"God Bless America!"

[Fishteacher73]

Originally Posted by mother engine

and i was simply pointing out that integrating the term god with santa clause and purple unicorns or turquoise flying monkeys for that matter is an irrelevant argument for dismissing religious belief.

I do not think you can segregate any "unknown" from another. I believe there is a Hindu sect that believes that the universe is a large disk resting on the back of three elephants riding through the cosmos on the back of a giant turtle. Why would you have less faith in that belief (which is a religious one) and any other "unknow" in the faith world? To argue that you cannot prove the "non-existence" of your god would validate any other theological or mythical position that could not be "disproved".

[lindagarrette]

Originally Posted by mother engine

and i was simply pointing out that integrating the term god with santa clause and purple unicorns or turquoise flying monkeys for that matter is an irrelevant argument for dismissing religious belief.

You seem to be missing the point. The pink or purple unicorn analogy is used is a thought experiment to show how futile it is to prove that god exists (or doesn't). Unlike with the unicorn, people are so indoctrinated in the god belief, evidence in that case is not an issue. The point is that people will believe what they are told by a perceived authority, especially if it appears that everyone else also believes.

[mother engine]

Originally Posted by lindagarrette

You seem to be missing the point. The pink or purple unicorn analogy is used is a thought experiment to show how futile it is to prove that god exists (or doesn't). Unlike with the unicorn, people are so indoctrinated in the god belief, evidence in that case is not an issue. The point is that people will believe what they are told by a perceived authority, especially if it appears that everyone else also believes.

i disagree. i think the purple unicorn analogy is used specifically to degrade belief in god because it draws something many people take very seriously into the realm of things no one take seriously. authority and conditioning are not the cornerstones of religious belief either. there are as many preconceived notions from those who do not believe in god concerning those who do as the reverse.

[mother engine]

Originally Posted by Fishteacher73

I do not think you can segregate any "unknown" from another. I believe there is a Hindu sect that believes that the universe is a large disk resting on the back of three elephants riding through the cosmos on the back of a giant turtle. Why would you have less faith in that belief (which is a religious one) and any other "unknow" in the faith world? To argue that you cannot prove the "non-existence" of your god would validate any other theological or mythical position that could not be "disproved".

santa clause and purple unicorns are not historical unknown (please don't go on about how historical information is not scientific because it does not have to be to secure my point). there is no actual god per say in hinduism but an ultimate reality refered to as brahman. i suppose one could argue this is a type of god. but i think that the referance to 'god' as connected to purple unicorns here was a referance to a personified deity like the god of the bible. whether you think so or not there exists a differance between the biblical god and the easter bunny that exists objectively beyond whatever personal views one may have concerning the validity and provability of both.