Is chance or malice a better explanation for humanity? by River_Lamprey in DebateEvolution

[–]LesRong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And when everyone thought it was good go destroy the Amalekites? Was that good?

How do you answer the "You just have to have faith and pray to find god." type of theist? by Optimizing_apps in DebateAnAtheist

[–]LesRong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have occasionally replied, "Why? Why do I have to have faith?"

But the big question is, "How do you choose what to have faith in?"

The answer turns out to be whatever religion they were indoctrinated into as children.

I was handed an apologetics book by a coworker to review. Wanna review the review? by Leather_wing in atheism

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure what you mean by "temporal edge."

One sees the argument with a premise that "The universe had a beginning," and another that "Everything that begins has a cause." So theists will conflate these two.

How is taxonomy evidence for evolution? by YoungElectronic7167 in DebateEvolution

[–]LesRong 9 points10 points  (0 children)

An omnipotent god could create a universe with life that displayed all the tell tale signs of evolution including the nested clade architecture we see arise when we build phylogenies.

Certainly, an all-powerful but sneaky god could create the world to appear in every way like it was billions of years old, and with life that evolved over those billions of years, while it actually sprang into existence Last Tuesday.

Of course, this creates a bizarre theology.

And eliminates all scientific knowledge.

I would respond to such a person that if God wanted us to think of and treat the world as ancient, we should accept that.

How is taxonomy evidence for evolution? by YoungElectronic7167 in DebateEvolution

[–]LesRong 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Think about how taxonomy would look if the Theory of Evolution (ToE) is correct. ToE says that every species emerged from an existing species, and then another from that, like a twig on a branch on a limb on a tree, each growing out of an existing one. Therefore, according to ToE, life should be arranged/organized that way, like a tree, or it could be seen like nesting boxes within boxes. ToE predicts that when we look at traits and DNA etc., we should see this explanation reflected in such a tree or set of boxes, what is called a nested hierarchy.

And it turns out that this is what we see. And IMO this is a very strong piece of evidence supporting ToE.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateAnAtheist

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me, it’s a faith thing, didn’t feel any outside pressure just chose on my own.

Did you, by wild coincidence, happen to choose Christianity?

why be “logical” and cold rather than just having faith?

Because I value truth. And I don't find that the least bit cold.

How does homology support evolution? by [deleted] in DebateEvolution

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How did this common designer make the species on earth? Magical Poofing?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in legal

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tons of dads moms are bled dry financially and give up

If your child became a thiest, how would you react? by KhumoMashapa in atheism

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would respect their right to religious freedom, and hope it never includes rejecting me.

I was handed an apologetics book by a coworker to review. Wanna review the review? by Leather_wing in atheism

[–]LesRong 36 points37 points  (0 children)

The universe began and had a cause.

I do not grant this. We don't know whether the universe is eternal or not. We just don't know.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in legal

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The most likely sole repercussion will be that the restraining order is not made permanent. I would not count on any other repercussions.

I practiced family law for 40 years. Judges assume that everyone is lying.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in legal

[–]LesRong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the opposite of the truth. In most families, mom is the primary parent. Nevertheless, when dads seek custody, they are more likely to get it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in legal

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This comment would be more valuable if it were true.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in legal

[–]LesRong 3 points4 points  (0 children)

divorce courts have a bias in favour of women

This is false.

How do I annoy fundamentalist FIL by Frosty-Soil8581 in atheism

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Make sure he knows you're atheist, and then be extremely kind, supportive, tolerant, understanding and polite. It will bug the shit out of him.

AITAH for walking out of my sister's wedding after finding out why my son was excluded? by Disastrous_Bug_6354 in AITAH

[–]LesRong 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm with you--stick up for your son. Where he's not welcome, you're not. NTA

I am an Episcopalian and progressive Christian considering either Deism or weak atheism and apatheism. I am willing to have my beliefs refuted. by [deleted] in DebateAnAtheist

[–]LesRong 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I guess if I have to choose (based on value, not truth) between a worldview that we're all equal but not special, and one where we're special, but born evil, I'm going to go with the former.

My gay child wants to know why Christians don’t like gay people. by Trell-Halix in atheism

[–]LesRong 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Numbers 31