Ask JimC

On a particular religion discussion board, I was becoming the main topic for some contributors. So I created a topic where anyone could ask me any questions and get their curiosity out of their systems, thereby enabling the focus of discussions to be on religion... 


Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by JimC  on 10 Dec 2013 at 2:36AM
It seems my opinions, views, thoughts and perspectives are shrouded in mystery (according to at least one person) so here is an opportunity for anyone and everyone to ask me anything and everything. Could be a topic on the board, or an old topic, or a new topic. Or anything (within the remit of the db description of course).

I will do my best to answer all questions over breakfast.

Best question wins a token!

(If there's enough demand I might create an "Ask JimC " discussion board.


Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by An Apologist  on 10 Dec 2013 at 3:11AM
Really, Jim--is this the best you can offer to the challenge to express and defend your perspective in all your posits? We're all aware of your admitted background in advertising--and as we all know from advertising, it is a one sided presentation of propaganda which neither expects nor acknowledges other expressed opinions on the matter. Again, you redirect responsibility for honest presentation of one's perspective onto others and pretend that this stunt of yours--where you remain in the driver's seat--reflects an honest exchange of views. Here's my challenge--previously expressed: present and be willing to defend your views on whatever matter that you would expect others to do so! Thanks for understanding what a real give-and-take discussion (hopefully for the enlightenment of all parties) is all about!

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by A non-religious theist  on 10 Dec 2013 at 3:25AM
Do you believe god exists in any form and why?

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by An Apologist  on 10 Dec 2013 at 3:32AM
Of course I do! Nice misdirect in apparent defense of JimC who probably won't respond on topic to this challenge!

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by A non-religious theist on 10 Dec 2013 at 3:34AM
Sorry An Apologist, the question was for JimC not you

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by An Apologist  on 10 Dec 2013 at 3:35AM
I stand corrected and my apologies--thanks for the clarification!

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by A man in tights  on 10 Dec 2013 at 5:49AM
Who has more credibility, God or Piers Morgan?

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by JimC  on 10 Dec 2013 at 9:00AM
Thanks for contributions! The token competition will remain open for a few more days just in case there are more questions.

Answers to on-topic questions are below. Answers to off-topic questions and/or personal comments can be found here [ RGFSMCL-015 ]

Question	Questioner	Answer	Potential Token Winner?
Do you believe god exists in any form and why?	A non-religious theist	If I was forced to answer only with a yes or no, I'd say "no" and the reason why is that I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods. A longer answer is that I consider the existence of a god or gods to be extremely unlikely because I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods, so I live my life on the assumption that there are no gods. However, I also believe that anything is possible in an infinite reality, so the existence of a god or gods is not impossible. There's an even longer answer which requires exploring what the word "god" actually means. Without a definition it's impossible to answer the question, so when I say the existence of a god is unlikely, I'm making unconscious assumptions about what a god is, which might be totally different to the concept of god that is in your mind when you ask the question	Yes
Who has more credibility, God or Piers Morgan?	A man in tights	Piers Morgan has zero credibility, without doubt, therefore God must have more credibility than Piers Morgan by definition	Yes

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by A non-religious theist on 10 Dec 2013 at 12:06PM
Part 2 to my question
Simple answer is no.
More complex answer is maybe mostly because it cant be disproved.
Then you mention infinite realities, in this case, the answer is yes.

I want to pick this apart somewhat but I really cant because I mostly agree with what you say except for the no.... I think there is a god if I had to say yes or no.

Still, you covered all bases, you should write a religious book


Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by JimC  on 10 Dec 2013 at 8:31PM
Hmmm…

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by A Born Again Christian  on 10 Dec 2013 at 3:48PM
What evidence would convince you that God exists?


Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by JimC  on 10 Dec 2013 at 8:30PM
This is a GREAT question.

There is a long answer but assuming it's the Christian God in this case, the short answer is that if I was to see Christians praying to Jesus for amputees' missing limbs to grow back, and the limbs grew back, then I would believe their God exists.

(More precisely - my level of belief would shift from 5% to at least 95% which in my view qualifies as belief. as I don't think anything can be 100% certain)

Re: Ask JimC - Win a token!

Posted by a Pantheist on 10 Dec at 09:10PM

Which religion do you think has the best headgear and/or facial hair? do you feel this is a requirement for a credible religion?

