"The Atheist's Wager", A turn on Pascal

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: MplsBison You can not appreciate anything unless you know the fundamental truth of the mechanics of that thing. Likewise, you can not appreciate our existence here in this wonderful universe unless you know the truth about why and how it was created.

I'm going to challenge this assumption.

For example...

I love a forest, especially the northern forests that are less tangled with bushes, shrubs, poison ivy...

I know very little about trees, and don't really care to except a few basic scientific concepts and pine vs. not. (I prefer Northern pine.) They are one of the greatest sources of inspiration in my life. To have had this experience, this love, I don't need to know exactly how sap flows, or other "mechanics."

Here's another example...

Hundred and hundred of years ago theists, and non-theists, knew far less regarding the mechanics of our world and life: how things work. Yet I'm sure they appreciated things as much as we did: sometimes I think far, far more as I observe people with cell phones pasted on their heads and TV screens glued onto their eyes.

In regard to your last sentence: nonsense. I'm sure believers of all kinds: non-Christian have appreciated our existence here. Maybe they didn't know the truth, or appreciate it in the same way you do... but appreciation doesn't come from "truth." It comes from the mind, or as the cliche' filled poet/songwriter might write: the heart. Wasn't it the Mayans: no "Christian" there, who designed a time a wonderous piece and calendar that goes up to 2012? The very process of trying to fathom who we are, why we are and create things for future generations shows such appreciation. Surely you don't claim only Christians have done such?

There's a perfect example. Anyone with an ounce of knowledge knows the heart doesn't feel a damn thing. It's all in the head and how that affects the rest of us. But that hasn't prevented poets, songwriters and purveyors of prose from enriching the live of millions through references to the heart.

(Note: of course it's also helped others produce schlock that would make any visiting alien from another planet do his best to make sure we don't know he was ever here... one possible reason why visitors from outer pace may have skipped us intentionally; other than the more obvious scientific considerations such as the speed of light.)

[Piscean]

Likewise, you can not appreciate our existence here in this wonderful universe unless you know the truth about why and how it was created.

So that means nobody can appreciate it hhhmmm, I disagree.