What's the utility of faith?

[_Blixa]

Faith is belief in the absence of evidence. As evidence of this being true, I offer up the fact that you believe, and yet can offer no evidence that your god is real.

Your turn.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe you just did it again. your sneaky, Did you get that definition off google? I always like to look at how the actual word in all its facets, has been used throughout history, not the urban dictionary definition.

Websters Dictionary:
Faith - (1) Inward acceptance of a personality as real and trustworthy, of an idea as true and obligatory, or of a thing as beneficial; as faith in God; faith in one’s friend; faith in the moral law; faith in medicine. The word had originally a religious sense, and in its various uses generally retains a suggestion of emotional or practical quality. (2) The recognition of spiritual realities and moral principles as of paramount authority and supreme value. (3) Theological a. Historical faith or belief in the truthfulness and authority of the Scriptural narrative and teachings. b. Saving or practical faith or the acceptance by the intellect, affection and the will of God’s favor extended to man through Christ.

And you turn to Webster's Dictionary for this?

[_mormonx]

And you turn to Webster's Dictionary for this?

Yes God I do... they are kinda good at meanings of words.

[_Rambo]

Like I said it would take pages to list the thousands of reasons Joe and Moe are megalomanic morons, and have nothing backing themselves up but their word.

Just like Jesus. I don't think Jesus was a moron but I don't think he did anything special.

The way I look at Jesus is the same way I look at the telephone game. His stories were just exaggerated.

[_Rambo]

Point being, no one has ever tested a Mormon with death. "You stop believing that Joseph Smith is a prophet or we will kill you" Never happened.

I'm sure it has happened. Just like it has happened with other faiths that are not Christian.

Your use of evidence that people have died for Christianity is not evidence at all.

[_Blixa]

And you turn to Webster's Dictionary for this?

Yes God I do... they are kinda good at meanings of words.

To a limited degree and for contemporary reference, but not for "every facet and history." For that you need something more like the OED. Relying on a simple dictionary to produce a rich historical argument is a common mistake.

[_Blixa]

Hauns Mill thing.

Live by the sword die by the sword.

You could gain by reading some history. And not just Mormon history.

[_mormonx]

wow... from the empirical warrior comes the stupidest statement ever uttered by an atheist, Dawkins would be ashamed of you. I'm going to hang that on my wall.

I don't care what Dawkins thinks.

So I guess 2 + 2 = 5 would've worked just as well if we had decided to go that way.

Don't be a simpleton. The digit 2 was developed by man to assign value to observed quantities. As was the digit 5. The universe doesn't know what 2 or 5 means. Humans have developed mathematical models to characterize our observations of this world. The universe does not quantify anything. Math is a set of rules we use to quantify or model natural observances.

I guess 1 potato sitting next to another potato would not be 2 potatoes in some distant destruction of man.

The concept of quantities is irrelevant absent an intelligent mind.

If this is your logic, it all makes sense, because by this definition, logic is also made by man. How can you trust your own logic if it's just chemicals...

The same way you do.

Math is a discovery.. Math exists as do Laws and logic outside of Matter. It doesn't need humans, plants earth, space time, because it RULES it all.

Repeating it doesn't make it so.

I noticed you never got back on your disproving my God with linguistics.

I missed it in the flurry of posts. However, it is not my job to disprove your god. It is your job to prove him. The burden of proof is entirely yours.

I'm sorry.. I said that was the most stupid thing an atheist has said.. much apologies, this is the most stupid thing an athiest has ever said.

The concept of quantities is irrelevant absent an intelligent mind.

that's the if a tree fell in the forest...

"quantities irrelevant" I thought you just said

The digit 2 was developed by man to assign value to observed quantities.

So if we don't observe the two potatoes there are three potatoes or what no potatoes. The Laws of Math existed before "humonoid" intelligence or there would be no HUMANOIDS! Our cells are running math programs all day. But I agree with you... there must be some intelligence behind this mathematical law.. maybe what... a turtle.

I can't even argue this with you, it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. take the wool off your eyes.

talk about blind FAITH!!!

[_mormonx]

Point being, no one has ever tested a Mormon with death. "You stop believing that Joseph Smith is a prophet or we will kill you" Never happened.

I'm sure it has happened. Just like it has happened with other faiths that are not Christian.

Your use of evidence that people have died for Christianity is not evidence at all.

Please show where?

It is an evidence that these people truly believed what they believed.. maybe not the best evidence.. just another stone on the pile.

[_Hoops]

No one's gonna mention Hawking yet?

[_mormonx]

No one's gonna mention Hawking yet?

He will say, I don't care about Hawking.. I'm right no matter what. I have faith that I'm right against all evidence. swweh.. I got a headache with the mathiest.. see yall later.