My conversation starter for Atheists : comments.
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![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: False Dilemma
Or is the false dichotomy atheism/theism. In which case: hahahahahah*!
yrs--
--Ben
* I am neither an atheist nor a theist.
Re: False Dilemma
1) Consider a hypothetical world in which there is a study that conclusively proves that certain aspects of religious practice, or the practice of particular religion, has an immediate benefit to your health. (I'm aware that such studies exist in the real world, but they're flawed. I'm asking you to consider one that, to your eyes, is conclusive.)
a) Okay -> Go to 2.
b) I would never find such studies conclusive, regardless of the methodology or repeated results -> Go to END.
c) I cannot imagine such a world -> Go to END.
Let's not use hypetheticals. Let's do what Machiavelli suggested and use reality.
Prayer doesn't cure anything. Never has, never will.
Religious belief doesn't cure anything. Never has, never will.
A patient's positive attitude is beneficial to medical processes. This can come from visits from friends, good bedside manner from the doctor, knowledge of the disease and its treatments, and--yes--an irrational belief that an invisible man is looking out for you. But belief in any particular religion does not provide a direct benefit to health.
That should make the rest of your questions irrelevant.
Re: False Dilemma
Now you're not taking my test.
Do you have something against fiction? Do you have something against fiction which asks "what would you do, placed into this fictional world?"
The funny thing is that I know you're capable of imagining a world where magic works.
Hmm... That might help. Look at it this way: It's a role-playing game.
If we sit down to play, oh, I dunno, L5R. And I go "actually, there wasn't any functional magic in Japan!" the first time someone casts a spell, that's just me being a dick.
yrs--
--Ben
P.S. The goal of this test is not to convert you. I don't even know what I would convert you to.
Re: False Dilemma
I would answer as follows:
1. a - it's conclusive
2. b - start using it
3. c - still an atheist
4. a - still rational
Why? Because the study finds that Correlation does not Imply Causation.
Just because the Buddhist monks discovered a practice that helps them be healthier, doesn't mean it has anything to do with their religion.
The Shinto Japanese lived longer during the Middle Ages because they used ritual Purification and regular bathing as religious practices. Does being clean and dangerous microbe free have health benefits? Yes! Is it a matter of religion or faith? Not really. Can there be such a test where Faith or religion cannot be parsed from the results? No.