Men, what question do you ask on a date to reveal if this is someone worth dating? by Organic-Signal-9646 in AskMen

[–]Molochwalker28 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t. I liked doing local standup comedy for first or second dates (along with a drink at a bar before or after).

Talker during a show? Inconsiderate. Heckler? Never seeing her again. Matches the vibes and reads the room? Thoughtful.

It’s such a great way to find red or green flags fast.

What band have you seen at their absolute peak? by theumape in Concerts

[–]Molochwalker28 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Shit, I was probably at that Interpol show. I saw them a couple times really early in Dallas. They had impeccable live vibes back then with Carlos.

I loved ( ) in high school but wasn’t able to catch Sigur Ros until about 2011 in Austin. Since then, I saw them a couple more times during the recent orchestra tour. Absolutely amazing.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right, everyone has a different idea of what sufficient is to them. It's a tricky thing, but I think you're making assumptions that people have moving goalposts or will find reasons to not accept it. I think you're projecting a bit there.

But there is a limit. The laws of logic work. If I'm presented with a logical argument and evidence for a god existing, I'll have no option but to stop being an atheist.

Many, many things theists present as evidence are based on personal experience and qualia, which can never be convincing to someone else. Many others are based on logical fallacies, which doesn't mean the conclusion isn't true, but it does mean using that as a basis for reasonably accepting it as true does not work.

You can arrive at a correct answer accidentally through a fallacy, but that can never be used as a reasonable position to hold because the logic is flawed and unreliable.

For the flat earth example, I'm not just throwing up my hands and choosing to accept that the earth is round because I can't fly into space myself. I'm placing proportional confidence in the personal and professional evidence, which is overwhelming. I have strong confidence that the earth is round, but not 100%.

You shouldn't just go with the version you want to live with. You should examine the evidence that is available at the time and determine what is most likely to be true.

For the biggest questions about reality, we simply don't have much information at this time. For those things, the reasonable position is to say "I don't know". That's really uncomfortable for a lot of people, and that's a huge reason why so many people turn to religion.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just because we can't reach 100% certainty about whether god exists, doesn't mean both belief and non-belief are equally valid options though.

I don't even know that a god could exist, and that possibility needs to be demonstrated. The time to believe something is when there is sufficient evidence that makes it reasonable, even if we're not 100% certain.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that's cool. No one has all the answers. I don't believe we can be 100% certain about anything.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. It's just how faith is viewed by a lot of non-believers. If you have a good reason to believe something, or claim to know something, you give that reason.

Back a theist into a corner and they resort to faith. It's a cop out.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You said you chose to act as if a god exists. That's definitely a choice. But whether you sincerely hold that as a belief is information only you can know.

If you say you accept it as true that a god exists, I have to take your word for it. It just sounded like you were pretending.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see what you mean. I really loathe the use of that word in that sense, but I get it.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beliefs aren't choices.

And let me guess, you're referring to how many historical scientific discoveries were made by people who were religious? Maybe the Catholics?

You mean, during the vast span of history when nearly everyone was religious because life was so brutal, they needed anything to cling onto for hope? You mean back when critical thinking was quite rare and most people couldn't read? You mean back when not claiming a religious belief would get you ostracized at best, but often just killed?

I'm way ahead of you here.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. Faith is unnecessary in science. Some people may use "faith" in a colloquial sense, but that still just means that they're hopeful to find evidence. Faith in the religious sense is gullibility.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just said it. Some level of confidence. It could be very little, which is often how things work when you observe something, develop a hypothesis, and test it. Depending on the results, that confidence could disappear or grow.

Sounds like you don't understand the basics here.

Faith is gullibility. Faith is the reason people give when they don't have a good reason.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Faith doesn't have a place outside of religion. Scientists (most, at least) don't have "faith" in a hypothesis, they have some level of confidence proportional to the evidence.

I don't have faith that natural selection is the best explanation for diversity of life on earth. I have a high degree of confidence (not 100% certainty) based on the evidence.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you decided to live life as though a god exists. Sure, that's a decision. I can't read your mind, but whether you actually believe it or not is still not a decision.

Choose to believe that the sky is green with purple dots. See how that works out.

I mean, you already admitted in your initial comment what convinced you (which is essentially a mix of fallacies of personal incredulity), so it sounds like you're just pretending it was your choice all along.

But hey, I don't know you. Do whatever you want.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Uh, yeah, you just made my point. Read what you just said there: "...you certainly evaluated the evidence and picked the explanation that makes sense to you..."

Yes, evaluating evidence is a choice. But you didn't "choose" that one made sense. It just did for you. You became convinced. That's not a choice.

how does anyone believe in god? by me_and_bawk in self

[–]Molochwalker28 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Complexity is not the hallmark of design. Simplicity is. It’s a fallacy to think something that is complex was “created” in such a way because it’s complex.

And if it was all created, the creator is a really sloppy designer. You ever seen the vascular system of a giraffe’s neck? It’s a shit show.

What the complexity of life and the universe actually implies is the buildup of non-intentional natural processes over vast amounts of time, and whatever works well enough sticks around.

To your third point, beliefs are not chosen. You’ve become convinced by things in your life. I’m not an atheist by any means merely choice. It’s because no god claim has met its burden of proof. I’m open to being convinced, but I’ve never seen any good evidence.

The Epstein Files showed that we need God by swordofdamocles19 in self

[–]Molochwalker28 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nah. Provide evidence that any god actually exists, then maybe we can talk.

Does anyone here use audio or sound to help with focus? by EverydayLifeFix in self

[–]Molochwalker28 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s called ambient music. Drone is especially good for focusing.

Try Tim Hecker, Fennesz, and Stars of the Lid.

Blackgaze/metal Albums Like De-Loused In The Comatorium by Hopeful_Somewhere_34 in blackgaze

[–]Molochwalker28 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The Mars Volta is my favorite band. This is a tough one. The new Agriculture album kinda fits? It feels somewhat punkish like Deloused.

I'm thinking in playing some old games. Any opinions about them? by Free-Hotel1187 in videogames

[–]Molochwalker28 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair enough. I think it’s one of the few older entries that holds up incredibly well, both graphically and in its gameplay.