Here is why you should believe in God.

[The Grand Nudger]

b-mine
It's interesting that you would claim that after explicitly insisting that we think sideways all the time, don't you think...?

Okay. Let's just skip the formalities : what would be your reaction the moment you find your house broken into and your money taken..? I want a direct answer and the underlying reasoning that led to it.

That some creature very interested in money, of all things in my house, knew that my house would have money, knew how to break in, and then took what they came for without being detected.

Probably a dragon..maybe a griffon.  I suppose there;s just the slimmest chance that burglars exists and burgle houses...but that's just so out there it's hardly sound.

LOL, I couldn't help but to highlight the inanity of this argument - and it doesn't change anything about your incoherence from one sentence to the next no matter who or what I think might have robbed me.  Honestly, out here where I am...it might actually be racoons..though they;d have to be oddly specific coons to take the cash and dash.

Obviously, the issue of your inability to present a single coherent thought on the matter is academic in the context of your excusing yourself from any obligation to offer coherent thoughts.

And what about your inability to recognize "something can't come from nothing" as true and that it doesn't involve special pleading.. since there was no nothing that preceeded a deity, eternal by definition. That's a very simple coherent thought you're dishonestly avoiding ....!!?

What about it?  Will we be having a rational discussion full of good reason..or the other kind?  You can probably imagine how different my remarks might be between the two.  I might spend the time to give you the fullest expression of my very thoughtful and open position on the matter..if we're having a rational discussion..but if we're having the other kind...?

Ten penguin red lightly swoon!

I can't speak for everyone, but I think about gods in precisely the same way that I think about anything..right or wrong.  If you object to the way I think then theres really nothing you have to offer me.  If you object because you think I'm wrong...well......good luck communicating that without some reference to objective and coherent propositions.

I am asking you to apply the same rules of thumb you use on a daily basis to the god question. If you think they're not reliable, you should normally stop relying on  them altogether, as a rational skeptic.... Am I asking too much?

-and I'm telling you flat out that I do use the same rules.  That's all there is to it.  So...criteria satisfied..but as with any other criteria you've ever offered...you won't be satisfied even when it's met.

Temet nosce.