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E-skeptic

E-SKEPTIC is the weekly electronic version of Skeptic magazine. In November 2002, I posed a challenge to E-SKEPTIC readers that was presented to me by an old friend named Randy Kirk, who is a Christian with whom I have had many long discussions and debates about science, religion, and philosophy. That question is: What are the benefits of being a skeptic (or nonbeliever, atheist, agnostic, free thinker, etc.); conversely, along the lines of Pascal's wager, in Randy's words: "How can the anti-god folks argue that their persuading others away from God, Jesus, and religion is a benefit to them now or in some potential afterlife. All the scientific evidence points to benefits of faith."

Some entries were lightly edited for grammar and length. The response from several believers, and Randy Kirk's response, follows at the end.

Why would anyone purposely add the limitations of a superstition to his/her intellect and imagination? As human beings on a backwater planet, our faculties are...

Posted by: Raymon Androckitis

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