(May 28, 2016 at 5:53 am)robvalue Wrote: If it's all so complicated, vague and beyond our understanding that we couldn't tell the difference...
Anyhow I wanted to give you respect for differentiating between a philosophical/scientific discussion and faith. That's rare on here, most religious theists shoehorn in stuff from their books like it is fact. At that point, I can't continue a reasonable discussion. [1]
Oh, and I don't think theists are deliberately trying to be evasive. Not all of them, anyway. Some come across as particularly dishonest, but you don't. [2] I do think that the whole concept has been sold so as to be vague enough to escape science. [3] It has to, or else it will fall on its face. And it has become increasingly vague as science has progressed. [4] I mean, look back at Yahweh in the first book of the bible. He's clearly a humanoid walking on the earth. That's about as far away from the description you gave for God as you could get. The stories are taken more and more metaphorically as it becomes clear the literal readings conflict with reality. By the smart theists, anyway. Some cling to literal interpretations and are willing to deny reality to do so. [5]
1) Well, while I wish I could say I have never done it before, thank you for your kind words.
2) That is good to read!
3) What do you mean that, and by who was it sold?
4) What makes you say that it has become increasingly vague as science has progressed? So far, I haven't gone beyond Aristotle's concept (which dates from at least the 4th century BCE).
5) Certainly a different topic!
