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Probability of theism (multiple choice)

Started by bandit4god, November 05, 2011, 08:48:10 PM

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bandit4god

From your perspective, what's the probability of bare theism (not rooted in any religion, just belief that there exists a God who created all things)?
a.  0
b.  infinitesimally small (less than any positive, finite real number)
c.  finite and less than 0.5
d.  finite and greater than 0.5
e.  1

Tank

If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

bandit4god

Quote from: Tank on November 05, 2011, 08:50:29 PM
That would be Deism not Theism then?

Deism would add the unnecessary premise that said God "stepped back" after the act of creation.  Bare theism is even simpler than this.

Tank

Quote from: bandit4god on November 05, 2011, 08:53:10 PM
Quote from: Tank on November 05, 2011, 08:50:29 PM
That would be Deism not Theism then?

Deism would add the unnecessary premise that said God "stepped back" after the act of creation.  Bare theism is even simpler than this.
No. Your going to haveto refine that please.
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

Gawen

Quote from: bandit4god on November 05, 2011, 08:48:10 PM
From your perspective, what's the probability of bare theism (not rooted in any religion, just belief that there exists a God who created all things)?
a.  0
b.  infinitesimally small (less than any positive, finite real number)
c.  finite and less than 0.5
d.  finite and greater than 0.5
e.  1
B
Although I cannot disprove a god you propose (why I cannot say 'zero'), the lack of evidence renders your question to no practical value or meaning.
The essence of the mind is not in what it thinks, but how it thinks. Faith is the surrender of our mind; of reason and our skepticism to put all our trust or faith in someone or something that has no good evidence of itself. That is a sinister thing to me. Of all the supposed virtues, faith is not.
"When you fall, I will be there" - Floor

Whitney

A deist god is possible; but there is no evidence of one nor would I expect evidence of one even if it did exist.  A involved god is possible; but once that involved god starts being described via religion it goes down to impossible again.  I also think something either is possible or it isn't...not sure what b,d,d answers are for.

As for probability....we have no other universes to compare to at this point so I don't think it's possible to determine probability.

xSilverPhinx

Isn't theism some belief in some personal god? I would say close to zero.
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Norfolk And Chance

The probability is zero, let's face it. ZERO.
Reality is the stuff that doesn't go away when you stop believing in it ~ Matt Dillahunty

Xjeepguy

If I were re-born 1000 times, it would be as an atheist 1000 times. -Heisenberg

Tom62

I consider the chances, that
a. the God of the Bible exists - 0%
b. a God exists that created everything - 0%
c. we might develop into God-like creatures ourselves - 50% 
The universe never did make sense; I suspect it was built on government contract.
Robert A. Heinlein

Asmodean

As worded, naught, or as close to as it gets.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on July 25, 2013, 08:18:52 PM
In Asmo's grey lump,
wrath and dark clouds gather force.
Luxembourg trembles.

OldGit

Quote from: AsmoAs worded, naught, or as close to as it gets.

I agree.  It's clear to me that no deity is making any detectable difference to me or anything else, so the small decimals become irrelevant.

history_geek

Pretty much what everyone else said.

The propability of "gods" described and definded by any and all theistic religions, ZERO.

Though, I hasten to add that that doesn't mean that there couldn't be beings that we might consider "gods" (depending on ones defenition), but they would and never could be those depicted and named by human religions.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C Clarke's Third Law
"Any sufficiently advanced alien is indistinguishable from a god."
Pierre-Simon, marquis de Laplace:
Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothése - I do not require that hypothesis[img]http://www.dakkadakka.com/s/i/a/4eef2cc3548cc9844a491b22ad384546.gif[/i

Asmodean

Hypothetically, I suppose any race advanced enough to create life and possibly destroy a solar system or two could be considered a "god-race"...

But gods who want to be worshipped..? I don't think so. I couldn't care less whether or not woodlice bow down before me - they are far beneath my notice.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on July 25, 2013, 08:18:52 PM
In Asmo's grey lump,
wrath and dark clouds gather force.
Luxembourg trembles.

DeterminedJuliet

"We've thought of life by analogy with a journey, with pilgrimage which had a serious purpose at the end, and the THING was to get to that end; success, or whatever it is, or maybe heaven after you're dead. But, we missed the point the whole way along; It was a musical thing and you were supposed to sing, or dance, while the music was being played.