h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I like this article. I'm a Christian myself, but I get your point entirely. The argument that people should believe in God purely as a way of hedging their bets and somehow avoiding hell is incredibly spurious, not to mention cowardly and completely lacking in integrity. I would respect an atheist infinitely more than someone who is prepared to believe purely because they've got no backbone whatsoever.

I don't normally involve myself in any religious debates but I just thought I'd show support for common sense

Then I pray for my sake that your God has the same view of atheists as you...
Thanks for the kind words - I'm making a collection of these sorts of things - I'm planning that eventually I'll just be able to say "Pascal's Wager - see article XXX for details", and save a lot of my (and others) time in these sorts of debates... they DO have a tendency to go round in circles sometimes...

I know what you mean - that's why I try not to get involved. They generally seem to just run along similiar lines - "Look at my opinions and my knowledge!"

It's a good idea to have an article though. Feel free to quote me as saying that Pascal's Wager is a big load of old dog's nob.

Interesting article, Reddude. Shall I add this to the Foundation's library?

be my guest...

Interesting stuff..... I had heard the term "Pascals' Wager", but had never read anything on it other than that!

Yes...religious discussions do go round in circles......and after a while the tired old arguments really do need to be put away!



It's been my experience that each person carries his/her own beliefs, and not one thing in this world will change them......this is as it should be.

Myself...I claim no theological knowledge. I just really enjoy watching folks argue over unprovable points!!!

NM

Well, where do I stand then? I have no belief in contemporary (traditional, classical, not sure what you would call it) religion, there are two many things I want to question and not always sure whether I want to hear the answers. So I'd like to call myself an agnostic - losing all faith means to mean losing hope and meaning to life - I mean - if all we do is eat sleep and die what is the point? There has to be a point in someway, no matter how meaningless.

So I prefer to believe that there is some omnipotent being keeping an eye on everything and guiding us to some sort of destination - whether we want to go there or not is a different question. But as for God, have to say, belief is entirely lacking, so cheers, I have some backbone! (I think )

actually, people's beliefs definately *do* change. Sometimes from arguments, sometimes from experience, but I don't think anyone carries the same beliefs around with them wherever they go...

(Bagpuss - "Agnostic" is more someone who is unsure about the existance of any god - you seem to be fairly certain that one exists, but not what he/she/it is like - I'm not sure what that'd be called...)

Ya' know, My Red Dice....I think you're right! Come to think of it, I know my beliefs are not the same now as they were a year ago....much less when I was a child.

I suppose life experience has a lot to do with what one believes at any given time. I still don't think arguments make much difference, though. That usually only serves to create a defensive nature.

NM

*smiles* but look! you're opinion on something has just changed because of an argument!

Fair enough, RedDice, but I always knew the definition of an agnostic to be someone who did not necessarily believe in a God as such, but someone who did not go to the extremes of denouncing all religion, but instead wonders what did happen, what is going on, why has all this happened. I still don't believe in God, and don't necessarily believe that one at all exists, I just need a reason to live thats all (wow, sounds deep! (well, coming from me anyway...))