Atheism, Evidence and the God-of-the-Gaps

[Randy Carson]

If God did this, then surely we would know he existed, right? Well, why wouldn’t this kind of evidence also be subject to the “God-of-the-gaps” objection? Just because we don’t know how a giant man can appear in the sky doesn’t mean there is no natural explanation for him. Maybe aliens or time-travelers are at work, deceiving us?

Even “low-key” evidence is vulnerable to the “God-of-the-gaps” objection. Some atheists say that if Christian preachers could heal amputated limbs, that would convince them God existed. But once again, aren’t we just taking a gap in our knowledge (“I don’t know how these limbs are being healed”) and filling it with, “Therefore, God did it?”

Next, let's take this premise:  For any "event" X, either:

1. X is explainable with our current scientific knowledge (that is, explainable by purely natural processes that we are aware of).
2. X is not currently explainable with our current scientific knowledge, but is actually a natural, repeatable thing that obeys the laws of the universe (that is, X comports with a scientific, materialistic worldview, but we aren't currently aware of it).
3. X is not currently explainable with our current scientific knowledge, and that's because it's actually a miracle (that is, no consistent, complete scientific framework could account for X).

Events in category 1 aren't evidence for god.
Events that aren't in category 1 are either in category 2 or 3, but by definition we don't know which until scientific knowledge catches up.

Old joke, but hear me out.

A religious man is on top of a roof during a great flood, and he prays asking God to save him.

Soon, a man comes by in a boat and shouts above the storm, "Get in, get in!" The religious man replies, "No, I have faith in God; He will grant me a miracle."

The water continues to rise, and another boat comes by. Again, the religious man responds that he has faith in God and that God will give him a miracle.

As the water is about to sweep him away, a helicopter arrives, a ladder is lowered, and the crew motions for the man climb aboard.

With water in his mouth, the man sputters that he trusts in God and turns down the request for help. Moments later he is swept to his death by the raging waters.

When the man arrives at the gates of heaven, he says to Peter, "I thought God would grant me a miracle." Peter chuckles and responds, "I don't know what you're complaining about. We sent you two boats and a helicopter."

More seriously, what prevents God from using the natural explainable phenomena of this world in ways that are inexplicable for their timing and efficacy?

Is it mere chance that a cardiologist is standing on a street corner waiting for a taxi at the precise moment that a jogger collapses from a heart attack at his feet? And what if it was learned later that the cardiologist NORMALLY drives to work every day instead of taking a taxi? Just a coincidence? What if it is learned that the cardiologist, who is a Christian, heard God tell him to take a taxi that morning instead of driving even though God didn't say why? The doctor simply obeyed and ended up saving the man's life because of his obedience. Is that just a coincidence, too?

At what point does the chain of coincidences begin to exceed the boundary of mere chance?

Here is a famous example (I took this account from Wikipedia):

In April 1912 (Fr. Francis Browne] received a present from his uncle: a ticket for the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic from Southampton, England to Queenstown, Ireland, via Cherbourg, France. He traveled to Southampton via Liverpool and London, boarding the Titanic on the afternoon of 10 April 1912. He was booked in cabin no. A37 on the Promenade Deck. Browne took dozens of photographs of life aboard Titanic on that day and the next morning; he shot pictures of the gymnasium, the Marconi room, the first-class dining saloon, his own cabin, and of passengers enjoying walks on the Promenade and Boat decks. He captured the last known images of many crew and passengers, including Captain Edward J. Smith, gymnasium manager T.W. McCawley, engineer William Parr, Major Archibald Butt, and numerous third-class passengers whose names are unknown.

During his voyage on the Titanic, Browne was befriended by an American millionaire couple who were seated at his table in the liner's first-class dining saloon. They offered to pay his way to New York and back in return for Browne spending the voyage to New York in their company. Browne telegraphed his superior requesting permission, but the reply was an unambiguous "GET OFF THAT SHIP – PROVINCIAL".

Browne left the Titanic when she docked in Queenstown, Ireland and returned to Dublin to continue his theological studies. When the news of the ship's sinking reached him, he realised that his photos would be of great interest, and he negotiated their sale to various newspapers and news cartels. They appeared in publications around the world. Browne retained the negatives. His most famous album has been described as the Titanic Album of Father Browne.

Is this just another coincidence, TRJF? Maybe. Or can God arrange things in such a manner as to accomplish His plans without needing to violate the laws of space and time on a daily basis?

If so, then He can save the really big, category 3 magic for special occasions.