"Atheist Challenge"....

This is a response to Rationalresponder's video: "Atheist Challenge".

The question posed was, "Do you believe that the universe has always existed or not [always existed] and why?"
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While the universe has always existed or not always existed is a true dichotomy, you're asking about beliefs, not the condition of being true. [Q] = Universe has always existed / [Q] = {Subject} has {true condition} [¬Q] = Universe has not always existed / [¬Q]= {Subject} has not {true condition}
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A true dichotomy for beliefs is that beliefs are held or not held.

[P] = Belief in subject
[¬P] = Lack of [P]
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This is an example of how a true dichotomy works in regards to one subject. That one subject is "universe has always existed".

True dichotomy: "Do you believe that the universe has always existed or lack that belief?" True dichotomy: "Do you [X] or [¬X]?" [X] = Belief that the universe has always existed
[¬X] = Lack of [X]
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This is an example of how a true dichotomy works in regards to another subject. That other subject is "universe has not always existed". True dichotomy: "Do you believe that the universe has not always existed or lack that belief?" True dichotomy: "Do you [Y] or [¬Y]?" [Y] = Belief that the universe has not always existed
[¬Y] = Lack of [Y]
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When you ask if someone believes that the universe has always existed or not, you are compounding two different beliefs that a person can lack on both subjects.

False dichotomy: "Do you believe that the universe always existed or not [always existed]?"

False dichotomy: "Do you [X] or [Y]?"
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The problem with asking such a question is that it doesn't allow for other options, such as me not holding either belief. Just because I don't hold a belief on one subject as true, doesn't mean I have to hold a belief on another subject as true.
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Subject 1: The universe always existed.
[X] = Believe
[¬X] = Lack belief
Subject 2: The universe has not always existed.
[Y] = Believe
[¬Y] = Lack belief
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To fix the erroneous nature of your question, rationalresponder, you have to ask two separate questions:

Q1: "Do you believe the universe has always existed or lack that belief?"
AND
Q2: "Do you believe the universe has not always existed or lack that belief?"
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Now, onto to 'and why' part of the question:

There's only 1 real reason anyone ever lack belief in any one subject being true: A lack of justification to hold that belief as true.

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[oklahomatwister74631]

I am sorry, I wish I could have given you a thumbs up on your argument but...IF I do not believe murder is wrong then that means to me murder is OK and justified. If I believe this statement is true then I can do just about what ever I want and you cant say anything about it. As a result this is not not a universal truth but a personal belief. If it works for one and not another it is not universal. ie gravity,creation. Help me if I dont understand. Thanks, thought provoking video.

[D34dH053]

@oklahomatwister74631

"IF I do not believe murder is wrong then that means to me murder is OK and justified."

_

Correct. Fortunately for us, you live in a society where many, but not all, common morals are shared. This is true for any society. When you start acting in a manner where your ideologies do not align with the group, you will be separated from the group: i.e. jail.

____

"I can do just about what ever I want and you cant say anything about it."

_

Except for what I just said before this.

[D34dH053]

@oklahomatwister74631 "As a result this is not not a universal truth but a personal belief." _ Yes. And I wish to live in a society where I share personal beliefs with others. ___ " If it works for one and not another it is not universal" _ Which is why objective morals, objective right/wrong is demonstrably silly concepts. ___ " ie gravity,creation" _ Gravity is a phenomena. Creation, not so much.

[SeekEnlightenment11]

So what happens if you lack both beliefs? This makes a tear in the fabric of space-time or something?

[D34dH053]

@SeekEnlightenment11

"So what happens if you lack both beliefs?"

_

Nothing. You are just in a position where you aren't justified to believe either claim.

___

"This makes a tear in the fabric of space-time or something?"

_

LOL, no. Only if lacking belief that a coin laded heads up and you lack belief that a coin landed tails up on a coin toss will tear the fabric of space. Some people just withhold belief until there is sufficient reason to believe.

[D34dH053]

@FaceOfGod2

"We have science preached to us in my Christian church often"

_

Science isn't preached. The findings of science and the method are taught and open to scrutiny. The rest is testing and discovery. Whatever was "preached" to you, it wasn't science as preaching does not allow for discussion.

[winterstellar]

@FaceOfGod2 Busted! Either you or your preacher-friends don't know crap about science, you only achieve to make a fool of yourself in the eyes of anyone who's actually opened a genuine science book....but I guess you'll manage to fool some ignorant fundies. Haha, tell your friend to write a science paper on "DNA being a language" That would amuse the scientists. By the way, is RNA a language? Are viruses languages? Where does a molecule become a language? I'm a linguist, and it's all new to me:)

[FaceOfGod2]

@winterstellar Wrong! We have science preached to us in my Christian church often.In fact among members r 5 in various fields of science & a professor of science & a few med docs too.We r pioneers in the belief that science should keep moving forward as all it really is-is a gradual unveiling of how eveything in our universe was created! I.e has intelligent design.The Quantum sciences r revealing amazing things about a wonderful design.BTW:DNA is a language-must be from intelligence-not RANDOM

[FaceOfGod2]

wow. What a crappy video. do u feel a need to bore people to death in order to prove a point? I felt like I was in a college class that I didnt have a real interest in taking and wondering why in the world this professor is going on and on lecturing to us using a chalkboard to paint a picture as well as asking myself WHY in the world he is doing this. you actually show mathematical equations to explain a about a type of question on beliefs? what a freaking nerd boy! A belief is a personal thing.

[bennn05]

This is not going to help and theists change their fucked up minds. THEY DONT UNDERSTAND!!!