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Evidence for the existence of God
#11
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 6:40 pm)robvalue Wrote:
(January 11, 2017 at 6:35 pm)purplepurpose Wrote: I bet, even if God himself visits this planet and offers to "follow his will", there will be a lot of people who will wish to remain independent.

I'm sure you're correct. I'll be happy to talk to him like civilized beings, but I'm not bowing down to anyone. The idea that giving evidence of his existence would take away your choice to worship him is simply wrong.
Theoretically, it would provoke a lot of people, because, if God doesn't sends to "hell" anyone, you can ignore Him like He is some kind of garbage can, which would "remove" his Gods status. It would cause a lot of head ache to independent people, A lot of fear, which would ruin A lot of life's. I'm really happy that there is no prof for God.
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#12
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 6:35 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: Every scientific finding empirically confirms that the physical universe is intelligible and that human reason  effectively secures knowledge. Make of that what you will.

That's a nice sentiment except for the fact that it's not remotely true.

@OP You know what people do when they can't demonstrate their claims? They quibble over definitions.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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#13
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm)Yadayadayada Wrote: Atheists, please define "evidence".

BTW, do you have something for us to look at like:



A voter ID card for Jesus issued by the roman procurator office of Jerusalem

A DNA analysis confirming the blood on the Shroud of Turin is from a viable haploid human being

God acknowledging his existence in  glowing red letters on the upcoming full moon that say  I AM THAT I AM
 The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it. 




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#14
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 6:46 pm)purplepurpose Wrote:
(January 11, 2017 at 6:40 pm)robvalue Wrote: I'm sure you're correct. I'll be happy to talk to him like civilized beings, but I'm not bowing down to anyone. The idea that giving evidence of his existence would take away your choice to worship him is simply wrong.
Theoretically, it would provoke a lot of people, because, if God doesn't sends to "hell" anyone, you can ignore Him like a garbage can, which would "remove" his Gods status. It would cause a lot of head ache to independent people.

Sure, well if "God" did turn up, I wouldn't expect for a second it would be one of the ludicrous characters in popular books, so it would probably remove forever the worry about hell. I'm sure it would be mightily amused, or perhaps insulted, by these silly stories. Nor would I expect that it would want or require worship. That probably would be it for a lot of people, without the carrot/stick they'd just walk off. It's a shame more people don't realize that they can simply walk off right now, because the carrot/stick are imaginary.
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#15
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
For there to be evidence of God, the term 'God' would need to be sharply defined. As robvalue as ably pointed out on numerous occasions, this is problematic (to say the least).

By way of comparison, let's take unicorns as an example. Everyone (nearly) can agree on what a unicorn is: a horse-like animal with a spiraled horn projecting from its forehead, cloven hooves, a goat's beard and a lion's tail. Apart from the animal itself suddenly appearing on the scene, it is fairly easy to decide what would be evidence for a unicorn: a fossil equine skull with the requisite horn, for example. A find of this type would be unambiguous, because it fits nothing so well as our concept of a unicorn.

What it comes to evidence for God, the problem is more difficult, primarily because God is insubstantial, but also because every single phenomenon that has been attributed to God has a more prosaic and better attested explanation. If you claim, for instance, that God made the universe and then point to the universe as evidence for the existence of God, you immediately need to explain what your claim is better than the evidence for rapid expansion from a primordial point. Another bit of evidence offered for the existence of God is the answering of prayers: you were sick, your prayed to God, you got better - therefore God exists. But sick people who don't pray get better with (for theists) distressing regularity.

Tell me precisely what God is, what God does, what God's parameters are, and I'll tell you what evidence would be required.

Oh, and it can't simply be your own view of God. You definition needs to be unambiguous and universal, or very nearly so. Otherwise, we'll be in a situation where one points at a power drill and loudly proclaims, 'Behold! Evidence for goblins!'

Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
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#16
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm)Yadayadayada Wrote: Atheists, please define "evidence".

What can be considered evidence depends on what the claim or hypothesis is.

The claim that you had lunch with a good friend of yours, requires almost no evidence. I would tend to believe that claim based on nothing more than your word. The claim that you had lunch with your friend on Mars, require drastically more evidence, that is demonstrable and falsifiable.

So first, a very coherent definition of the god, that is very specifically defined, would have to be provided, to discern what kind of evidence is needed.

I have never said there is no evidence for a god. Just drastically insufficient evidence for me to warrant belief.

You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
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#17
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 6:49 pm)vorlon13 Wrote:
(January 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm)Yadayadayada Wrote: Atheists, please define "evidence".

BTW, do you have something for us to look at like:



A voter ID card for Jesus issued by the roman procurator office of Jerusalem

A DNA analysis confirming the blood on the Shroud of Turin is from a viable haploid human being

God acknowledging his existence in  glowing red letters on the upcoming full moon that say  I AM THAT I AM

Well, yes, this is what I am getting at.

