Originally Posted by
CryoDragoon
The reason you see me as having a closed mind is because I am an atheist.
A closed mind has already made up his mind regardless of evidence or data. They believe so much in something they cannot effectively, and logically think about the alternative. Being an Atheist, I HAVE effectively and logically thought about theism. I still do whenever I come across something a Theist has posted, I am able to think about it regardless of my own belief.
This makes me open minded. The fact is that because I think logically and effectively thought about theistm, I come to these things called "conclusions". Mine being that there is no God.
Which makes me an Atheist.
Yet, that still doesn't make me more or less open minded than I am.
So: I am not a liar.
To your second point: About the burden of proof:
I cannot prove something does NOT exist. I say that there is nothing else because there is no proof that something DOES exist, thus I am pretty sure that there isn't anything out there.
example:
Someone comes up to you saying: "Pink Unicorns exist"
So you say: "Can you prove it does?"
And he says: "You cannot prove that they do NOT exist, so they must exist"
(this is, again, a logical fallacy)
If you make a claim that something does exist... you must be able to prove it, or else your entire claim falls apart. If that is true, than you can say anything and say that it's true.
So technically: the "burden of proof" DOES, indeed, lie with theists (who say that some kind of god DOES exist). THEY claim something exists, and therefore THEY should prove that something exists.
If I say to you I have faeries in my house, but that they are invisible for everyone except for me.
This is perfectly true, because you cannot disprove that.
Now is the above statement true? I'd like an answer on that question.
P.S.: I look forward to your answer, Tek(I can call you that... right?)... I really like this conversation...
@merlin:
I did have something about that in my post...
But if you want it again then here it is:
I do not believe in any kind of afterlife. I think the only thing up there are neurons and electricity... And whenever we die... the same thing happens as the thing that happens with a lightbulb: It simply stops shining...
So: I think that we DO only become ashes and dust and everything when we die... No wishful thinking here :P
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