Where are you on Dawkins' scale?

[CharlieP]

In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins lists a seven-point scale, paraphrased as follows:


1. Strong Theist: I do not question the existence of God, I KNOW he exists.

2. De-facto Theist: I cannot know for certain but I strongly believe in God and I live my life on the assumption that he is there.

3. Weak Theist: I am very uncertain, but I am inclined to believe in God.

4. Pure Agnostic: God’s existence and non-existence are exactly equiprobable.

5. Weak Atheist: I do not know whether God exists but I’m inclined to be skeptical.

6. De-facto Atheist: I cannot know for certain but I think God is very improbable and I live my life under the assumption that he is not there.

7. Strong Atheist: I am 100% sure that there is no God.


Where do you fit on this (albeit extremely imperfect) scale?

[wjfox]

#6, De-facto Atheist

[wjfox]

I suppose it depends what God/religion you're talking about though.

For example, things like the Genesis story, and Noah's Ark - I feel 100% sure they're untrue.

I can understand and respect people who choose the "deist" position, since it could be some kind of alien intelligence you're talking about. If humans continue to evolve billions of years into the future, they could even become "Godlike".

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by wjfox

I suppose it depends what God/religion you're talking about though.

For example, things like the Genesis story, and Noah's Ark - I feel 100% sure they're untrue.

I can understand and respect people who choose the "deist" position, since it could be some kind of alien intelligence you're talking about. If humans continue to evolve billions of years into the future, they could even become "Godlike".

Dawkins also discusses that in The God Delusion (I read the first chapter online at lunchtime - still to get round to buying it) - yes, some people use vague and all-encompassing definitions such as "God is the universe" and "God is in everything", but for the purpose of discussion it's best stick to the traditional view of God as a deity.

[brightside.]

Originally Posted by wjfox

If humans continue to evolve billions of years into the future, they could even become "Godlike".

This is exactly my position. One day we might know all there is to know, then will that mean we are Gods ourselves?

[eighty4]

1 for me, there's only 3 other people that voted the same as me

The rest of you are going too hell

[Newcastle Guy]

I would also class myself as a de-facto atheist.

[bigchrisfgb]

A 7, but I'm sure a 8 could be on the cards for me, as my real hatred to religion.

[wjfox]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

A 7, but I'm sure a 8 could be on the cards for me, as my real hatred to religion.

But how can you be 100% sure that there's no Godlike being of any kind?

For all you know, this whole world and everything around you could be a gigantic Matrix-style computer simulation made by super-aliens. And you'd have no way of knowing.

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by wjfox

But how can you be 100% sure that there's no Godlike being of any kind?

For all you know, this whole world and everything around you could be a gigantic Matrix-style computer simulation created by super-aliens that rule the universe. And you'd have no way of knowing.

Because god is a lie, it's just a bunch of lies and stories from the past to explain the way of the working world back then. And also to rob people of their money and objects, threatening them with god and hell, and the only way to prove them wrong was to die.

The same is with all religions.

The same thing can be said about our controlling government and etc as a matrix style computer.

When I was workiong as a house removal porter last year, I had to move a vicor and his wife house, as their was no vicarage at their church the English Church payed for a house in the most expensive area of North Tyneside, re done the place out at no cost, even paid for the furniture, and will pay all the council tax and other bills untill the vicor retires, then that same house will go to another, and the same thing will happen. Whats the difference between our MP's doing this with tax payers money and churches doing this to the save the kiddies in africa, repair the roof, spread the message across to all funds?

[Tri-ring]

I'm a buddhist making the existence of god irrelevant.
Where does this place me?

I saw his recent program and found some parts arrogant in terms of positioning god as only being accountable for humans. If god created all and god is equal to all then it should be equal starting from micro organism on up.
Also as a physicist at heart I do not understand how god could ever intervene within his perfect world without setting off a butterfly effect which will result in destablizing the whole balance.

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by Tri-ring

Also as a physicist at heart I do not understand how god could ever intervene within his perfect world without setting off a butterfly effect which will result in destablizing the whole balance.

Now you have given them a reason to why god does not come down and tell us all if he existed or not.

[Tri-ring]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

Now you have given them a reason to why god does not come down and tell us all if he existed or not.

True but it also tells us that it is meaningless to give prayers and or follow the so called "God's will" because he can't touch anyone good or bad.
That is why the buddhism part tells me that god is irrelevant.

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by Tri-ring

I'm a buddhist making the existence of god irrelevant.
Where does this place me?

I did originally have an 8th option, but thought too many people would use it as a cop-out on semantic grounds.

[Noostairz]

on jewish grounds?

[nezzybaby]

I opted for strong atheist. My entire knowledge and understanding of the universe is based on an increase of information. I can understand complexity increasing over time in terms of life, science, technology etc. A god would imply that the most complicated thing ever to exist just popped into being one day, this is against everything i understand as logic, and i have to dismiss the idea 100%.

[ill tonkso]

I would say I am a 5, 4 at a push.

[Delirium]

4 or 5

[Octoman]

I would say a 5. I dont discount anything but most of what I have learned during my life has pointed to there not being a god. I dislike organised religion intensely but see that as something very different to the question of the existence of god. You can have a god without the concept of organised religion but can you have organised religion without the concept of god? In this sense it is parasitic.

I am willing to believe there are other races that may have abilities (gained via technology or evolution) that would give them the appearance of godlike qualities to us.

[nezzybaby]

I don't buy into layers of power will, the suggestion that god is just part of a wider chain of events contradicts the definition of god. God has to be the creator of everything including himself. In the matrix example, the creators of the matrix are lifeforms that have been through evolution themselves, who created the creator? If we become so complex that we can create life, it does not make us gods.