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by JimC  on 11 Dec 2013 at 8:01AM

For me, Sikhism wins the headgear/facial hair combo every time. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/13/article-0-16E8BEE0000005DC-20_634x948.jpg I think either headgear OR distinctive facial hair is a requirement for a credible religion, but not necessarily both

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by JimC  on 11 Dec 2013 at 8:21AM
Latest Summary…

Question	Questioner	Answer	Potential Token Winner?
Do you believe god exists in any form and why?	A non-religious theist	If I was forced to answer only with a yes or no, I'd say "no" and the reason why is that I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods. A longer answer is that I consider the existence of a god or gods to be extremely unlikely because I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods, so I live my life on the assumption that there are no gods. However, I also believe that anything is possible in an infinite reality, so the existence of a god or gods is not impossible. There's an even longer answer which requires exploring what the word "god" actually means. Without a definition it's impossible to answer the question, so when I say the existence of a god is unlikely, I'm making unconscious assumptions about what a god is, which might be totally different to the concept of god that is in your mind when you ask the question	Yes
Who has more credibility, God or Piers Morgan?	A man in tights	Piers Morgan has zero credibility, without doubt, therefore God must have more credibility than Piers Morgan by definition	Yes
What evidence would convince you that God exists?	A Born Again Christian	There is a long answer but assuming it's the Christian God in this case, the short answer is that if I were to see Christians praying to Jesus for amputees' missing limbs to grow back, and the limbs grew back, then I would believe their God exists. (More precisely - my level of belief would shift from 5% to at least 95% which in my view qualifies as belief as I don't think anything can be 100% certain)	Yes
Which religion do you think has the best headgear and/or facial hair? do you feel this is a requirement for a credible religion?	A Pantheist	For me, Sikhism wins the headgear/facial hair combo every time. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/13/article-0-16E8BEE0000005DC-20_634x948.jpg I think either headgear OR distinctive facial hair is a requirement for a credible religion, but not necessarily both.Yes	Yes

Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by A Born Again Christian on 11 Dec 2013 at 4:05PM
There were people who witnessed Jesus multiplying food from a young boy's lunch to feed 5,000 men plus women and children (with leftovers) who didn't believe that He was God. There were people who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead who didn't believe He was God. This is not a head issue for you, it is a heart issue. You have enough information and evidence to believe in God, but something else is holding you back. Only you and God knows what that is, and only God can break through that barrier. That is what I am praying for you, and that will be the evidence that God exists.


Re: Ask JimC  - Win a token!
Posted by JimC  on 11 Dec 2013 at 5:06PM
I'm disappointed you didn't comment on the evidence that I described.

I consider the supernatural stories in the Bible to be based on folk tales and legends, no different to thousands of other supernatural stories from our Stone Age and Bronze Age ancestors in every culture of every continent. Therefore they are hearsay at best and certainly not evidence. So the only thing "holding me back" from believing in your particular god is the same thing that "holds me back" from believing millions of things - and that is a lack of evidence.

I appreciate the prayers, that's kind of you. I think you're suggesting that if I was to start believing in God, that would count as evidence that God exists. I think there's a flaw in that logic.

And the winner is

Posted by JimC  on 16 Dec 2013 at 7:46AM

Congratulations to A Born Again Christian for coming up with this question in the "Ask JimC" thread...

"What evidence would convince you that God exists?"

A token will be on its way to you soon.

A simple question, clear concise and unambiguous. But at the same time, a very deep question that's not easy to answer! A simple question, but not simplistic. Aside from the problem of agreeing a definition of "God" (or agreeing "which god?"), it's very difficult for sceptics to answer the question without sounding closed minded, especially if their default response is… "nothing will convince me!" It also turns the tables on the sceptics who put the burden of proof on the believers.

So once again, excellent question.

