lawyer's Opening Statement for Disbelief in God

[natalie1061]

Wow Geoff! While I totally respect your opinion, I sure hope you "come around "so that you can experience the wonders and miracles of God. I think everyone doubts at one time or another, but when we finally accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we truly find meaning and joy in our lives.

[carnedelobo]

"...find meaning and joy..."? I believe, if you pay attention to the arguments presented here, he has found meaning and joy in his life already. He has developed and presented a sound argument for the abandonment of religion. YOU, on the other hand, did nothing more than the typical "come to God. Bless you..." statement of a young teen.

[aikifan77]

Really? We all have doubt? I don't. I'm an atheist and since I dragged my arse out of the catholic psychological abuse system I haven't doubted my position one iota. Maybe the reasons the religious have doubts is because there is so much to doubt. Do you cross the road without looking? Every time you look you doubt your faith. You obviously don't trust god or jesus enough to protect you on a 12 foot journey across the road.

[FrauFischlein]

Wow, Natalie1061, you're a douche! :D

[geoffhenley]

Thanks for your encouragement. I think mock trials have been done. You may seen that evangelist Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for the Creator." He tries to create a mock trial (of sorts) by asking softball questions to different religious apologists. Strobel then disingenuously as though he has been persuaded by each one. His sophistry is tantamount to an NFL quarterback interviewing only his head-nodding teammates to conclude that they will be Superbowl champs...FOREVER.

[saxmanchiro]

We are tried, convicted or exonerated on preponderance of evidence in the civilized nation's courts. It is about time we put deity belief under the same standards as our courts. To think that religion is above scrutiny is ridiculous. How anyone with a normal functioning mind can not see this, is truly troubling. The highly educated out there are the most apt to leave the delusion behind. I'm sure lawyers are not any different from scientists on this trend. If a mock trial were done, god loses.

[geoffhenley]

Indeed, to obtain a conviction where criminal punishment imposed, whether it is probation, confinement or death are imposed, the burden is higher: proof beyond a reasonable doubt. To even make an allegation; you have to have probable cause. By comparison, the Bible presumes our guilt at birth. A doctrine so harsh and fallacious fails on its face.

[saxmanchiro]

Geoff

I hope a movie deal comes from your book. It is time for a blockbuster trial movie with Religion(any) as the defendant. The Plaintiff could be Reason. The claim filed:

'Brainwashing of  children by religion is child abuse'. That would pull some interest into the courtroom. With 'Religulous' in the theaters right now, it would be perfect timing. Even SNL could do a mock trial.

Has anyone ever done this in the past?

[sfriendshipz]

duck quack quack quack

[sfriendshipz]

sry about this comment... remove it if possible.

anyway, as a atheist agnostic, i do not entirely strike out the possibility of "god", but i do not believe in any of the god which has been recognized by the earthly.

[MANCKIE]

ShaundalynChic

He thinks he evolved from a rock, that is his faith, dont confuse him lol. Its his choice at the end of the day. I just feel sorry for him.

I feel sorry for the fool that posted it too.

These people are tools of Muslim propaganda

[bonnienettles]

He thinks he evolved from a rock, that is his faith, dont confuse him lol. Its his choice at the end of the day. I just feel sorry for him.

Are you on drugs?

[MANCKIE]

he evolved from a rock and so did all drugs trees plants and life on earth from plants to dogs to donkeys to you name it.

hillarious

[bonnienettles]

he evolved from a rock and so did all drugs trees plants and life on earth from plants to dogs to donkeys to you name it.

hillarious

Not denying the drugs I see.

[MANCKIE]

My life is not empty. I do not need drugs to fill a void that is not there.

Atheists are empty they have never offered the world anything. Look at the atheist nations and go live in one, be around your own kind.

[mottdog2002]

Actually the most peaceful and balance countries to live in are Atheist countries. Go figure.

[MANCKIE]

i am not going to call you dumb, people can read your post and realise that themselves.

You think Communist nations are peaceful?

Pol Pot, Lenin, Stalin..etc etc..peaceful? lol

[mottdog2002]

According to the United Nations' Human Development Report (2005) they are also the healthiest, as indicated by measures of life expectancy, adult literacy, per capita income, educational attainment, gender equality, homicide rate and infant mortality. Conversely, the 50 nations now ranked lowest in terms of human development are unwaveringly religious.

[mottdog2002]

I ment countries like Australia

Canada

Denmark

France

Holland

Japan

Switzerland

Norway

etc.

[mottdog2002]

Other analyses paint the same picture: The United States is unique among wealthy democracies in its level of religious literalism and opposition to evolutionary theory; it is also uniquely beleaguered by high rates of homicide, abortion, teen pregnancy, STD infection and infant mortality.

[mottdog2002]

The same comparison holds true within the United States itself: Southern and Midwestern states, characterized by the highest levels of religious superstition and hostility to evolutionary theory, are especially plagued by the above indicators of societal dysfunction, while the comparatively secular states of the Northeast conform to European norms.

[ShaundalynChic]

How can you have reasonable doubt about something that has no real evidence either way?

[wushenlunzhe]

It is simple. The doubt is in the claim of the existence of anything that does not exhibit any evidence of itself. There is no evidence of "god".

[ShaundalynChic]

"There is no evidence of "god"."

"The doubt is in the claim of the existence of anything that does not exhibit any evidence of itself"

That is not the way it works. You are assuming your own conclusion. In court you have to prove things, not assume them. There is no evidence against the existence of a God. A court simply with no evidence on either side would not make a ruling or would dismiss the case against the one bringing it.

[ShaundalynChic]

Change the case to "have the words 'xxbytm' ever been typed". Obviously I just did, but other than that. If there is no proof that it has been typed, but no proof it hasn't been either, no court is going to render a judgment that those words have never been typed. Now one side or the other can try to present statistical evidence, showing they have or haven't been typed accidently or on purpose. But assume that no evidence is introduced. The court won't rule that xxbytm or God doesn't exist.

[Birdieupon]

Not only does God exist, but the following also: Purple Unicorns Running Trees Slugs with metal hearts Skyscrapers smaller than an atom Intelligence-flavoured icecream God's own therapist Elephants with laser-guided sight Elvis, still alive Thor Zeus Osiris Don't you think it's a touch unfair to place your burden of disproof in equal measure to my burden of proof? I proposed them, therefore you shouldn't have to waste your time proving me wrong. You are entitled to be simply unconvinced.

[ShaundalynChic]

"Don't you think it's a touch unfair to place your burden of disproof in equal measure to my burden of proof?"

The video guy is the one thinking he will win a case by bringing the case then presenting no evidence. That just isn't how a courtroom works. If you bring a case, like a declaratory judgment case to prove "Elvis is alive" or "Elvis is not alive", it doersn't matter which, if you present no evidence, your petition will be dismissed.