stephen williams wvilignet good blogger think according straw man god thing person something essentially supernatural character thats hopelessly simplistic unsophisticated notion apparently careful theologians actually mind precisely notion god nearly nontheologians say overwhelming majority religious believers least western world actually believe fanatic fundamentalists thats god average person worshiping church sunday credit skinner grants point best jon stewart whine really theologians sophisticated followers touch believe like latinspeaking clergy vs lay plebes still say strategy suppose intellectually honest one one help wriggle lot uncomfortable debates reply youre welcome call whatever like makes difference whatsoever might well admit youre atheist amen brotha httpcosmicvariancecom20071020pleasetellmewhatgodmeans please tell god means sean 515 pm october 20th 2007 via 3quarksdaily richard skinner poet writer qualified therapist performer elaborating christians take richard dawkins seriously 1 would argue take seriously much says true thats skinners take skinner suggests dawkins arguing strawman notion god stop youve heard according straw man god thing person something essentially supernatural character lot influence happens universe particular ability sidestep laws nature rest us beholden thats hopelessly simplistic unsophisticated notion apparently careful theologians actually mind nevertheless dawkins defenders typically reply precisely notion god nearly nontheologians say overwhelming majority religious believers least western world actually believe fanatic fundamentalists thats god average person worshipping church sunday credit skinner grants point apparently christians take dawkins seriously often even thoughtful christians take easy way conceptualize god something much tangible really point optimist would hope informed precise language exactly god really mean sophisticated believer something better terry eagletons condition possibility 2 less get exactly philosophers theologians centuries grappling meant god resorted different type language making statements god ultimate reality god ground god precondition anything could exist forth theological discourse helpful concepts trouble youre philosopher theologian feel eyes glazing god become philosophical concept rather living presence trouble sophisticated formulations make eyes glaze trouble dont mean anything tell precisely mean consider two possible views reality one view atheism completely materialistic describes reality bunch stuff obeying equations long universe exists thats absolutely view god exists would like know difference meaningful operational thisiswhyishouldcare difference sophisticated believer atheist imagine two possibilities one sincerely cant imagine universe without existence god god logical necessity trouble imagining universe exists obeying laws nature would conclude case simply attaching meaningless label god aspect universe fact exists possibility actually difference universewithgod materialist universe could tell existence god effect universe im trying spring sort logical trap sincerely want know phrases like god ultimate reality either tautological meaningless would like specific clear understanding means believe god sophisticated nonstrawman sense richard skinner doesnt give us fact takes precisely opposite lesson considerations correct tack believers refuse say mean god understanding god encapsulated nice neat definition nice neat god hypothesis nice neat image nice neat set instructions words understanding god approximate dawkins version danger creating another golden calf alternative nongoldencalf route sit light definitions hypotheses images allow god god strategy suppose intellectually honest one one help wriggle lot uncomfortable debates im big believer goodfaith disagreements focus strong arguments opposite side rather setting straw men please let nonstrawman position anyone tell correct precise sophisticated nonvacuous meaning god promise stick disbelieving rather straw men update discussion done even better job anticipated confirming belief sophisticated notion god simply category mistake people clearly think god way perfectly consistent supposed dawkinsian straw man fine terms others take refuge skinneresque stance cant say mean talk god continue think simply intellectually dishonest ontopic replies see dont fall either camps ones point feature world would exist well purely materialistic conception say call god reply youre welcome call whatever like makes difference whatsoever might well admit youre atheist people course invited guest speaker father william buckley jesuit priest one worlds experts history atheism giving interesting talk spirituality contemplation said dont think believe god god confessed know better people camp think real mistake take stance feeling toward world interpret conventionally religious language letting go philosophically precise ultimately liberating 1 httpwwwekklesiacouknode5721 2 httpcosmicvariancecom20061029thegodconundrum sdw gcezqroonhpticom httpwwwhpticom per wvilignet httpsdwst stephen williams 7033719362c 7039950407fax 20147 aim sdw wed 06 aug 2008 200642 0400 fork antimemes spread