If you're looking at the legal or philosophical definition of 'burden of proof', it would sit with those that believe. That's my point. Otherwise the default 'correct' position lies with the likes of Vin.
In terms of PL himself, of course he can believe what he wants! I'm just saying that in the wider context of belief vs non-belief, the BoP sits with the believers.
Well this discussion has certainly given me something. This might be the best thing ever. In fact, it deserves a thread of it's own. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for Alexander Ostlund in his current look..... http://instagram.com/alexanderostlund
I defer to Bertrand Russell: âIf I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.â
Why do I have to "respect your view"? I don't in discussions on politics or football, yet once it's called "religion" or "belief" suddenly there's something wrong with my mocking you. If I'd said "I love the fact that you and all your imaginary friends think you support a real football team" you'd have laughed and given some banter back. But no, it's a "religious" thing so I'm not supposed to mock or joke. For some bizarre reason, I have to "show respect". How foolishly uncertain of itself it makes your religion look. That's my last word on this for now as I foresee that this conversation will end badly with someone taking real offence, and I'd hate to add a further burden on top of the pain of supporting Portsmouth (that's another joke that you'll probably not find "disrespectful"). For a clearer explanation, I suggest you look at Douglas Adams's take on the matter. Coherent and cogent as he ever was. http://sandwalk.blogspot.co.uk/2007/03/douglas-adams-speaks-about-religion.html Vin
George Carlin said something like "tell everyone there's a man in the sky, and most people will believe you; tell someone the paint is wet and they have to touch it to be sure!"
Because it's the decent thing to do? Isn't that enough? As for football, even though we're all on a football forum, 99% of us would agree that ultimately and objectively speaking football is very very trivial and unimportant, as is all sport and music and films and so on, so yes, 'banter' (within reason) is acceptable and most people wouldn't dispute that. Neither politics or religion can be seen as trivial, and often a person's political and religious beliefs are at the core of their identity and shapes who they are as a person and how they see themselves. They are also very personal things. If their beliefs do not impinge on others, then there's no reason not to be respectful of theirs.
Another wave of leaks will be released soon apparently...4chan going absolutely mental. This is gonna have some repercussions i think Edit: 3,500 posts in 50 minutes on the main thread over there
Would you respect someone's view if they believed that all non-white, blond haired, blue eyed people should be destroyed/killed? It's a view. It's a view I don't agree with. It's also a view I can't respect. Presumably you can respect it as it is someone's view. How DO you respect someone's view?
Genesis has poetic meaning. It speaks about the human condition, about our nature and about our relationship with the world about us. Still, after 4000 years, mankind's destiny, and the cause of all his sorrow, is his hunger for knowledge (Adam and Eve) and his limitless capacity for love and violence (Caine and Abel). There's timeless wisdom in the writing of those old Jews.
