The Atheist Experience

Well, first off you've mixed up two different issues. If I don't know what a Honda Accord is then that's really separate from whether I believe that you own one.

Nope. Once again, you have mixed up "I lack belief in X" and "I believe that X is untrue."

That you made this mistake is is not that surprising, because in general usage "I don't believe X" is often used to mean "I believe X is not true".

The reality is that they are two different things, however. And it is very strange that you still can't seem to grasp this even after it has been explained to you literally dozens of times.

And yet here you are, still talking.

Oh, I'm very aware of it. You are a constant reminder.

You missed the point. I suggest you go back, re-read it, and try to understand it this time. I'm afraid I cannot make it easier for you, so if you can't get it at this point then there's really no point trying further.

No, the burden of proof has nothing to do with "the status quo". Both of those statements carry a burden of proof because both of them are positive claims. The status quo is irrelevant to the burden of proof.

No, you don't have a burden of proof in that example simply because I asked for it. You have the burden of proof in that example because you made a positive claim. That burden exists even if I don't ask for it. It exists even if you're just thinking about it yourself.

This is not about one person or one person's thoughts being somehow more privileged or better treated than another. It applies even if it's just you, all by yourself, just thinking about it. Try to understand it - the burden of proof depends on whether a positive claim is being made. Just that, and nothing else.

No, you have misunderstood what it is that we are talking about. Again, you don't seem to grasp the difference between an experience and whether the experience maps to truths about reality. I've been discussing both. You aren't smart enough to realise it, or to understand that the two are different things.

Since there's nobody like that here, then you're using an odd non-sequiteur.

He's a good deal smarter than you seem to be, so don't go dissing your intellectual superiors.