RGFSMCL-015

Question	Questioner	Answer	Potential Token Winner?	Reason if "No"
Do you believe god exists in any form and why?	A non-religious theist	If I was forced to answer only with a yes or no, I'd say "no" and the reason why is that I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods. A longer answer is that I consider the existence of a god or gods to be extremely unlikely because I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods, so I live my life on the assumption that there are no gods. However, I also believe that anything is possible in an infinite reality, so the existence of a god or gods is not impossible. There's an even longer answer which requires exploring what the word "god" actually means. Without a definition it's impossible to answer the question, so when I say the existence of a god is unlikely, I'm making unconscious assumptions about what a god is, which might be totally different to the concept of god that is in your mind when you ask the question	Yes
Who has more credibility, God or Piers Morgan?	A man in tights	Piers Morgan has zero credibility, without doubt, therefore God must have more credibility than Piers Morgan by definition	Yes
What evidence would convince you that God exists?	A Born Again Christian	There is a long answer but assuming it's the Christian God in this case, the short answer is that if I were to see Christians praying to Jesus for amputees' missing limbs to grow back, and the limbs grew back, then I would believe their God exists. (More precisely - my level of belief would shift from 5% to at least 95% which in my view qualifies as belief as I don't think anything can be 100% certain)	Yes
Which religion do you think has the best headgear and/or facial hair? do you feel this is a requirement for a credible religion?	A Pantheist	For me, Sikhism wins the headgear/facial hair combo every time. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/13/article-0-16E8BEE0000005DC-20_634x948.jpg I think either headgear OR distinctive facial hair is a requirement for a credible religion, but not necessarily both.Yes	Yes
Do you believe god exists in any form and why?	A non-religious theist	If I was forced to answer only with a yes or no, I'd say "no" and the reason why is that I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods. A longer answer is that I consider the existence of a god or gods to be extremely unlikely because I've yet to see any evidence to support the existence of a god or gods, so I live my life on the assumption that there are no gods. However, I also believe that anything is possible in an infinite reality, so the existence of a god or gods is not impossible. There's an even longer answer which requires exploring what the word "god" actually means. Without a definition it's impossible to answer the question, so when I say the existence of a god is unlikely, I'm making unconscious assumptions about what a god is, which might be totally different to the concept of god that is in your mind when you ask the question	Yes
Who has more credibility, God or Piers Morgan?	A man in tights	Piers Morgan has zero credibility, without doubt, therefore God must have more credibility than Piers Morgan by definition	Yes
What evidence would convince you that God exists?	A Born Again Christian	There is a long answer but assuming it's the Christian God in this case, the short answer is that if I were to see Christians praying to Jesus for amputees' missing limbs to grow back, and the limbs grew back, then I would believe their God exists. (More precisely - my level of belief would shift from 5% to at least 95% which in my view qualifies as belief as I don't think anything can be 100% certain)	Yes
Which religion do you think has the best headgear and/or facial hair? do you feel this is a requirement for a credible religion?	A Pantheist	For me, Sikhism wins the headgear/facial hair combo every time. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/13/article-0-16E8BEE0000005DC-20_634x948.jpg I think either headgear OR distinctive facial hair is a requirement for a credible religion, but not necessarily both.Yes	Yes
Really, Jim--is this the best you can offer to the challenge to express and defend your perspective in all your posits?	An Apologist	Yes	No	Off topic
We're all aware of your admitted background in advertising--and as we all know from advertising, it is a one sided presentation of propaganda which neither expects nor acknowledges other expressed opinions on the matter	An Apologist	I don't have a "background in advertising" (admitted or otherwise). Two years ago I stated that "I spent many years in the marketing and advertising business." but that's not my background. You then formed an opinion about what my role might have been - a very negative opinion for some reason. Even though I explained to you at the time that my background is not in advertising, you continue to repeat your ad hominem opinions.  You shouldn't tar everyone who works or has worked in the advertising industry with the same brush, Many years ago you stated that you had a minor role in the movie industry, during a discussion on immorality, and you explained that your minor role had nevertheless given you an "insider" view.  It would never occur to me to jump to a conclusion that the immorality you may have witnessed somehow reflects badly on you.   Having said all that, it is true that during my exposure to the advertising world, the parallels and similarities with mainstream religion were striking. Finally I should point out that your assumption about how advertising works is not strictly accurate. There is propaganda but successful advertising relies on a deep understanding of the target audience, and advertising companies spend fortunes on researching and understanding people's opinions. Public opinion can demolish an advertising campaign, especially with the advent of social media.	No	Not a question. Off topic.
Again, you redirect responsibility for honest presentation of one's perspective onto others and pretend that this stunt of yours--where you remain in the driver's seat--reflects an honest exchange of views.	An Apologist	My impression was that you considered me to be in the "driving seat" when I was asking questions. Now you say I'm in the "driving seat" because I'm answering questions. Perhaps a better analogy would be that you are now in the driving seat, but you can't get the engine started	No	Not a question. Off topic.
Here's my challenge--previously expressed: present and be willing to defend your views on whatever matter that you would expect others to do so! Thanks for understanding what a real give-and-take discussion (hopefully for the enlightenment of all parties) is all about!	An Apologist	As far as I can tell, I have presented and have been willing to defend my views on whatever matter that I would expect others to do so. This is your opportunity to refer to a view that you consider I have been unwilling to defend. In fact I've given you many such opportunities, but you are always unable to find a single example. In the absence of evidence your allegation remains unfounded. I do sometimes wonder if the constant appearance of this allegation is a way for you to avoid responding on topic when you've lost the argument.	No	Not a question. Off topic.
Have you no shame? Identify my "quoting the Gospels to demonstrate the Gospels are true." Date please?	An Evangelical Christian	I possess a full range of emotions, including shame.  The quote was "JimC... continually confirms for me the wisdom of the Bible. --"The Gospel is foolishness to those who will not believe." and the date was 12 Dec 2013 at 5:53PM (UK time)	No	Not a question
Would you have us confuse the difference between eyewitness testimony and hearsay?	An Apologist	No I wouldn't. They are obviously different. Eyewitness testimony is an account given by people of an event they have witnessed. Hearsay is information received from other people which cannot be substantiated. People who claim the gospels are eye witness accounts are confusing eyewitness testimony with hearsay	Yes