Greetings from Wisconsin

[Dennis Campbell]

Greetings. I’m a visitor from the Sam Harris’ Project Reason site, where I’ve been camped for most of 3 years and over 3,000 posts. I’m really NOT following Bruce Burleson, but he and I have spared for years on the RP site, and we both have found that site stimulating but sometimes too much like a bunch of squalling children throwing sand in a sandbox. That can be stimulating, but it can also be tiring, not to mention always getting sand in one’s eye as a result. I also identify several others from the RP site here as well, so hope we collectively both contribute to and get from others here in a mutual gain.

To be clear, as was my friend Bruce, I’m a retired clinical psychologist, Ph.D., an “Atheist” or maybe better a “Secularist,” and have been all of my adult life. Just do not ask when the “adult” part of that started, as there may be some who disagree. Living in Wisconsin with one wife and one quite small puppy who dominates both of us; one adult son, three adult step-children. Taught part-time off and on across 45 years in four community colleges, three in Wisconsin and one in NE Arizona, now retired from that as well.

Bruce’s initial arguments sound quite familiar, and well discussed (if too often trashed) on the RP site, so I’m not much inclined to engage him here on those. His internal apprehensions externalized into his god precept seems to me applicable to any theist, but at least Bruce is intellectually honest in acknowledging that, which most theists do not. His “2nd prong,” historical textual evidence, is to me a bottomless pit of conjecture, speculation, and selected citations all filtered through and changed by multiple translations and cultures. That resulting mess is sufficient to argue for or against almost any theistic propositions, with no resolution likely.

All that occurred to me regarding his first “prong” was the thought that Rene Descartes said: “I think therefore I am.” That’s always struck me as convincing and self-evident.

The theist says: “I think therefore God is.” So a god was created. That does not strike me as convincing or self-evident.

Dennis

[FBM]

Welcome, Dennis! That's a helluva first post.

You'll find this place to be a mix of fun and serious discussion. Engage as you feel inclined. Glad to have you!

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Welcome Dennis.
I hope you enjoy your time here!

[maiforpeace]

Welcome to the forum Dennis!

[charlou]

Hello and welcome, Dennis. I appreciate Bruce's contributions ... I think I may yours too.

[JimC]

Cheers, and welcome from down-under!

Retired, eh...

That situation is 2 or 3 years away for me, and I'm half looking forward to it, and half dreading it...

I think I need to do some serious thought about a plan...

[Rum]

Hi Dennis, from the British contingent! Welcome and enjoy!

[Animavore]

Actually most neurologists nowadays would say "I am therefore I think".

Welcome to the forum from Ireland.

[Deep Sea Isopod]

To be clear, as was my friend Bruce, I’m a retired clinical psychologist, Ph.D.,

They're coming to take me away ha ha.
They're coming to take me away ho ho, he he, ha ha.!

[AshtonBlack]

Welcome, Dennis, may all your facts be testable and your conjectures interesting!

Cheers!

Ashton.

[Dennis Campbell]

Cheers, and welcome from down-under!

Retired, eh...

That situation is 2 or 3 years away for me, and I'm half looking forward to it, and half dreading it...

I think I need to do some serious thought about a plan...

Big issue. Financial first, but after that a lot of work needs to be done about what you're going to do.

Dennis

[Faithfree]

Hi Dennis,
Welcome to Ratz.

[Trolldor]

*twitch*

Spared or Sparred in the OP?

[Feck]

Hello welcome, enough about god already Post Puppy Pictures !!!

[Woodbutcher]

Welcome, Dennis. I'm from the Thunder Bay area in Ontario, could be that you're fairly near, at least compared to most of the posters. I've been to the SH site as well, and I agree about the bickering. Welcome to the pub, there you will see threads totally void of serious content and intelligence. That's where I post.