Your argument doesn't really matter to us God believers because part of believing in God is believing that He is a super natural being who, unlike us, has always existed.

(November 30, 2015 at 5:12 pm)robvalue Wrote: More important than any of this is the follow up question:

"Why should I care?"

I've still never been given a good reason by anyone. So I couldn't give a monkeys if there is a "God" or not. Makes no difference to me.

You say that all the time, but I don't get it. The notion of a God existing might be tied to afterlife, hellfire and all that depending on which god. I can't believe you wouldn't be interested to know whether any of these things exist and what the conditions are

I'd be interested in new knowledge, sure. Just like I would be with anything. But it wouldn't change how I live my life, that's what I mean. Some theists seem to think I'll be desperate to worship it if they can just convince me it exists.

And I'd say a generic "God" certainly doesn't imply an afterlife, or anything else really. It just means something made our universe. It certainly doesn't follow that any of the old wives' tales about it have any truth.

Even if they do, I still don't care. God can be impressed because I'm trying living the best life I can, or he can go screw himself.

(November 30, 2015 at 5:13 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Your argument doesn't really matter to us God believers because part of believing in God is believing that He is a super natural being who, unlike us, has always existed.

A more contemptible defense of wishthinking can hardly be imagined.

(November 30, 2015 at 6:38 pm)robvalue Wrote: I'd be interested in new knowledge, sure. But it wouldn't change how I live my life, that's what I mean. Christians always seem to think I'll be desperate to worship it if they can just convince me it exists.

And I'd say a generic "God" certainly doesn't imply an afterlife, or anything else really. It just means something made our universe. It certainly doesn't follow that any of the old wives' tales about it have any truth.

No, but if there is a personal god which wields tese powers, it is very important to know what it is up to and what it thinks in order to try and avoid an eternity of unpleasant torment, just in case...

Nah. Fuck him. If he's so petty and evil, I can't trust him for one second. So I'll ignore him still. Maybe he'll respect me more for standing up for myself.

(November 30, 2015 at 5:13 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Your argument doesn't really matter to us God believers because part of believing in God is believing that He is a super natural being who, unlike us, has always existed.

Yes. 

We are all well aware that you are fine having unsupported, irrational, illogical, unevidenced beliefs. 

Why it doesn't matter to you that your beliefs are such, is another matter. 

Wishful thinking does seem to be the most probable reason.

(November 30, 2015 at 6:42 pm)Quantum Wrote:

(November 30, 2015 at 6:38 pm)robvalue Wrote: I'd be interested in new knowledge, sure. But it wouldn't change how I live my life, that's what I mean. Christians always seem to think I'll be desperate to worship it if they can just convince me it exists.

And I'd say a generic "God" certainly doesn't imply an afterlife, or anything else really. It just means something made our universe. It certainly doesn't follow that any of the old wives' tales about it have any truth.

No, but if there is a personal god which wields tese powers, it is very important to know what it is up to and what it thinks in order to try and avoid an eternity of unpleasant torment, just in case...

If there is a personal God, how would you determine which of the innumerable, muturally contradictory descriptions of his caprices you can chose from is most indicative of how he plans to toy with you? And how do you know he won't rip up all the rules just to fuck with you because he could and you can't do a thing about it?

So in that case how Can you trust there is real value in "knowing" what is going on in so far as he might let you "know" what is going on?

(November 30, 2015 at 2:55 pm)Beccs Wrote: It's amazing how "everything needs a creator" except their deity.

Ah, but their deity did have a creator. The human mind! With it's wonderful ability to fabricate and then believe in a magical fantasy delusion. And then to make up stories and exhibit behaviors that reinforce the delusion. And then to eliminate or ostracize those who chose not to accept the same delusion.

If it's a personal God, I imagine it would be willing to at least communicate with me anyway, so we could sort things out. I'm quite happy to talk to it.

If he won't even do that, screw his monkey ass.