(March 5, 2018 at 5:39 pm)Huggy74 Wrote:(March 3, 2018 at 6:03 pm)Jenny A Wrote: I have over the years gotten tired of discussng whether there is a god, with well meaning relatives. I have a new program. I say,
I would like to (1) believe in god, if god exists; and (2) to not believe in god, if God does not exist. Can you say the same? If the answer is "no," I refuse to discuss the matter as we have left the realm of what is in favor of we would like to be.
I've tried this just three times now. The answer has never been flat out no at least not initially. Instead, the responses have been: but you are trying to take away my faith; Pascal's Wager; and I just know he does. To which I respond, that unless you are willing to consider the possibility there is no god, than there is no point in the dicussion. It isn't perfect, but so far this works better than anything I've tried yet.
How about this... I present evidence that God exists and you present evidence that a God does not exist and we'll judge based on who has the most evidence for and against.
Nope. Unless you can say that you want to believe there is no god if there isn't one, and believe in one if there is then there's no point in discussing it. If you really can truthful say that, then we can talk evidence and standard of proof.
But--- this idea is my way of dealing with people close to me who want to convert me because they love me, and whom I might hurt by debate. Consequently, it is meant to end discussion, as most theists really really want there to be a god.
I'll undoubtedly gone on shooting down purported proofs of god on this forum or elsewhere.
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
