(October 15, 2010 at 10:29 am)Thor Wrote:

Quote: But we can be assured that when he blesses someone who is an unbeliever, there is a master plan behind it.

HONK! HONK! HONK!

There goes my rationalization meter again!

The cylons also had a plan.

And even after watching the whole bloody series I still don't understand their bloody plan. Never mind god working in mysterious ways, the cylons make god's plan look simple.

Quote:Without further ado, here’s the evidence: Humans are the only species, out of millions of species, which have evolved into an intelligent life form. Other species live pretty much to eat and sleep -- survival. If our evolution were only a result of natural selection, shouldn’t other species, or even just one, have evolved into intelligent beings after millions of years? But the fact is that no other species have been able to develop science, literature, art, music and intelligent thought process as humans have. Isn’t this evidence that God exists?

What? Humans are the only intelligent species on this planet? Really?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH01-dt-LJM

(March 9, 2010 at 12:15 am)AngelThMan Wrote: First and foremost, I would like to define the word evidence. In speaking to atheists, this is always a point of contention, and too much time is spent on discussing whether or not what I’ve provided is evidence rather than on the real subject. Below are the dictionary definitions of the word…

ev·i·dence /ˈɛvɪdəns/ Show Spelled [ev-i-duhns] Show IPA noun, verb,-denced, -denc·ing.
–noun

1. that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.
2. something that makes plain or clear; an indication or sign: His flushed look was visible evidence of his fever.
3. Law. data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects.

Note the terms ‘ground for belief’ and ‘an indication or sign.’ If a meteorologist discovers that rain in one region is evidence of something, and the lack of rain in another region is evidence of something else, and from these observations he forms a theory, then what he has observed is in fact evidence. What I’m about to provide is no different. I have made an observation about something that is real and tangible around us. Therefore, what I am providing is in fact evidence. Basically, I am claiming that there’s evidence all around us that God exits.

I should note that while I believe in God, I am not an extreme bible belt fundamentalist. I believe in evolution, and I am not unique in this. Roughly 40% of Christians in America believe in evolution. We just see it as part of God’s plan. The point is that I’m not here to argue against evolution, but to argue for the existence of God.

I will always speak to you in a civil manner. Atheists, who pride themselves as being intellectually superior to believers, should be able to provide intelligent arguments without profanity and name-calling. Light bantering and snide comments are okay; sometimes that’s part of the fun. But any disrespectful responses will be immediately ignored, regardless of how intelligent your point is.

Atheists love to use the word ‘refuted’ a lot. Just because you say my argument has been refuted doesn’t mean it has been. I warn you that I am a tough cookie, and I’ll likely have an answer for just about anything you post. So if you’re easily frustrated, perhaps you should not participate in this discussion.

Without further ado, here’s the evidence: Humans are the only species, out of millions of species, which have evolved into an intelligent life form. Other species live pretty much to eat and sleep -- survival. If our evolution were only a result of natural selection, shouldn’t other species, or even just one, have evolved into intelligent beings after millions of years? But the fact is that no other species have been able to develop science, literature, art, music and intelligent thought process as humans have. Isn’t this evidence that God exists?

Yes it is, and for several reasons. For one thing it corroborates what’s written in the bible, which is that God created man in his image, and that animals are inferior. But to truly understand why my evidence points towards a deity one needs to be able to appreciate the grandness of this gift that is human intelligence. And you have to ask yourself, why are we the only species, out of millions, that have achieved this type of intelligence? Evolution is about natural selection, but shouldn’t at least one other species, out of millions, have benefited from intelligence? I think so. And there would be a myriad of other intelligent species if there were no God. If you can appreciate the grandness and uniqueness of human intelligence, then you’ll understand why only humans were given this gift, and you'll know why what I've outlined here points to a God.

Your interpretation that a definition of evidence can constitute a sound argument is misguided.
Evidence alone does not determine which conclusions can be reached.

For example, dirt is evidence of god, and it is also evidence of worms.
Or, a book is evdence of god, but it is also evidence of story tellers.
And, the exceptional intelligence of humans is evidence of god, but it is also evidence of the distinct evolutionary history of mankind.

For evidence to lead to a conclusion there must be a logical structure between the evidence and the conclusion.
And, if you want to reach a unique conclusion then evidence and logic must lead to a single conclusion.

There is no evidence that uniquely leads (through sound argument) to a conclusion that god exists.
If there is no evidence that distinguishes natural physical processes from works of god then the only conclusion to be made is that god is nothing other than natural physical processes.

How are dirt, a book, and exceptional intelligence evidence for god?

(October 20, 2010 at 1:51 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote: How are dirt, a book, and exceptional intelligence evidence for god?

If you are looking to prove that god exists, then dirt is evidence that god created the world, the bible says he did it, and human intelligence can jump to conclusions that unfaithful creatures would never consider.

Well, that's evidence for BELIEF in God, nothing more

(October 21, 2010 at 1:35 am)MysterMenace Wrote:

(October 20, 2010 at 1:51 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote: How are dirt, a book, and exceptional intelligence evidence for god?

If you are looking to prove that god exists, then dirt is evidence that god created the world, the bible says he did it, and human intelligence can jump to conclusions that unfaithful creatures would never consider.

Human intelligence has said there are leprechauns under my bed, there are books on leprechauns, we have boots and gold, thus related to leprechauns. Therefore, leprechauns exist.

(October 21, 2010 at 4:16 pm)Synackaon Wrote: Human intelligence has said there are leprechauns under my bed, there are books on leprechauns, we have boots and gold, thus related to leprechauns. Therefore, leprechauns exist.

Of course leprechauns exist! Who do you think makes Lucky Charms cereal? And why else would it be "magically delicious"?

Sheesh!

(October 21, 2010 at 3:33 pm)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: Well, that's evidence for BELIEF in God, nothing more

You may be confusing evidence with proof.
You may be confusing strong evidence with weak evidence.

In any case, if the Bible is true then it is very good evidence to support the hypothesis that god exists.
Much of the Bible is corroborated by geology, geography, archeology, literature, etc.
Geology, geography, archeology, literature, are solid areas of study.

So there is a foundation for the evidence being evidence for god.
The question is is the foundation sound, is the argument valid, is the conclusion true?

---

(October 21, 2010 at 4:16 pm)Synackaon Wrote:

(October 21, 2010 at 1:35 am)MysterMenace Wrote:

(October 20, 2010 at 1:51 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote: How are dirt, a book, and exceptional intelligence evidence for god?

If you are looking to prove that god exists, then dirt is evidence that god created the world, the bible says he did it, and human intelligence can jump to conclusions that unfaithful creatures would never consider.

Human intelligence has said there are leprechauns under my bed, there are books on leprechauns, we have boots and gold, thus related to leprechauns. Therefore, leprechauns exist.

Apparently, human intelligence is not the work of god.

Quote:You may be confusing evidence with proof. You may be confusing strong evidence with weak evidence. In any case, if the Bible is true then it is very good evidence to support the hypothesis that god exists. Much of the Bible is corroborated by geology, geography, archeology, literature, etc.
Geology, geography, archeology, literature, are solid areas of study.

So there is a foundation for the evidence being evidence for god. The question is is the foundation sound, is the argument valid, is the conclusion true?

The fact that the authors of the Bible describe the geography of the region in which they lived is not evidence that God exists.