All these people talking about quantum physics as if they knew what they were going on about..........pfffff!
Well I suppose one thing we have learnt is that it's an entertaining thread, or it wouldn't have run to 38 pages without too many asides. And that has to be good. I just kicked it off because I was so enthusiastic about the TV programmes which I thought were really interesting and educational. That's pretty much all I wanted to say. Then it has drifted into a religion vs science thread as some posters don't feel there is really any difference between Songs of Praise and a documentary on quantum physics. And that's fine. Why not? A forum is for discussion, if there isn't any difference of opinion, it's all a bit tedious. As for being an expert on everything - if only. I'm just a bloke who is interested in almost everything, which isn't remotely the same thing. I'm aware of some of the concepts of quantum physics, which isn't the same thing as understanding them. How could I? Much of it is counter intuitive and the theories underlying the concepts are based on very complicated maths. But that doesn't mean I don't accept them. I don't see any equivalence between religion and science but if other people want to, I don't lose any sleep over it. There are about 60 million people in the UK, why would a couple of people's opinions upset me? But I like a good argument and find arguing hugely entertaining.
Paradox : noun : 1. statement that sounds absurd or seems to contradict itself, but is in fact true. 2. a person or thing that combines two contradictory features or qualities. (definition once again provided by the Oxford Dictionary). Now - as I have said on many occasions that I accept that I might be wrong and that you might be right, and all that I have done is ask that you accept that you might, just possibly, be wrong - please explain where the paradox is in what I have said. You cannot deny that you have not, at any point, admitted that there is any possibility that your views might be wrong; I have. You constantly refuse to accept that one possibility. You say that anyone can believe what they want, but then state that if they believe anything that contradicts what you believe they are automatically wrong. You claim not to be dogmatic, and then post comments such as those above. So, my dear Pete 1950, if you can provide any evidence at all to back up your assertions then please provide it. Until you can do that then please do not expect anyone (me or anyone else) to accept that what you say... Because, my dear sarcastic, arrogant, self-righteous Pete, if you cannot provide any evidence to back up your pronouncements they are, and always will be, just your opinion - not facts.
What assertions would those be then? You have put forward a series of assertions which you yourself have invented and falsely ascribed to me. Then you challenge me to back them up! It is up to you to back up your own assertions if you care to, and not my concern I think. Off you go then ...
Evidence of what? You have asserted a few random facts which you describe as "evidence", but sadly you give no indication of what the "evidence" is supposed to illustrate, let alone what connection there might be between the evidence and the conclusion. Please enlighten us.
I do however now have a greater understanding of quantum physics as i have just watched the lego movie...
A few pages back, "dogma" was mentioned. The usual usage of the word is to mean a doctrine or prescribed belief which it is required to hold. In the context of (for example) a religion, or a political party, or a profession, some authority has formulated a doctrine on some topic which members of that group are expected to adhere to as a condition of membership. In the case of atheism, there are no doctrines, no prescribed beliefs, no authorities to lay anything down, and no requirement on anyone to believe anything in particular. A person who does not believe gods exist is an atheist; a person who believes otherwise isn't. That's all there is to it. A person who is an atheist may believe or not believe any number of other things, but none of them are requirements; it is in that sense that there are no dogmas in atheism.
