What does atheism/skepticism have to offer?

Originally posted by no1marauder
Man-centric - more evidence in support of my hypothesis. When we find (or they find us) other sapient beings who have never heard of the Christian religion will that spell finis to your parochial superstition? Or will the Christians on Earth just claim they are God's chosen people and all other sentient beings are instruments of Satan?

If they exist. There is no reason to assume they do.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
If they exist. There is no reason to assume they do.

The people at SETI disagree. There is more reason to believe that there are sentient beings something like us (since we know we exist) in the universe than there is an all-powerful, almighty being (that we don't know exists).

Originally posted by no1marauder
The people at SETI disagree. There is more reason to believe that there are sentient beings something like us (since we know we exist) in the universe than there is an all-powerful, almighty being (that we don't know exists).

And, they're on their way...

Originally posted by no1marauder
Why bother? If you really don't know why empathy helps groups function more effectively than you're a total dimwit and my explaining it to you won't help. If you do know and are merely engaging in your usual sophistry, I'm still wasting my time. Anyone with any intelligence knows that successful groups are based on empathy and cooperation.

The atheist secret decoder ring defence! Oh, well...

Successful groups (in fact, any group to function as a group) requires cooperation. But why is empathy necessary for a group of intelligent beings to function?

Originally posted by no1marauder
The people at SETI disagree. There is more reason to believe that there are sentient beings something like us (since we know we exist) in the universe than there is an all-powerful, almighty being (that we don't know exists).

Hey, LH!? You could learn a thing or two about logic from no1, you know.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
The atheist secret decoder ring defence! Oh, well...

Successful groups (in fact, any group to function as a group) requires cooperation. But why is empathy necessary for a group of intelligent beings to function?

It isn't! Fear works too.

Originally posted by stocken
Hey, LH!? You could learn a thing or two about logic from no1, you know.

I doubt it -- perhaps ad hominem logic.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
This specific instance does. However, it does not prove that altruism is an evolutionary response.

What is altruistic in saving and taking care of a person you need hunting ?

Originally posted by no1marauder
The people at SETI disagree. There is more reason to believe that there are sentient beings something like us (since we know we exist) in the universe than there is an all-powerful, almighty being (that we don't know exists).

That we know we exist is the only reason for us to think that extra-terrestrial sapient life exists. There is simply no positive evidence to support that belief.

There is positive evidence and argument for the existence of God - as hotly contested as they are.

Originally posted by Halitose
I doubt it -- perhaps ad hominem logic.

I give up trying to explain to you people the difference between a logical ad hominem fallacy and an insult. It's apparently tooooooooo much for idiots/morons to grasp.

Originally posted by stocken
Hey, LH!? You could learn a thing or two about logic from no1, you know.

Please. Hurling insults at your opponent is not logic (even if it gets you applause from the peanut-gallery).

Originally posted by lucifershammer
That we know we exist is the [b]only reason for us to think that extra-terrestrial sapient life exists. There is simply no positive evidence to support that belief.

There is positive evidence and argument for the existence of God - as hotly contested as they are.[/b]

That is utter nonsense.

Originally posted by no1marauder
The people at SETI disagree. There is more reason to believe that there are sentient beings something like us (since we know we exist) in the universe than there is an all-powerful, almighty being (that we don't know exists).

I'd have though the SETI program would have been discredited ages ago -- a field of science dealing with the search for intelligence.

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Please. Hurling insults at your opponent is not logic (even if it gets you applause from the peanut-gallery).

Stop "whining".

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Please. Hurling insults at your opponent is not logic (even if it gets you applause from the peanut-gallery).

the truth isn't an insult, it's merely the truth!