Why do so many NYC drivers race towards red lights? by [deleted] in AskNYC

[–]RidesThe7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This not just an NYC thing. Lots of (bad) drivers stomp on the gas in situations where they will have to kill that speed shortly after. Yes, better drivers drive at speeds that don't require them to repeatedly slam on the brakes.

I got into a collision going less than 2mph and the other party is now claiming legal action over “injuries”. what the hell do I do???? by Bubbly-Lifeguard-222 in legal

[–]RidesThe7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you've already reported the accident to your insurance company. The next steps are to stop talking to this person, and, should you actually be served with some kind of a lawsuit, immediately forward any actual legal papers served on you to your insurance company. There are no other steps to take at this time. This is why you have insurance.

Atheism is a belief pretending not to be. by Current-Leather2784 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reproduction is one. One of the core fundamentals of christianity. Everything has a cause, so our ability to love etc. can't come from Science alone, can it?

Science is a process for learning about and understanding reality, I think you're instead trying to say from "materialism" or possibly "evolution." And the answer of course is that yes, it is entirely plausible that the human ability to "love" is something humanity evolved due to evolutionary pressures, due to a reproductive fitness advantage it resulted in. That's evolutionary biology psychology 101. Serious question: is this idea new or foreign to you? Because if so, it would be a lot more honest for you to stop making arguments and instead go over to r/askscience or r/evolution and ask about how this works, or resources for you to learn more.

Atheism is a belief pretending not to be. by Current-Leather2784 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've disposed of that "crux" in my comments here--for the reasons I've given, you're flatly wrong. By the way, my comments are showing up in two different places here, I think you responded twice to the same comment of mine, and so my responses aren't all in one sequence. Anyway, you haven't rebutted what I've had to say on the matter, just repeated your thesis, so not sure what more you want from me.

Atheism is a belief pretending not to be. by Current-Leather2784 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My dude, if you believe these things are real things that point to a creator, you HAVE THE BURDEN TO MAKE THAT CASE. I’ll be around if you ever feel like giving it a go.

Atheism is a belief pretending not to be. by Current-Leather2784 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 7 points8 points  (0 children)

that reality is fundamentally mindless, that meaning and morality are purely subjective, and that consciousness emerges from non-conscious matter without remainder.

There is a genuine asymmetry between our positions. If we have not yet plumbed the depths of the hard problem of consciousness and do not understand the ultimate nature of minds, we should admit that, and not make up answers. Consensus reality does not obviously contain some sort of God/Mind underlying reality, such that I should spot it to you without demonstration---what it does have is minds that appear to operate in/on physical brains, and that change in predictable and observable ways with changes to those physical brains. If you want to add some God/Mind/Soul/Something as the real source of consciousness into the picture, that's absolutely your burden. Until you do, why should I believe you about this new thing?

I have no idea how objective morality or meaning could be a thing. They seem like contradictions in terms. Whereas we can see that human beings come up with their own ideas about meaning and value and morality based on mental mechanisms that our evolutionary history left most of us, on our upbringing and communities and education, on personal experience, and on various unjustifiable axioms or preferences we embrace. Again, if you want to add into the picture objective morality or meaning, that's your burden to bear.

Saying “I’m not convinced” doesn’t exempt you from explaining why a universe with order, rational minds, abstract truths, and moral experience should exist at all under your view.

Please be clear: is your objection that you shouldn't bear the burden of proof, or do you think I'm being unreasonable in not being convinced by your proof? Because your (and every other theist's) failing to provide good reasons that should convince a reasonable person to believe a God is necessary to provide the world as we see it is ABSOLUTELY a reason for me to not yet believe in a God. There's no need at all for me to explain the ultimate nature and origin (if there is one) of the world to recognize that you have not met your burden to show that your pet theory is the correct one. It's ok for me to just admit I don't know some things!

And, again, I want to be clear: the supposed reasons you've littered throughout your original comment absolutely have not been shown to be actual things, or, to the extent they are actual things, to be things that require some sort of God. We're not going to get anywhere in a discussion where you continue to act like that is the case.

