Posted by Gremlin [12.255.181.7 - 12-255-181-7.client.attbi.com] on 12 July 2002 at 03.17.24 ZuluTime:

In Reply to: don't take this personally!!!! no flaming :) posted by Andy on 12 July 2002 at 02.40.19 ZuluTime:

I had a really nice post about this last year; it's on CD somewhere now. I guess I can just retype it.
     Ahem.

• Granting that a deity may or may not exist:
  • Then if a deity exists:
    • Then if I believe in a deity:
      • Then if I believe in the correct deity:
        • Then if the deity wants me to believe in it:
          • Then I might be rewarded
        • Then if the deity doesn't want me to believe in it:
          • Then I might be punished
        • Then if the deity wants me to believe in a different deity:
          • Then I might be punished
      • Then if I believe in the wrong deity:
        • Then if the deity wants me to believe in it:
          • Then I might be punished
        • Then if the deity doesn't want me to believe in it:
          • Then I might be rewarded
        • Then if the deity wants me to believe in a different deity:
          • Then if I believe in the correct other deity:
            • Then I might be rewarded
          • Then if I believe in the wrong other deity:
            • Then I might be punished
    • Then if I don't believe in a deity:
      • Then if the deity wants me to believe in it:
        • Then I might be punished
      • Then if the deity doesn't want me to believe in it:
        • Then I might be rewarded
      • Then if the deity wants me to believe in a different deity:
        • Then I might be punished
  • Then if a deity doesn't exist:
    • Then if I believe in a deity:
      • I waste a lot of time believing in fiction
    • Then if I don't believe in a deity:
      • Then I'm out nothing

Which is why I don't bother with beliefs.