Ifyoulikeitsomuchwhydontyougolivethere?

[Diver]

Religion pah! You'd have thought the human race would have outgrown the stupid notion of gods and angels and other such utter claptrap by now wouldn't you?

[ThomasSoerensen]

Concur - its about the circumstances of your birth and upbringing that will help you decide which fairy story is the one for you.

determine your flavour of brain washing

[NotAllThere]

If Christians don't agree with that definition then presumably they think they have evidence for their faith.
I have yet to see the slightest shred of any such evidence.

That's because what they would consider evidence, you wouldn't. As far as I can tell, in very general terms, faith is a matter of choice. Of choosing to believe a particular interpretation of the data. So long as that fits into a consistent framework, I think it can be considered rational.

Strictly, if some data comes along that's explicitly contradictory, then the faith is "lost". More usually though, the new data will be rationalised into the existing mental framework.

That applies to scientific theories as well.

[contractor79]

Maxwell was believer in Evangelical Christianity. This is well attested to: E.g. http://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/2004/PSCF9-04McNatt.pdf

Einstein it appears, although he used the word "God" (2God does not play dice with the universe") was by most accounts, an atheist.

wasn't an atheist

[NotAllThere]

Religion pah! You'd have thought the human race would have outgrown the stupid notion of gods and angels and other such utter claptrap by now wouldn't you?

Despite best efforts, it does seem to be awfully tenacious. Such that clear thinkers, such as yourself, do seem to remain in the minority.

I guess humans are just awkward and irrational.

[Diver]

Despite best efforts, it does seem to be awfully tenacious. Such that clear thinkers, such as yourself, do seem to remain in the minority.

I guess humans are just awkward and irrational.

Santa is real though isn't he?

[ThomasSoerensen]

Santa is real though isn't he?

yup - and he has your credit card details

[sasguru]

That's because what they would consider evidence, you wouldn't. As far as I can tell, in very general terms, faith is a matter of choice. Of choosing to believe a particular interpretation of the data. So long as that fits into a consistent framework, I think it can be considered rational.

Strictly, if some data comes along that's explicitly contradictory, then the faith is "lost". More usually though, the new data will be rationalised into the existing mental framework.

That applies to scientific theories as well.

Yes but the quality of evidence required in science is very different is it not?
If your faith can't be falsified, it's pretty useless in my opinion.
My nephew believes that tooth fairies exist - he's got evidence for it in the form of a 50p coin.
I'd still like to have an example of what Christians would consider evidence?

[contractor79]

The USA. Which just goes to show that the USofA'ian majority brand of Christianity should be banned.

or maybe it shows they tolerate crime less unlike our liberal selves

liberal Christianity is what brings Christianity down

[sasguru]

liberal Christianity

Ah liberal Christianity, eh?
Do you prefer militaristic Christianity like the Crusades?