• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Religion vs. Science

B

BigToque

Lifer
I have posted two threads that I believe are related.

1. Do you believe in free will?

2. Do you believe there is a god/divine being/lifeforce?

In the first poll, 80% of the people responding say that they believe that they are free. That they are ultimately the ones who decide what happens in their life.

In the second poll, 50% of the respondents believe that there is no way a god/divine being exists. A major sentiment in that thread is that if they were shown proof, they would change their beliefs.

I just want to let you guys know that the idea of "free will" is nothing more than faith. There is no "proof" of choice. If we truly are free, choice falls outside of anything that science can account for or ever hope to explain.

If we have a choice, the best science can do is try to calculate the probability that a choice will be made. Ultimately, we choose our own fate.
 
Originally posted by: BigToque
I have posted two threads that I believe are related.

1. Do you believe in free will?

2. Do you believe there is a god/divine being/lifeforce?

In the first poll, 80% of the people responding say that they believe that they are free. That they are ultimately the ones who decide what happens in their life.

In the second poll, 50% of the respondents believe that there is no way a god/divine being exists. A major sentiment in that thread is that if they were shown proof, they would change their beliefs.

I just want to let you guys know that the idea of "free will" is nothing more than faith. There is no "proof" of choice. If we truly are free, choice falls outside of anything that science can account for or ever hope to explain.

If we have a choice, the best science can do is try to calculate the probability that a choice will be made. Ultimately, we choose our own fate.
Click to expand...

Couldn't this be said about "god's will" as well? There's no proof of either one being 100% correct...if there was, there wouldn't be this conversation. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Couldn't this be said about "god's will" as well? There's no proof of either one being 100% correct...if there was, there wouldn't be this conversation. 😉
Click to expand...

The point of my observation wasn't to show that one is correct. What it was meant to show is that of the 50% of the people asking for proof of a god/diving being/lifeforce, 80% of them believe that they have free will without any proof.
 
Your rationale is flawed. Unless your poll data specifically says freewill + god, freewill + no god, no freewill + god and finally no freewill + no god.
 
Originally posted by: BigToque
What it was meant to show is that of the 50% of the people asking for proof of a god/diving being/lifeforce, 80% of them believe that they have free will without any proof.
Click to expand...

since it was from 2 different threads, you can not draw the 80% from the "50% of the people asking for proof of a god/diving being/lifeforce." had the two polls been in the same thread, then maybe.

 
Originally posted by: BigToque
Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Couldn't this be said about "god's will" as well? There's no proof of either one being 100% correct...if there was, there wouldn't be this conversation. 😉
Click to expand...

The point of my observation wasn't to show that one is correct. What it was meant to show is that of the 50% of the people asking for proof of a god/diving being/lifeforce, 80% of them believe that they have free will without any proof.
Click to expand...

Your problem is simple:

The existence of god is not self evident. Otherwise, people wouldnt be asking for proof.

That you have free will IS self evident. I don't need proof for it or against it, its obvious, and there is nothing other than philsophical musings that can make me believe I don't have it. If you didnt have free will, what caused you to post this?
 
Originally posted by: BigToque
I just want to let you guys know that the idea of "free will" is nothing more than faith. There is no "proof" of choice. If we truly are free, choice falls outside of anything that science can account for or ever hope to explain.
Click to expand...

We are powerless to do anything other that what we actually do.
 
Originally posted by: BigToque
Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Couldn't this be said about "god's will" as well? There's no proof of either one being 100% correct...if there was, there wouldn't be this conversation. 😉
Click to expand...

The point of my observation wasn't to show that one is correct. What it was meant to show is that of the 50% of the people asking for proof of a god/diving being/lifeforce, 80% of them believe that they have free will without any proof.
Click to expand...

do you know that the same people answered the polls both times?

because this sounds about as scientific as.....well, it doesnt sound scientific. wth?
 
Originally posted by: datalink7
But there is proof of choice. I choose to respond to this thread. I chose to write these words.
Click to expand...

Could it have just been the result of random chemical reactions going on in your brain? Ultimately you had no control over these, they made you choose to post.

At least that's one argument. Not one I really prescribe to myself.
 
I think, therefore I am. Anything beyond that is faith. It's just that some faith are based on well supported evidence and others are just blind.

 
I read something about dots and twizzlers and I was hooked😛

This is something akin to describing to someone who has never tasted salt what it tastes like. Saying it is "salty" doesn't work because they don't know what it means. Some of this stuff is just intuitive.
 
Originally posted by: BigToque
The point of my observation wasn't to show that one is correct. What it was meant to show is that of the 50% of the people asking for proof of a god/diving being/lifeforce, 80% of them believe that they have free will without any proof.
Click to expand...
I don't know... I'd think if you made another poll asking us if we needed proof to believe in Greg Louganis, you might just be surprised at the results.
 
Niether of the propositions are (currently) within the realm of science to test and hence answer. Thus this question remains to philosophy and/or religion to address. Thisof course doesn't mean we can't try and address the question using reason, logic, and rationality.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top