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The Belief Spectrum

One of my birthday presents was Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion which I just picked up this morning. It's a fascinating and stirring defense of atheism by one of my favorite scientists.
Anyhow, this isn't meant to be a debate though it will probably end up as one... Just to conduct my own little survey, I've decided to pose a poll... In his book, Dawkins creates something like a 7-Point belief scale with 1 being absolute knowing belief in God and 7 being absolute knowing disbelief in God. I'm asking you, as well, to 'justify' your answer to the best of your ability along with stating the option with which you LEAST agree or are most likely to take issue... I'm taking the poll verbatim from his text..to give credit where it's due.
As for myself, I'm a #6. I can't prove the nonexistence of God (nor would I try), but I do see the probability as swinging towards there not being a God. If I'm proven wrong one day, that's fine.. but I don't see any reason to believe in God at the moment just like I see no reason to believe in the Easter Bunny... I'm most likely to take offense with options #1 and 7 because I strongly dislike and disagree with absolutes.
What about you?

Poll: Pick whichever option most closely resmembles your belief:

1. Strong theist. 100% probability of God. In the words of C.G. Jung, 'I do not believe, I know.'
2. Very high probability but short of 100%. De facto theist. 'I cannot know for certain, but I strongly believe in God and live my life on the assumption that he is there.'
3. Higher than 50% but not very high. Technically agnostic but leaning towards theism. 'I am very uncertain, but I am inclined to believe in God.'
4. Exactly 50%. Completely impartial agnostic. 'God's existence and non-existence are exactly equiprobable.'
5. Lower than 50% but not very low. Technically agnostic but leaning towards atheism. 'I don't know whether God exists but I'm inclined to be sceptical.'
6. Very low probability, but short of zero. De facto atheist. 'I cannot know for certain but I think God is very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there.'
7. Strong atheist. 'I know there is no God, with the same conviction as Jung "knows" there is one.'

I'll post my believes after this Saturdays lottery draw.

Probably havarti or provolone

I think that Dawkin's scale is incredibly flawed as the "spectrum" of belief is far more complex then could be categorized in that scale.

im with you, #6. there is absolutely no evidence to support any belief in the supernatural et al. the more extraordinary the claim, the greater the evidence to support that claim there must be. "god exists" is a rather extraordinary claim.

im a 3.5

I m #4.... i just dont care or bother thinking about the existence of a god.

6.3334

5

7, but not militant lesbian style atheist... I think all decisions should be based on the sound reasoning of science.

8.David Blaine

What is god?

quote:

Originally posted by Ridexer What is god?

The name of Ygrene's dog.

Between 5 and 6. A lot more skeptical than 5, but not quite 6. Still have things I wonder and question.

this is a really limited spectrum of beliefs

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec this is a really limited spectrum of beliefs

While I do agree with this, it is still better defined than someone just saying they are agnostic, or they don't believe in god or what have you.

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard I think that Dawkin's scale is incredibly flawed as the "spectrum" of belief is far more complex then could be categorized in that scale.

Yes, it shouldn't be a linear scale. That doesn't account for how much of a shit you give about whether god exist or not.

quote:

Originally posted by gehzumteufel While I do agree with this, it is still better defined than someone just saying they are agnostic, or they don't believe in god or what have you.

yeah but there are other possibilities than traditional 'god' and 'non-god'


basically, this spectrum only represents the dualistic beliefs (separation of mind/matter god/world)

a good deal of people, myself included, have monistic beliefs

Re: The Belief Spectrum

quote:

Originally posted by Enigmatik 6. Very low probability, but short of zero. De facto atheist. 'I cannot know for certain but I think God is very improbable, and I live my life on the assumption that he is not there.'

what does that even mean?

how can you live your life on the assumption that he is not there

already you are creating an idea of god in your mind against which to live, which is hardly any different than creating an idea of god in your mind with which you live.



that's why i can't stand atheism. you can't spell atheism without theism.

materialists/physicalists get more respect from me

heeeere we go again

quote:

Originally posted by enydo heeeere we go again

lol, were you expecting cat pictures from this thread?

Honestly, yes.

I don't mind it, I find it interesting anyways.

quote:

Originally posted by Meat187 The name of Ygrene's dog.

Re: Re: The Belief Spectrum

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec

While there are lots of other options for belief, I think Enigmatik is just trying to see where people stand on the idea of a personal god who intervenes in the lives of humans and has a moral code and a plan for them. This is the only sort of god that Dawkins and his compatriots are really arguing against anyway.

#2

// edit

maybe a 1.25 actually

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