Darren New wrote:
> 
> Here's a thought. I wonder what atheists would say to the question:
> 
> "Do you believe that if there is life elsewhere in the universe, it 
> might have been designed by a higher intelligence?"

As an atheist: Sure, might have been.

> 
> Given how many atheists say things like "I don't believe in God because 
> there's just no evidence in favor", I wonder how many people would 
> answer which way.

The clearest "explanation" I can give for atheism is this: an atheist 
hasn't started with the assumption that God exists. He has instead 
examined the accounts of his (and perhaps other's) culture's predominant 
gods and found the accounts unconvincing.

When I was a kid, and not an atheist, I did start with the assumption 
that God exists. I concluded, based on this assumption, that any parts 
of the Bible which couldn't be historically accurate *must* have been 
parables or mistakes made by the human authors through whom God was 
working. It was only after I realized I was putting the cart before the 
horse that I examined the Bible as I would an account of any other event.

It's very easy to find evidence for what you already believe in, be that 
aliens, ghosts, reincarnation, or "lost" people living underground.

  -Shay

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On 13-6-2009 0:16, Darren New wrote:
> Patrick Elliott wrote:
>> You might be surprised to know that most atheists I know are atheist 
>> to the "existing" definitions of gods, but fall all over the line with 
>> respect to how "likely" it is that there is more to the universe, and 
>> what that even "means".
> 
> Here's a thought. I wonder what atheists would say to the question:
> 
> "Do you believe that if there is life elsewhere in the universe, it 
> might have been designed by a higher intelligence?"

Well, as the human species we are going to design life somewhere within 
a few decades, depending on your definition of life. I have problems 
with a definition of 'higher' (as 'equal' seems sufficient) and I am not 
sure if there is life elsewhere in the universe. Other than that my 
answer is yes, but it gives you no useful information.

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On Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:16:51 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:

>Here's a thought. I wonder what atheists would say to the question:
>
>"Do you believe that if there is life elsewhere in the universe, it might 
>have been designed by a higher intelligence?"
>

Maybe, as andrel <a_l### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
>
>Well, as the human species we are going to design life somewhere within 
>a few decades, depending on your definition of life.

But that does not make us gods nor even godlike IMO.

>Given how many atheists say things like "I don't believe in God because 
>there's just no evidence in favor", I wonder how many people would answer 
>which way.

How many atheists say "Looking at the state of this world, who in their right
mind would worship that god or even approve of its behaviour?".

-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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andrel wrote:
>  but it gives you no useful information.

It's really a test of "are you a fanatic" or not, atheist style. :-)

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   Insanity is a small city on the western
   border of the State of Mind.

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Stephen wrote:
> But that does not make us gods nor even godlike IMO.

No. That's kind of the point. :)

> How many atheists say "Looking at the state of this world, who in their right
> mind would worship that god or even approve of its behaviour?".

Hmmmm. But that means you're not an atheist, if you say "God exists and I 
hate him."  Or, perhaps like the Mayans, who (as I understand it), basically 
believed "Gods used to exist, but they're all dead now." :-)

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   Insanity is a small city on the western
   border of the State of Mind.

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On 13-6-2009 19:57, Darren New wrote:
> andrel wrote:
>>  but it gives you no useful information.
> 
> It's really a test of "are you a fanatic" or not, atheist style. :-)
> 
well, am I?

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On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:57:34 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:

>andrel wrote:
>>  but it gives you no useful information.
>
>It's really a test of "are you a fanatic" or not, atheist style. :-)

I don't think so. 
Maybe you have been influenced too much by the Evolution Vs Intelligent Design
debate. Who is saying that a higher intelligence is God, other than your wackos
who are trying to slip it in the back door? 
And if we are talking about Intelligent Design, IT did not give much thought to
our plumbing, or our welfare.

So there :-)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:59:41 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>> But that does not make us gods nor even godlike IMO.
>
>No. That's kind of the point. :)
>

It is, isn't it?

>> How many atheists say "Looking at the state of this world, who in their right
>> mind would worship that god or even approve of its behaviour?".
>
>Hmmmm. But that means you're not an atheist, if you say "God exists and I 
>hate him."  Or, perhaps like the Mayans, who (as I understand it), basically 
>believed "Gods used to exist, but they're all dead now." :-)

I wish ;)

You are right, but maybe it means that I don't believe in the
Christian/Jewish/Muslim God. At least not the way that they talk about IT.

Maybe Satan had the right idea rebelling against (you know who). And you know
who gets to write the history :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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andrel wrote:
> On 13-6-2009 19:57, Darren New wrote:
>> andrel wrote:
>>>  but it gives you no useful information.
>>
>> It's really a test of "are you a fanatic" or not, atheist style. :-)
>>
> well, am I?

Not to my mind, no. :-)

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   Insanity is a small city on the western
   border of the State of Mind.

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Stephen wrote:
> On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:57:34 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> 
>> andrel wrote:
>>>  but it gives you no useful information.
>> It's really a test of "are you a fanatic" or not, atheist style. :-)
> 
> I don't think so. 
> Maybe you have been influenced too much by the Evolution Vs Intelligent Design
> debate. Who is saying that a higher intelligence is God, other than your wackos
> who are trying to slip it in the back door? 

Nobody. That's the point.

If you're an atheist because you have no evidence for God, you're much more 
likely to be open to the possibility of evidence elsewhere.

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   Insanity is a small city on the western
   border of the State of Mind.

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