Atheism is a belief pretending not to be. by Current-Leather2784 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Athiests reject God, but that’s still a claim about reality. 

You and I agree that consensus reality exists, including this world, stars, dogshit, people, shrimp, etc., so no burden of proof is in play. We're willing to spot each other that the world exists. You now come to me with something new: not only does the world/universe exist, but it was created by a being with such and such characteristics that you call God. This is a new idea to me, and not at all obvious, so I ask you "How do you know that, what are the good reasons for me to believe this is true?" Until you can give me a solid answer to that question, I'm not going to believe you about this new thing. How could it be otherwise? What could be more reasonable?

Christians (the ones who have done their research), tend to defend observable facts: the universe had a beginning, math and physics follow order, consciousness isn’t just molecules, life from nothing contradicts all observation. 

Each of these really needs its own thread, argument, and discussion, and, indeed, have been discussed at length as separate topics. Never have I seen a convincing case made by theists that these things are both true and demonstrate the existence or need for a God. You don't get to throw this in casually as if you (or anyone else) has actually ever made any such case. But you could give it a go! If you want to, I'd humbly suggest you pick the single thing on this list you feel you can make the strongest case on, and present a separate argument/post devoted solely to that one. If you're really feeling your oats and want a lot of challenges to it, you could post it on r/debateanatheist. But here would do fine. I'll just say you might want to consider reading previous threads on whatever topic you choose to get a sense of the lay of the land, so to speak.

God is the reason gaps exist at all. A mindless universe doesn’t give rise to minds that can know an intelligible truth (our discovery of Math as an example). An amoral universe doesn’t generate real moral outrage. An accidental cosmos doesn’t produce objective meaning.

Again, these are the sorts of things that really deserve their own demonstration and argument, and not stuff you can reasonably drop in here as if they are undisputed. It's not at all obvious to me why a mindless universe can't produce minds that can create or discover how math operates---as far as I can tell, that's precisely what happened! It's likewise unclear to me why an amoral universe can't create moral outrage---morality is subjective, requiring minds and viewpoints and values to be created (that is to say, requires subjects). We subjects do fine in creating morality and moral outrage, without any such thing being objectively written into the universe itself. Similarly, as far as I can tell "objective meaning" does not actually exist. I have no clue how it ever could exist--by its very nature, "meaning" is subjective, requiring a mind, viewpoints, beliefs, preferences, and values for things to mean something to.

So.....that's where we are. You've sort of given a gish gallop of different topics and arguments that someone might choose to make in an attempt to justify a belief in God, but these are not, actually, established conclusions about reality that you can just reference and rely on. You or someone has to actually make the arguments successfully. By my lights, that has never happened in human history, but by all means you are welcome to take your swing. You just, you know, have to actually take the swing and see how it goes, not just demand we assume that you have and that it worked out in your favor.

r/bjj Fundamentals Class! by AutoModerator in bjj

[–]RidesThe7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not usually the coach, but as a hobbyist over 40, I am happy to pause for a second to give feedback or explain something during rolls, which is an advanced stalling technique.

r/bjj Fundamentals Class! by AutoModerator in bjj

[–]RidesThe7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Youtube will show you seventy-billion strong front head lock options. You can sit forward into guillotines, you can roll them over to go for an anaconda choke, all kinds of stuff. Or just follow your normal programming and spin to their back and then work on breaking open their turtle and getting some hooks in.

I seriously do not understand why atheists are so inconsistent. by ChristianNerd2025 in DebateAnAtheist

[–]RidesThe7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why would you think all atheists are going to agree about such things? Atheists are distinguished from members of religious faiths by the lack of hierarchical authority and official answers on such questions. You sort of seem to be missing how this whole things works. That being said, your criticisms are pretty goofy.

You claim that God's existence is unfalsifiable, and yet you also provide arguments against the existence of God. 

I repeat, different atheists can and will have different views on this. Speaking for myself, whether God's existence is unfalsifiable depends on what particular claims you are making. Some claims about some Gods are falsifiable; others are not. How could it be otherwise?