You won't get CCTV footage or DNA samples as evidence of God. So, what would constitute enough "proof" or "evidence" for atheists to believe in God, or at least to consider God as the most credible explanation for the existence of the universe and life on earth?

Quote: Oh, and it can't simply be your own view of God. You definition needs to be unambiguous and universal, or very nearly so.

Well, Boru, since you ask, my own view of God is the Biblical God. That is as universal as it comes, so should satisfy you on that count. But for the purpose of this topic, I am referring to God as the Creator of the universe, the First Cause. Whether he is a personal God who answers prayers etc. is not relevant. My question is, specifically, what would it take for an atheist to believe in a Creator?
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#18
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 6:47 pm)Faith No More Wrote:
(January 11, 2017 at 6:35 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: Every scientific finding empirically confirms that the physical universe is intelligible and that human reason  effectively secures knowledge. Make of that what you will.

That's a nice sentiment except for the fact that it's not remotely true.

I am sincerely interested in why you think that. Could you please elaborate?
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#19
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm)Yadayadayada Wrote: Atheists, please define "evidence".



Yadayadayada,

God damn it, when will you pagan god freaks ever learn?!  Which god of the primitive Bronze and Iron Age are you talking about???

Don't be like the ever so inept Neo-Scholasitc, Catholic Lady, Drich, Phillip2, et al, okay?  By you using the term "god," you act as though 
there is only one god which is laughable!  For the sake of your further embarrassment, I have included a list of many pagan 
gods throughout history,  so please pick from the list below in which primitive god you're referring too! 


Azura Mazda, Angus, Belenos, Brigid, Dana, Lugh, Dagda, Epona, Allah Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Atehna, Demeter, 
Dionysus, Eris, Eos, Gaia, Hades, Hekate, Helios, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, Hestia, Pan, Poseidon, Selene, Uranus, Zeus, 
Mathilde, Elves, Eostre, Frigg, Ganesh, Hretha, Saxnot, Shef, Shiva Thuno, Tir, Vishnu, Weyland, Woden, Yahweh, Alfar, Balder, 
Beyla, Bil, Bragi, Byggvir, Dagr, Disir, Eir, Forseti, Freya, Freyr, Frigga, Heimdall, Hel, Hoenir, Idunn, Jord, Lofn, Loki, Mon, 
Njord, Norns, Nott, Odin, Ran, Saga, Sif, Siofn, Skadi, Snotra, Sol, Syn, Ull, Thor, Tyr, Var, Vali, Vidar, Vor, Herne, Holda, 
Nehalennia, Nerthus, Endovelicus, Ataegina, Runesocesius, Apollo, Bacchus, Ceres, Cupid, Diana, Janus, Jesus, Juno, Jupiter, 
Maia, Mars, Mercury, Minerva, Neptune, Pluto, Plutus, Proserpina, Venus, Vesta, Vulcan, Attis, Cybele, El-Gabal, Isis, Mithras, 
Sol Invictus, Endovelicus, Anubis, Aten, Atum, Bast, Bes, Geb, Hapi, Hathor, Heget, Horus, Imhotep, Isis, Khepry, Khnum, 
Maahes, Ma’at, Menhit, Mont, Naunet, Neith, Nephthys, Nut, Osiris, Ptah, Ra, Sekhmnet, Sobek, Set, Tefnut, Thoth, An, 
Anshar, Anu, Apsu, Ashur, Damkina, Ea, Enki, Enlil, Ereshkigal, Nunurta, Hadad, Inanna, Ishtar, Kingu, Kishar, Marduk, 
Mummu, Nabu, Nammu, Nanna, Nergal, Ninhursag, Ninlil, Nintu, Shamash, Sin, Tiamat, Utu, Mitra, Amaterasu, Susanoo, 
Tsukiyomi, Inari, Tengu, Izanami, Izanagi, Daikoku, Ebisu, Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, Hotei, Quetzalcoatl, 
Tlaloc, Inti, Kon, Mama Cocha, Mama Quilla, Manco Capac, Pachacamac and Zaramama



m
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#20
RE: Evidence for the existence of God
(January 11, 2017 at 4:50 pm)Alasdair Ham Wrote:
(January 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm)Yadayadayada Wrote: Atheists, please define "evidence".

http://lmgtfy.com/?iie=1&q=define+evidence

LMAO!  That made my night, Hammy.  Thank you!   Big Grin
Nay_Sayer: “Nothing is impossible if you dream big enough, or in this case, nothing is impossible if you use a barrel of KY Jelly and a miniature horse.”

Wiser words were never spoken. 
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