There were a lot of precursors, but having children really prompted me to reflect on innocence, guilt, and the love between Creator and created.
reply
Childlessness is a big cause of Atheism and Hedonism today. :)
reply
Might be the other way around.
reply
Yeah, it might very well be the other way around.
reply
Or the other way 'round, again.
Correct me if I'm off, but this answer makes it sound like you came to recognize the utility of a belief in god rather than became convinced through evidence that there actually is one.
In other words, do you believe that even if there actually is no god, the belief itself is simply a useful delusion to subject yourself to? A fantasy that you choose to engage in (faith) that helps a person manage the extreme difficulty of life.
reply
That's a good point, I tried to be concise in my answer but I was indeed convinced both by the utility of belief and by logical + empirical evidence. The clearest evidence to me was introspective observation of the existence of my own soul, its relationships, and its reactions.
reply
As an atheist, I think that's perfectly fine.
Although I think that standard of evidence can equally support any of the thousands of varieties of religious beliefs that currently exist throughout the world.
To each their own. Freedom of religious expression and consequently from religious laws that are not your own is a critical part of what makes America great.
reply
I’m a little confused as to what “standard of evidence” you are using. By what standard are you standing on to make that claim?
reply
They probably meant introspection. It is usually considered poor evidence in science and is therefore seldom used.
reply
Yes.
The clearest evidence to me was introspective observation of the existence of my own soul, its relationships, and its reactions.
This is a statement that someone of literally any religious or spiritual belief can make. Because it can be used to support any belief, it makes it a worthless piece of 'evidence' for anyone who exists outside your own head.
reply
I honestly don't understand how more bitcoiner's aren't atheists. We like proof of work, not faith or trust.
reply
That's fair, I see God's creation as the absolute ultimate proof of work.
reply
So you saw God create the earth and the universe?
reply
Did you see Satoshi create bitcoin ? Every single keystroke?
reply
reply
I believe that’s an illogical statement. You’ve obviously put your faith in bitcoin and trust it’s systems. Why would you put your faith and trust in it? I believe bitcoin is the most moral and ethical monetary system there has ever been created which is completely in line with God’s word and the Bible.
reply
The code can be independently verified. The BTC blockchain can be audited all the way back to the genesis block. That's the whole point of it: any individual can verify, not trust.
There's nothing verifiable in the Bible, or any other religious scripture.
reply