Why We Believe in Gods - Andy Thomson - American Atheists 09

Andy Thomson gives his talk titled 'Why We Believe in Gods' at the American Atheist 2009 convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

Buy Andy's book Why We Believe in Gods from the RDFRS Store
http://store.richarddawkins.net/products/why-we-believe-in-gods-a-concise-gui...

See more at http://RichardDawkins.net

Also see Richard Dawkins talk from this convention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbza-UtseE0

Produced by The Richard Dawkins Foundation and R. Elisabeth Cornwell

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Andy Thomson
• Gods
• God
• Religion
• Science
• Psychology
• Origins of religion
• cognitive mechanisms
• Evolution
• Charles Darwin
• On the Origin of Species
• Richard Dawkins

[hgaddy2]

I believe that religion & science will be forever intertwined with one another. Throughout history, whenever scientists make a discovery that disproves or refutes a previously accepted supernatural claim made in a holy manuscript it isn't nearly as detrimental as reason would lead you to believe. Religions simply take the newly acquired knowledge and attribute it to the will of their god. It's perpetual denial.

[Ragnarockalypse]

I want to believe that I'm an olympic gold medalist in several events and Nobel prize winner. It gives my life the meaning I desire. Do you really want to base the your existence on a man-made cosmic dictator? Why not let the meaning of life be life itself. Let science, reason and humanism be the guide and nevermind the unicorns, leprechauns, ghosts and gods.

[Quetzalcoatlv3p14]

I'm not dodging the questions. I'm dismissing them as being fallacious or at least the statements that come before them. You don't need to answer a nonsensical question. When asked a nonsensical question, you can point out it's absurdity rather than entertaining it.

My answer is this: Causes in this universe happen according to laws. These laws and causes are regular and consistent. Because of this, we see patterns. Causes are not random as you claim in your straw man argument.

[01Laffey]

Whatever dude, your sounding as if you are rambling, cant be bothered to waste my time with you

[1tabligh]

Dodging ALL the questions and quibbling in vain!

The atheist Delusion!

How can it be supposed that belief in the existence of God is the acceptance of contradiction, whereas belief in the uncaused nature of an effect such as matter is not contradictory?

How could it be believed that matter should itself be the origin of millions of attributes and characteristics and thus be the equivalent of the purposeful, wise and all-knowing Creator?

[Quetzalcoatlv3p14]

"Materialism looks at the world with one eye *closed* and, as a result, is unable to answer numerous questions!"

Essentially what you are saying is, "materialism doesn't look at the world with a layer of supernatural bias"

Thanks for defeating yourself. That makes it easy on me.

[1tabligh]

Is it at all feasible to regard all the geometry, functioning and movement of the universe as the outcome of matter in its ignorance?

Materialism looks at the world with one eye *closed* and, as a result, is unable to answer numerous questions!

[Quetzalcoatlv3p14]

Fallacy of complex question. Please look it up before you respond and don't assume you know what it means. Thanks.

[1tabligh]

The atheist Delusion!

Should the scientist, who is aware of the natural causes and of the factors determining each step of creation towards perfection, of mankind's evolution, of the minute accuracy and exactitude that rules every change in the nature that surrounds us, come to believe that these wondrous laws and amazing interactions have somehow *fortuitously* emerged out of *mindless* matter?

[Quetzalcoatlv3p14]

"Your delusion that science has put out the notion of God is purely *rhetorical* "

-No. We have merely rejected your arguments on the grounds that they ARE rhetorical.

"even thousands of scientific experiments could not possibly suffice to demonstrate that no non-material being or factor exists."

-This is a blatant argument from ignorance.

[1tabligh]

The atheist Delusion!

Your delusion that science has put out the notion of God is purely *rhetorical* and has nothing to do with logical method, because even thousands of scientific experiments could not possibly suffice to demonstrate that no non-material being or factor exists.

Your delusion is nothing more than a *fanatical* illusion based on unproven theories.