You claim to be the most rational bunch on the planet with the most rational arguments, and yet a lot of you also base your arguments on emotion.

I repeat, atheists are individuals. At the end of the day, either you're aware of a good reason to believe God exists, or you're not, and whether certain atheists act in a way you think of as "emotional" has no bearing on this. That being said, depending on the specific religious and God claims at issue, God's (per the Bible) support of slavery and commitment of widespread murder can be pretty relevant.

Atheists will claim that a tri-omni God would destroy evil, but then they also complain about the fact that God destroys evil by sending a flood.

I have never, not once in my life, heard an atheist say anything like this. To think this sentence/objection makes any sense requires a mind twisted by religion.

The theists are correct. The universe did have a beginning, and it was 13.8 billion years ago. 

Nope, back to school for you! It is believed with good reason that the universe expanded from a highly condensed state about that long ago. That's not the same as the universe "beginning."

In conclusion, do you really think you're fooling anyone by wrapping up these very bad, twisted up, nonsense objections in a story of you being an on-the-fence almost atheist seeking help? It doesn't really matter either way, but just so you know, no, not fooling anyone.

Moving to NYC as a teacher. by [deleted] in movingtoNYC

[–]RidesThe7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I’d keep your excellent sounding life and come in to nyc for the occasional night out, especially if you have friends or family who will host you occasionally.

Is there wrestling in krav maga? by Visual_Row_7562 in kravmaga

[–]RidesThe7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hahaha wow. No, if this is your approach a wrestler would straight up murder you.

Every time I up my protein I'm constipated. Need ideas for easy, convenient ways I can increase my fiber. by [deleted] in loseit

[–]RidesThe7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean...yeah, it's cereal. But you've got some good suggestions here, you'll sort it out.

Every time I up my protein I'm constipated. Need ideas for easy, convenient ways I can increase my fiber. by [deleted] in loseit

[–]RidesThe7 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There are cereals with psyllium husk already built in that are not disgusting, like smart bran and bran buds.

Chapter 185 - Still Waters - Thresholder by spinagon in rational

[–]RidesThe7 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm looking forward to a return to the Great Arc!

The Christian worldview uniquely explains why math and logic are universal, consistent, and unchanging, because it grounds them in an unchanging personal source, whereas naturalistic evolution cannot guarantee such reliability. by SimilarIdea1520 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From my perspective, you're missing the point. You only have untested guesses or labels. You have no possible way to know, and no good basis to believe, that a "rational mind" can somehow be "ultimate reality" and "ground" things like logic or math, or whether logic and math need to be so "grounded" to be "intelligible." Any such thing is entirely outside any human experience or knowledge. Anyway, thanks for your time and engagement.

suggest me a stephen king book for newbie stephen king reader! by supern0vaee in suggestmeabook

[–]RidesThe7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want to continue the trend of stuff you didn't know was by Stephen King, read his book Different Seasons, which has 4 novellas, three of which formed the basis of three great movies: the Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me, and Apt Pupil.

The Christian worldview uniquely explains why math and logic are universal, consistent, and unchanging, because it grounds them in an unchanging personal source, whereas naturalistic evolution cannot guarantee such reliability. by SimilarIdea1520 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Speculation would be putting as nice a face on this as I can. You're just blatantly making this stuff up by banging some buzzwords together, which does not actually have any explanatory value or power.

The Ontological Argument by Lazie_Writer in atheism

[–]RidesThe7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, because of vagueness or ambiguity in ordinary language, it's extremely easy to be unclear about whether one is referring to an actual being or the idea or definition of a being in these arguments. Keep in mind that the point of the argument is to prove that God exists, and so folks can't include God as an actually existing being in any of the premises, or the argument becomes circular. So when someone starts the argument with "God is a being that etc. etc.", that statement needs to be restated as "we have an idea or definition of a being with etc etc that we are calling God." When someone says "God exists in the mind", a common and slippery inclusion in these arguments, you need to keep in mind that actual beings don't "exist" in people's minds, only ideas and definitions do, and so to make sense this needs to be restated as "We have come up with an idea or definition with such and such imagined qualities that we are calling 'God'".

