Austin Cline

Austin Cline's Opinions

Atheism Should atheists directly challenge religious beliefs? Agree ...beliefs themselves do not merit automatic respect and deference. Humans certainly deserve some basic level of respect..., but beliefs aren't people. We should be polite and respectful towards the person, but we are justified in being harsh and critical of a person's claims. However much a person might take such criticism personally, we must separate ourselves from our beliefs. An attack on one shouldn't be treated as an attack on the other. ...a belief or idea [must earn] respect. Edit Pitches 11 Dec 2007    Source Does God exist? Disagree It's not that [theists are] lacking in labels and characteristics to attribute to their gods, it's just that so many of these characteristics contradict each other. To put it simply, not all of these characteristics can be true because one cancels out the other out or a combination of two (or more) leads to a logically impossible situation. When this happens, the definition is no longer coherent or understandable. The Incoherent Pitch   Edit Pitches 01 Jan 2008    Source Philosophy Must God exist to explain how the universe began? Disagree Because time is an aspect of the universe, it‘s hard to see how it can be said to have a “beginning” in the way the word is normally used. The concept of a “beginning” normally assumes a “time before” at which the object did not exist — but there was no “time before” the universe. Without a time before, the notion of "cause" no longer applies. Edit Pitches 01 Jan 2008    Source

Science Does astrology work (is personality correlated with the positions of celestial bodies at birth)? Disagree In astrology, however, claims are often framed in an unusually negative manner. The aim of experiments is not to find data which a theory can explain; instead, the aim of experiments is to find data which cannot be explained. The conclusion is then drawn that, in the absence of any scientific explanation, the results must be attributed to something supernatural or spiritual. Edit Pitches 01 Jan 2008    Source Can science prove or disprove the existence of God? Agree A popular objection to atheists' arguments and critiques of theism is to insist that one's preferred god cannot be disproven — indeed, that science itself is unable to prove that God does not exist. This position depends upon a mistaken understanding of the nature of science and how science operates. In a very real and important sense, it is possible to say that, scientifically, God does not exist — just as science is able to discount the existence of a myriad of other alleged beings. Edit Pitches 20 Dec 2009    Source Parapsychology Are psychic powers real? Disagree Parapsychology probably doesn’t have to do any harm, but in the end that’s exactly what it appears to do anyway. Parapsychology makes claims about the nature of reality and because of that, it matters a great deal whether any of it is true or not. We need to know what is real and what is not because, in the long run, that’s the best way for us to avoid harm and live better lives. Edit Pitches 01 Jan 2009    Source

Comparisons with Other Experts and Influencers

The similarity between Austin Cline and each expert and influencer is calculated by looking at how the same questions were answered. These figures are used to calculate conforming, nonconforming, and projected opinions. The accuracy of the analysis depends on Austin Cline's coverage, which grows with the number of their opinions entered into TakeOnIt.

Conforming Opinions

Austin Cline's conforming opinions are opinions that align with the group of experts and influencers Austin Cline typically agrees with.

Projected Opinions

Austin Cline's projected opinions are opinions Austin Cline is expected to have if their opinions align with the experts and influencers that they typically agree with.