School Shootings - More Evidence of a Non-Existent Deity?

[marylandblue]

126. Yes it does depend on definitions

In my case, I define God as a putative entity that may be contacted through mystical experience. I am uncertain if this putative entity is simply an altered state of consciousness, or is something "out there." Mainly on that basis, I am agnostic. However, other definitions may be shown not to exist.

There are some in the Religion Group that are deliberately vague about their definition, nonetheless, they clearly have one, and they admit there is no evidence for it, but they have faith. Some assert such things, but IMHO it's highly questionable whether anyone in the world actually believes in anything without evidence. It's really just a question of what they consider evidence, even if they don't say so.

A lot of people consider the Bible as evidence because they believe it is a history book. They believe it's a history book because someone they trust, like their parents or their pastor told them it is. And they never questioned that. Plenty of evidence it is not a history book, but they didn't question any further.

Other people may admit the Bible is not a history book, but nonetheless believe it records real human encounters with a deity. They may believe this because they did question what their parents told them, but still find comfort in clinging to their childhood illusions. So they still use it as evidence, but inconsistently, so they can preserve at least the form of religion.