[extropy-chat] Atheism in Decline

[Damien Broderick]

At 09:14 PM 3/7/2005 -0800, Olga wrote:

>>I'd suggest applying some of the basic principles of Bayesian reasoning
>>to the question of atheism vs belief in God.  Bayesian reasoning works
>>on the basis of probability.
>
>There is no reason to use this little exercise regarding 
>[G][g]od(s)[ess][esses] any more than putting magic bean stalks, mermaids, 
>elves, ghosts, pookas and the like through the same Bayesian reasoning.
>
>Is there?

Yes, because the ontological and deontological consequences of Deity are so 
much weightier. But for that very reason, I don't think Bayes can help; one 
would be required to leap outside the system of empirical evidence and 
recurrence.

Damien Broderick