Am I wrong?

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Mikeykitty123's picture
Am I wrong?

Is it wrong for me to think that life exists for a reason? Is it wrong for me to believe magic exists? Is it wrong for me to think that people have souls?

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dogalmighty's picture
Its not wrong to believe in

Its not wrong to believe in whatever you want...its just that as an atheist I include truth in my decision making and belief systems.

Mikeykitty123's picture
But yet is it true that those

But yet is it true that those things don't exist? Why should I believe something that doesn't exist? That's the literal definition of a paradox.

Mutorc S'yriah's picture
Michael

________________________________________

Michael
Why should I believe something that doesn't exist?
________________________________________

But that's not it. What you believe is what you have good reason to believe. When it comes to the facts about the universe, what you'd like to believe should not mean much. What is, is, period. I think that one's aim should be to :-

Believe as many true things as possible and as few false things as possible.

So you need some way of finding out truth from falsehood.

If something is true, (or you have darned good reason and evidence for it), accept it.

If something is false, (or you have darned good reason and evidence for that), reject it.

If you can't tell, can't be sure, then neither accept nor reject it. That means be agnostic on that point.

To say: I wouldn't like such and such if it were true, is no way to decide on the truth of it.
Else: I wouldn't like such and such if it were false, is no way to decide on the falsity of it.

We all have to learn to live with what we believe is true, what we believe is false, as well as all those other things about which we don't know the truth or falsehood.
________________________________________

Michael
Why should I believe something that doesn't exist?
________________________________________

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that, Michael, but do you think that you have an army of tiny, green critters about 1mm long, that look like a cross between a dragon and a platypus living in your navel? Surely you'd say that they don't exist? So believe it - ie. that they don't exist. If you get all weird and say that they might exist, then you're being agnostic on the point. Fine. To say that they might exist is to be unsure. Even if they do exist, do they make any difference in your life? If no to that, then live accordingly.

dogalmighty's picture
Perfect, you got it. Welcome

Perfect, you got it. Welcome to atheism.

Mikeykitty123's picture
That's quite sad.

That's quite sad.

chimp3's picture
Why does what I believe send

Why does what I believe send you into such tantrums? Do you have any faith in your convictions?

dogalmighty's picture
Well, for me its quite

Well, for me its quite liberating.

dogalmighty's picture
"Why does what I believe send

"Why does what I believe send you into such tantrums? Do you have any faith in your convictions?"

Faith? Faith can define both truth and untruth...how is that a good way to support beliefs? I would rather go with trust in truth and reason through repeat-ability.

chimp3's picture
doG:I was directing my

doG:I was directing my comment at Michael.

Cognostic's picture
Life does exist for a reason.

Life does exist for a reason. :Life exists to perpetuate life. Life creates life to feed on life. Isn't that obvious? You die, you serve life. You live, you serve life. Life fulfills itself. If you learn that lesson, you can begin fulfilling yourself as well.

Sheldon's picture
What's the point in deluding

What's the point in deluding yourself something is real when no one can demonstrate proper evidence for it.

Whether it's wrong depends on how you're defining wrong. Do you mean morally, ethically, rationally?

Dave Matson's picture
Michael,

Michael,

You are almost certainly mistaken, but you are not morally wrong. The moral police is not going to arrest you.

LogicFTW's picture
@orignal post.

@orignal post.

You most certainly get to think and believe whatever you like. As long as you do not impose your beliefs and thoughts on others, beyond simple sharing of ideas, I do not think anyone here has issue with what you think.

Here on the boards where we can all have anonymity if we want it, do not worry, your thoughts and beliefs will not be imposed on anyone.

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