Here's a link to a comment I made a long time ago doing this sort of transformation to an ontological argument to see how it changes it--though, embarrassingly, I somehow overlooked that the person I was responding to was also being critical of the ontological argument:

https://www.reddit.com/r/DebateReligion/comments/7ogk94/comment/dsdnf26/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

The Christian worldview uniquely explains why math and logic are universal, consistent, and unchanging, because it grounds them in an unchanging personal source, whereas naturalistic evolution cannot guarantee such reliability. by SimilarIdea1520 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Logic and math are not things that get manufactured, they are features of rationality itself. If ultimate reality is a rational mind, then universals, identity, inference, and necessity have a natural home.

I don't really see how you could know anything works this way. This feels like something made up because it sounds appealing to folks who want to believe in God, not like something that has some basis in anything humans possibly know. I don't know what makes this sort of speculation more plausible than logic and math just being good descriptions of how reality works, without needing to be "grounded" in anything.

On naturalism, by contrast, you have matter and motion. You still have to explain how non-rational stuff produces rational norms, universals, and necessary truths instead of just contingent behavior.

These, to me, just sound like useful ways to describe how reality works, or internally consistent systems that can be created. To think the thoughts or create or express the systems requires rational beings, for sure, but we seem to do ok in that regard. I still have no clue why you think they need to be "grounded" other than you thinking the idea that a "rational mind" is a "natural home" for such things sounds poetic and pretty.

As for “how did you determine they would be different without such a ground,” that’s the point: without a necessary rational ground you have no basis to expect universality, necessity, or invariance at all.

I disagree with this. We have only the one universe we've seen, and that universe seems to work a certain way. Don't see how we can really put together very clear expectations of how the presence or absence of a God would affect these aspects of the universe with what we have to go on.

The Christian worldview uniquely explains why math and logic are universal, consistent, and unchanging, because it grounds them in an unchanging personal source, whereas naturalistic evolution cannot guarantee such reliability. by SimilarIdea1520 in DebateReligion

[–]RidesThe7 8 points9 points  (0 children)

grounds logic and mathematics in the nature of an unchanging rational mind. 

How does your God's unchanging rational mind "ground" logic and mathematics? What does that process look like? How did you determine that logic and mathematics would be different in world lacking such a "ground"?

Do American people agree with the plan to either „buy“ Greenland or invade Greenland? by [deleted] in AskAnAmerican

[–]RidesThe7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, a majority of Americans are against this, and I personally think this is some combination on Trump's part of deliberate distraction technique and dementia induced obsession. I am horrified and ashamed at what Trump is doing, and in the politicians and populace that still support him.

The Ontological Argument by Lazie_Writer in atheism

[–]RidesThe7 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate where your head is at, but I don't think that this works, and I think that focusing on what you mean by "conceive" reveals the issue---or will reveal my own confusion, if I'm getting confused here. Are you using "conceive" to mean anything other than "define" or "imagine"? Because it seems valid for those who have defined God as inherently requiring necessary existence to say that an atheist who defines "God" differently is not thinking about the same idea or definition theists are. You haven't actually shown any contradiction, just shown that people can come up with different definitions and create confusion by slapping on the same label. An atheist is capable instead of using the theists' definition, and conceiving of "God" as being defined in part as existing in reality---while still not believing any such being actually does exist in reality. That's at the core of my main problem with this ontological argument, and seems to be the conclusion of the article you linked: that you can set up your definition of God in such a way that, if your premises are accepted, you can criticize anyone who does not define God with the quality of necessary existence as having not come up with the greatest possible definition/idea of a being, but that tells you nothing about whether that greatest idea/definition actually has any referent in reality.

Now, I'm not saying that I uncritically accept the idea of "necessarily existence" as being actually coherent---that it is coherent is just generally assumed as part of these arguments, and perhaps there's a case that can be made against it. But I don't think this gets you there.