(December 20, 2017 at 11:53 am)SteveII Wrote:(December 20, 2017 at 11:43 am)Mister Agenda Wrote: A Christian might more cogently say that God is like the wind in that you can't see the wind, but you can feel it. Many claim that experiencing this feeling is how they know God is real.
Of course I'm an atheist and would point out that those Christians who take that tack are putting more weight on a feeling than it can support.
That's why I constantly say it's a cumulative case. I have posted this before:
People come to the place where they are willing to believe in God/supernatural for all kinds of reasons. Most are wired with something. Some are raised that way, some have events happen in their life (bad and good things), some encounter people who's testimony is compelling, and some read and find the person/message of Christ compelling (or a combination of any of these or something else I haven't thought of).
Why is it not pure faith? Well there are good rational reasons to believe:
1. Person of Jesus is compelling. The person of Batman is much more compelling.
2. The NT describes actual events including the miracles, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Not true. And Hogwarts is real because we know Harry Potter went there.
3. God works in people's lives today--changing people on the inside as well as the occurrence of miracles. Not a single "miracle" has been conclusively proved to date.
4. The natural theology arguments:
a. God is the best explanation why anything at all exists. Zeus is the best explanation why anything at all exists.
b. God is the best explanation of the origin of the universe. Ahura-Mazda is the best explanation of the origin of the universe.
c. God is the best explanation of the fine-tuning of the universe for intelligent life. Brama is the best explanation of the fine-tuning of the universe for intelligent life.
d. God is the best explanation of intentional states of consciousness. Mithra is the best explanation of intentional states of consciousness.
e. God is the best explanation of objective moral values and duties. Odin is the best explanation of objective moral values and duties. (Actually it's evolution . . . )
These are NOT the arguments, they are the conclusions of a series of arguments.
IMPORTANT: it is the cumulative case for Christianity that is rational. Atheists like to pick a component and claim--that's not convincing enough...so therefore your belief is irrational. That is simplistic and disingenuous. Christianity is definitely not rational. Even Paul said so in multiple verses. Best known: 1 Corinthians 1:18
May the FSM have mercy on your non-existent little soul.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
