(October 27, 2014 at 7:40 pm)Alex K Wrote:

(October 27, 2014 at 7:36 pm)trmof Wrote: Yes, if we invented time travel and traveled 150 years into the past, we would rightfully be seen as gods and could probably convince people to worship us. How is that not useful definition?

Because if we qualify,it is not a concept of anything qualitatively new.I daresay noone here would pronounce such a thing an impossibility, yet it has little to do with what is commonly meant by a god.

The vast majority of historical gods were created by other gods, usually through childbirth. Creator Gods are few and far between. There is one creator God and the other gods are simply created beings convincing people to worship them. They are the same as us but with technology that appears to be magical to us.

---

(October 27, 2014 at 7:42 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(October 27, 2014 at 7:27 pm)trmof Wrote: Let me repost this again for Boru, as it got lost in that edited post back there.:

I have a non-sarcastic question: If perfect bionic eyes existed or full eye transplants were possible, and a person you never met contacted you out of the blue and said God told them to purchase you a new eye, would you consider this evidence of the existence of God?

No. I would consider it evidence that my benefactor believed in God, but his simply saying so doesn't veridicate his claim. He might, for instance, as easily have told me that a pot of tea told him to buy me the eyes. In no case would I accept what he said as true, simply because he said it.

Boru

Well in that case, it is possible that God simply sees it as useless to try communicating with you.

(October 27, 2014 at 7:44 pm)trmof Wrote:

(October 27, 2014 at 7:40 pm)Alex K Wrote: Because if we qualify,it is not a concept of anything qualitatively new.I daresay noone here would pronounce such a thing an impossibility, yet it has little to do with what is commonly meant by a god.

The vast majority of historical gods were created by other gods, usually through childbirth. Creator Gods are few and far between. There is one creator God and the other gods are simply created beings convincing people to worship them. They are the same as us but with technology that appears to be magical to us.

---

(October 27, 2014 at 7:42 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: No. I would consider it evidence that my benefactor believed in God, but his simply saying so doesn't veridicate his claim. He might, for instance, as easily have told me that a pot of tea told him to buy me the eyes. In no case would I accept what he said as true, simply because he said it.

Boru

Well in that case, it is possible that God simply sees it as useless to try communicating with you.

Thus implying that if someone claims that God sent them to you, you would believe them with no other evidence? You discount the very real (and more likely) possibility that my benefactor could be lying or be delusional.

Boru

What if the man told you he WAS God? What would he have to do then?

Hm. Suppose God doesn't, particularly care if Brian believes in him then.

(October 27, 2014 at 7:48 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(October 27, 2014 at 7:44 pm)trmof Wrote: The vast majority of historical gods were created by other gods, usually through childbirth. Creator Gods are few and far between. There is one creator God and the other gods are simply created beings convincing people to worship them. They are the same as us but with technology that appears to be magical to us.

---

Well in that case, it is possible that God simply sees it as useless to try communicating with you.

Thus implying that if someone claims that God sent them to you, you would believe them with no other evidence? You discount the very real (and more likely) possibility that my benefactor could be lying or be delusional.

Boru

What if the man told you he Was God. What else would he have to do?

(October 27, 2014 at 7:31 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote: Read what he said. He said he doesn't believe that it exists, that's not the same as claiming it's impossible. Take an intro to reading comprehension and stop talking down to us.

Correcting - I believe Santa does not exist, I am making a positive claim. I am a gnostic atheist. Our Christian friend was correct.

I've had introduction to philosophy - I cannot say I am 100% right, because there's a tiny chance I am not - But I can say that, with the current knowledge, I am capable of making the positive claim that god doesn't exist. I could also be wrong that gravity exists, it's just unlikely. Evidence agnostic atheists require to be a gnostic atheist is ridiculous. I don't need to be 100% certain of anything to have knowledge, otherwise everything I had been learning over the years could as well be wrong.

God knows exactly what it would would take for me to believe. I'm waiting.

(October 27, 2014 at 7:48 pm)trmof Wrote: What if the man told you he WAS God? What would he have to do then?

If he was truly God, why muck about with purchasing a bionic or transplanted eye for me? After, he's God. Couldn't he convince me more simply by just pointing his finger and re-growing my eye? God is God - what use would he have for the intervention of surgeons and engineers?

Boru

(October 27, 2014 at 7:49 pm)FatAndFaithless Wrote: God knows exactly what it would would take for me to believe. I'm waiting.

I certainly hope you receive it.

---

(October 27, 2014 at 7:51 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(October 27, 2014 at 7:48 pm)trmof Wrote: What if the man told you he WAS God? What would he have to do then?

If he was truly God, why muck about with purchasing a bionic or transplanted eye for me? After, he's God. Couldn't he convince me more simply by just pointing his finger and re-growing my eye? God is God - what use would he have for the intervention of surgeons and engineers?

Boru

Well in that case, I sincerely hope that God regrows your eye.

I'm Not holding my breath. He hasn't gotten off his ass to show me so far so I'm not expecting him to.