Jonathan H. B. Lobl

Welcome to the board. I am much more clear about what I don't believe than what I do. By all means, join the discussion and feel welcome.

Do you want extraordinary evidence that animals exist?

The "not knowing" of the Agnostic way is not the same as being ignorant.

Now you're just being silly. Where are you going with this?

Seriously?

Just stating the obvious. You would think that "thou shalt not kill" would be nice and simple. Real life trumps such attempts at objectivity. Even God failed.

Objective morals? Like math or chemistry? This is not going to happen. At least, not without God. This also will not happen.

That's the old war propaganda. Things worked out well for Canada.

As stated in the Gospels; To be seen by others.

You want to talk American history? All right. The slogan was; "No taxation without representation." Congratulations. We now have taxation with representation. Are you happy with the way things worked out? All it took was a major war that could have been avoided.

Defiance of the tax laws is not being brave. It's being stupid.

Maybe. People who like to tan in the Sun are called "Sun worshipers." It depends on usage and context.

Praise? Sunshine and wind and such are not sentient. They are wonderful and awe inspiring, but not aware. The forces of Nature don't need praise. Praise does not apply. On the other hand, the forces of Nature can be held in "reverence." This is a very different proposition. IMO.

In the language of the insurance industry, and the courts, an "act of God" is never anything good.

Sometimes, anecdotal evidence is adequate. Many drunk drivers come to the attention of police, based on observing how they are driving.

A lot of the Jewish world is secular in outlook. The standing joke is; "There is no God and we are his people."

"Why" presumes purpose and intentionality. "Why" presumes God. If I begin by assuming that everything is under the control of the All Knowing -- All Powerful -- All Good -- blah, blah, blah, -- God; then I have a reason to ask "Why?" Why are things as they are? Why do the good suffer? Why is there no justice? Since I have no such presumption -- the questions are -- for me and other Agnostics /Atheists -- without meaning. Why are things like this? Without making assumptions about God; that means nothing. Truly, why ask "why?"

That is a disquieting thought; since I'm always in my own company.

Some highly educated people can be fools. This is the process of losing one's mind by "degrees." We all know what "BS" stands for. In the same way, "MS" is "more of the same" -- and "Ph.D." is "Piled higher and deeper."

Your question is vague. Another life form? That could be mosquitoes. Or roaches. Or rats. Even if the life form is human, the question is still vague. A police officer defending the innocent may be fully justified -- even virtuous and heroic -- under such conditions. You could also be talking about war. Not a simple topic.

Drinking and driving is the choice. This is choosing the negative consequences. It is similar to shooting off a gun in a crowd. The shooter does not know that he will kill someone. The shooter is prepared for the fact that he could kill someone. He shoots anyway. It is a choice. The car that is not under control is like a big bullet.

For me, it's like waking from a dream. There is no going back. 1 Corinthians 13:11 [Full Chapter] "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." "An Atheist is someone who worships one less god than a Monotheist."

"Worship" is not part of my life.

No. It didn't.

I'm trying. It might help if you restate the question.