(November 22, 2013 at 1:24 am)bladevalant546 Wrote: My question is simple, from my understanding that god is good and basically all good things are of god. However, the problem with this is, the one who is saying god is good is god himself. So how do you know that god is not lying?
A quick compare and contrast:
Theists' answers to the 4 main questions of life:
Origin: God has always existed; timeless, infinite and perfect. He made us in his image and to have a relationship with him. Early on we violated the man-god arrangement and suffered a massive self-inflicted injury to our circumstances. Here we are years later living out that punishment and continually making the same mistake and thereby reminding ourselves the punishment was valid.
Meaning: Our lives have meaning in the sense that through the narrative of the scripture we see who we are and where we are on a timeline, from creation of the universe, to man's fall and struggles, to the redemption of our souls, and dwelling with God in harmony.
Morality: Acknowledging there is a real moral law that is hard wired into human interaction, and acknowledging that it is daily violated as humanity suffers self-inflicted damage on ourselves and others. Acknowledging the happiness and prosperity that comes when adhering to this moral law.
Destiny: That there will be ultimate justice in the end, every wrong will be made right, that there will be no more tears, no more exploitation, and no more excuses. The wheat will be gathered into the barn, the tares will be piled up and burned. The chips will fall where they may. Those interested in dwelling in harmony with the author of the universe are welcomed to be in his presence, those who would rather dwell in their own presence have the free will to do so, free to praise themselves eternally, apart from God.
Atheist answers to life's 4 main questions:
Origin: The universe sparked into existence without cause from anything; not caused by itself. Because it couldn't cause itself to exist, because it didn't exist to do so until it existed. The nothing quickly turned into something by itself. And later, puddles of elements also followed suit and transformed themselves into untold complex arrangements that would one day yield the pinnacle of its creative means; the unfathomably complex and supremely intelligent atheist.
Meaning: There is no meaning to anything in the true sense of the word. Self awareness is the byproduct of abnormally large brains, a problem most of the animal kingdom isn't plagued with, and hence a human dilemma. Our lives are of no ultimate consequence to anything in the universe and are but a short, pointless vapor.
Morality: Morality is a purely human construct, it only exists in our minds and may be redetermined endlessly to fit any and all situations. With enough college educated minds putting their good intentions and voting powers to use, we can make life free, safe, happy, and enduring, that is if we could rid the world of the pesky trouble making God-lovers.
Destiny:
This field is intentionally left blank. **no cricket sounds, crickets don't exist any more, not that it matters if they ever did**
The question has been raised; how do we know God isn't lying? The context is clearly to cast doubt and remind people that, that crafty old God could be lying to you, you know. It'd be best to bypass that risk by believing he doesn't exist. I get it.
I raise these questions: Can humanism lie? Can the universe lie? Can existence lie? Can non-belief lie? When humanists make a truth claim, such as "God is not real", how do I know they're not lying? After all, they claimed it, (conflict of interest) and they are suggesting nothing exists above them to verify it.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
![[Image: Evolution.png]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i1118.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk619%2Fjcincain%2FPublic%2FEvolution.png)
