1. What evidence would convince you of God’s existence?
Gosh, I dunno. I spend so little time thinking about supernatural things, it would be hard to say. I suppose a miracle performed under controlled, scientific conditions, overseen by skeptics.
2. You see the words, “I love you” written in the sand at the beach. Is this man-made? If so, how do you know?
Actually, it is technically possible that the movements of the water produced that entirely by chance. Improbable, but possible. In some alternate universe, it has happened. Being reasonable, I'd assume someone wrote it there because animals don't write. Well, maybe there's a chimp out there someone trained once ...
3. If the God of the Bible were real, would He set the rules or would man set the rules?
I reckon that god would, but he contradicts himself so much I wouldn't be sure what to think. Plus, how would you know "the rules" you've heard are from a god, or some greedy jerk claiming to speak for that god? It's best to keep your critical gaze locked onto whomever or whatever is trying to "set the rules."
4. Do moral laws exist? If so, do they exist independent of humans? How do you know what they are?
No, all moral laws are made by man. Space dust floating through the universe doesn't care about right and wrong.
I know what they are because they are learned articulations based, in some part, on our evolutionary needs. So, we evolved to know that hurting others is wrong, but specific articulations of that (it's wrong to murder, but OK to fight wars for the nation) are historically and culturally determined.
5. If everyone on earth believed that rape were morally right, would it still be morally wrong?
Technically, no. After all, it was OK for the ancient Hebrews to rape the young girls of conquered nations at their god's command.
But I do think that humans know, on some level, that rape is wrong. That's why most human societies abhor it. It can be possible, in certain circumstances, for a society to collectively decide that rape is fine for some people in some cases. I wouldn't want to be part of that society.
6. What is the most dangerous religion on Earth?
Any form of fundamentalism. The religion people seem to be using with the most damage at the moment appears to be Islam, but I don't think Islam is inherently worse than Christianity or Judaism. Even the Buddhists have had their "slash and burn" warrior monks.
7. Where did the laws of logic come from?
That's a strange question. I don't think I can answer it. After all, if logic is used to deduce logical principles of the universe, then you're stuck mentally. Your question assumes a divisibility of mind and matter, when they are not in fact divisible. The same principles that drive the stars determine how our brains work, so the question itself is sort of pointless. One might as well ask "Where do the laws of logic NOT come from?"
8. How did non-rational events and processes lead to a rational human mind?
This question is inherently flawed. I can't really answer it. It has all kinds of preconceptions and assumptions built into it. One might as well ask, "Why are you so stupid?"
9. Why do some atheists such as Carl Wieland and Alister McGrath become Christians?
I'm not sure, because I can't read their minds. Why have even more formerly religious people become atheists?
10. How do beliefs and thoughts differ?
I find this question confusing as well. What do you mean by "thoughts"? Beliefs *are* thoughts. Logic is a thought process. The desire for good and evil are both thought processes. There are illogical thoughts, and logical ones, defensible ones, and completely irrational ones.
11. Do you believe that God does not exist?
I don't know, and I don't care.
12. Do you think that God does not exist?
I don't know, and I don't care. On balance, I'd say the evidence is very weak, so I don't bother myself with it. I think it's a waste of time.
13. How do you think life began on Earth?
I'm not exactly sure, so I'm open to any explanation based on evidence. Current theories regarding abiogenesis are suggestive, and some laboratory experiments have made it possible for nucleic acids to "naturally" form proteins. I think we'll sort it out eventually.
Gosh, I dunno. I spend so little time thinking about supernatural things, it would be hard to say. I suppose a miracle performed under controlled, scientific conditions, overseen by skeptics.
2. You see the words, “I love you” written in the sand at the beach. Is this man-made? If so, how do you know?
Actually, it is technically possible that the movements of the water produced that entirely by chance. Improbable, but possible. In some alternate universe, it has happened. Being reasonable, I'd assume someone wrote it there because animals don't write. Well, maybe there's a chimp out there someone trained once ...
3. If the God of the Bible were real, would He set the rules or would man set the rules?
I reckon that god would, but he contradicts himself so much I wouldn't be sure what to think. Plus, how would you know "the rules" you've heard are from a god, or some greedy jerk claiming to speak for that god? It's best to keep your critical gaze locked onto whomever or whatever is trying to "set the rules."
4. Do moral laws exist? If so, do they exist independent of humans? How do you know what they are?
No, all moral laws are made by man. Space dust floating through the universe doesn't care about right and wrong.
I know what they are because they are learned articulations based, in some part, on our evolutionary needs. So, we evolved to know that hurting others is wrong, but specific articulations of that (it's wrong to murder, but OK to fight wars for the nation) are historically and culturally determined.
5. If everyone on earth believed that rape were morally right, would it still be morally wrong?
Technically, no. After all, it was OK for the ancient Hebrews to rape the young girls of conquered nations at their god's command.
But I do think that humans know, on some level, that rape is wrong. That's why most human societies abhor it. It can be possible, in certain circumstances, for a society to collectively decide that rape is fine for some people in some cases. I wouldn't want to be part of that society.
6. What is the most dangerous religion on Earth?
Any form of fundamentalism. The religion people seem to be using with the most damage at the moment appears to be Islam, but I don't think Islam is inherently worse than Christianity or Judaism. Even the Buddhists have had their "slash and burn" warrior monks.
7. Where did the laws of logic come from?
That's a strange question. I don't think I can answer it. After all, if logic is used to deduce logical principles of the universe, then you're stuck mentally. Your question assumes a divisibility of mind and matter, when they are not in fact divisible. The same principles that drive the stars determine how our brains work, so the question itself is sort of pointless. One might as well ask "Where do the laws of logic NOT come from?"
8. How did non-rational events and processes lead to a rational human mind?
This question is inherently flawed. I can't really answer it. It has all kinds of preconceptions and assumptions built into it. One might as well ask, "Why are you so stupid?"
9. Why do some atheists such as Carl Wieland and Alister McGrath become Christians?
I'm not sure, because I can't read their minds. Why have even more formerly religious people become atheists?
10. How do beliefs and thoughts differ?
I find this question confusing as well. What do you mean by "thoughts"? Beliefs *are* thoughts. Logic is a thought process. The desire for good and evil are both thought processes. There are illogical thoughts, and logical ones, defensible ones, and completely irrational ones.
11. Do you believe that God does not exist?
I don't know, and I don't care.
12. Do you think that God does not exist?
I don't know, and I don't care. On balance, I'd say the evidence is very weak, so I don't bother myself with it. I think it's a waste of time.
13. How do you think life began on Earth?
I'm not exactly sure, so I'm open to any explanation based on evidence. Current theories regarding abiogenesis are suggestive, and some laboratory experiments have made it possible for nucleic acids to "naturally" form proteins. I think we'll sort it out eventually.
