Where do you stand on the probability of God's existence?

Born_again · Post by **Born_again** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 4:08 pm

http://www.richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=742
On Page 50 of 'The God Delusion' Richard Dawkins sets up a scale of probability for the existence of God.

1 is 100% certainty in the existence of God and 7 is is 100% certainty in the non existence of God.

Richard pigeon-holes himself at the 6 mark but with strong leanings towards 7.

Out of interest Where would you place yourself? Decimal points are OK, as RD does point out the scale is continuous and not rigidly confined to the 7 available options.

Captain Awesome · Post by **Captain Awesome** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 4:23 pm

I'm kind of funny that way. I know there's no god the way church is trying to tell us. At the same time I'm not ignorant enough to believe that there are no higher powers in the world.

JLives · Post by **JLives** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 4:30 pm

I am a steadfast 7.0

Born_again · Post by **Born_again** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 4:40 pm

I assessed myself as a 7, but that is only because I 'rounded-up'. In actuality I would plump for 6.99.

Tumult · Post by **Tumult** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 5:00 pm

I'd consider myself 6.something. I don't think there is a deity but I'm skeptical of the objectivity of reality (darn particle/wave duality, holograms, wave interference patterns of c-60 molecules!).

steven lloyd · Post by **steven lloyd** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 5:13 pm

Well, I will admit to wavering between 1 and 2. Hey, I've been challenged to challenge myself so I took some time at thinking about it. Seems I might be out there all alone though. Oh well. Still interested in seeing how the results end up. Interesting poll BA.

Born_again · Post by **Born_again** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 5:19 pm

Are you positive the devil didn't interfere with your choice, Steven? :coffeecanuck:

steven lloyd · Post by **steven lloyd** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 5:26 pm

Just an idea to chew on here. If you accept that mathematical principles are binding (for example, one plus one will always equal two – or something like that) and presume the universe to be infinite (which it may not be but that raises a whole number of other issues) then you need to either vote 1 or 7 in this poll. Mathematically it cannot be anything in between. What the hell you say ???

Well, the probability of any event is expressed as a number somewhere between 0.0 and 1.0, with 1.0 being 100%. Using calculus, any number – no matter how small (eg. .000000000000000000001 or even smaller) once multiplied by infinity equals 1.0, or 100%. Therefore, you either believe there is absolutely no possibility God can exist, or you believe God absolutely has to exist. Anything in between fails the conditions of a mathematical model assuming an infinite universe.

But like I say, the universe might not be infinite. After all, how can something that is supposedly infinite be expanding? How could it have a beginning or an end? Might be easier to throw the infinite assumption out the window and deal with the other issues that arise from that. For example, what lays beyond the boundaries of this universe, and if it’s not infinite just how big is it?

steven lloyd · Post by **steven lloyd** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 5:27 pm

Born_again wrote:Are you positive the devil didn't interfere with your choice, Steven?

Never did believe in that guy.

FreeRights · Post by **FreeRights** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 6:08 pm

CaptainAwesome wrote:I'm kind of funny that way. I know there's no god the way church is trying to tell us. At the same time I'm not ignorant enough to believe that there are no higher powers in the world.

I don't think it's "ignorant" to believe that there are no higher powers in the world. There's nothing to suggest that there are.

Nebula · Post by **Nebula** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 7:13 pm

Where do you stand on the probablity of God's existence?

God by whose definition?

FunkyBunch · Post by **FunkyBunch** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 8:38 pm

I am a stalwart 3. I am however going to read the book.

Queen K · Post by **Queen K** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 8:42 pm

I came in with a positive 1.0, having said that, I do not believe in the representations given by people of God. No one can know. And I've always resented all the blue-eyed Jesus pictures hung in Churches. Com on....a Jewish girl and a Jewish guy having a blue eyed baby? :skippingsheep:

FunkyBunch · Post by **FunkyBunch** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 8:48 pm

Jewish girl... Who said anything about a Jewish guy? Is God Jewish?

Bsuds · Post by **Bsuds** » Feb 3rd, 2009, 8:48 pm

keesa wrote:I came in with a positive 1.0, having said that, I do not believe in the representations given by people of God. No one can know. And I've always resented all the blue-eyed Jesus pictures hung in Churches. Com on....a Jewish girl and a Jewish guy having a blue eyed baby?

Who says they were Jewish.

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