ddb@mrvax.DEC (DAVID DYER-BENNET MRO1-2/L14 DTN 231-4076) (04/10/84)
I don't feel the need to flame about religion much here, but since people are asking about the existence of non-theists in this group, I will stand up and be counted. I don't believe in any god because I haven't seen any direct evidence, I see no logical necessity, I see no historical evidence of "goodness" being associated with religion, and I have not seen any people become "better" because of their religion (sometimes they have thought they became better, but I haven't thought so). So what reasons are left?
notes@iuvax.UUCP (04/12/84)
#R:decwrl:-701100:iuvax:1700015:000:648
iuvax!dsaker Apr 11 21:17:00 1984
Reply to ddb:
Don't forget spiritual experiences. I can imagine being convinced by
a subjective experience. After all, the state of being convinced by
a rational argument is subjective. Basic logical truths are said to
be obvious because they rest on the subjective state of conviction
that they inspire in most people. How would you convince someone of
the correctness of modus ponens if they doubted it?
Of course, if one has not had a convincing subjective experience, then
one really has no ground for belief (or conviction).
See my note 171, where I talk further about these matters.
Daryel Akerlind
...ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!dsaker