RE: What's your opinion on Liberal Religion?
November 21, 2021 at 6:51 pm
(This post was last modified: November 21, 2021 at 7:30 pm by Belacqua.)
(November 21, 2021 at 3:49 pm)Alan V Wrote: In my opinion, anthropomorphism is inherent in any God-concept. Without a mind God has no sentience or knowledge, and can't willfully exercise power, so he isn't a God at all. If God has no changing mind, you just have the natural world of physics, chemistry, self-organization, and evolution -- just as atheists contend. At best, "God" is reduced to a metaphor for physical processes, in whole or part.
You have imagined a very specific image of what God would be like if he existed. And you have successfully argued that God, as imagined this way, couldn't exist.
Maybe you'll be happy to know that all the major theologians agree with you. God, as you describe him, couldn't exist.
You and Ferro wonder how a God who doesn't willfully exercise power could affect the world. The standard answer to this question is the one given by Plato, and affirmed by Augustine, Aquinas, Dante, etc. etc. If someone arguing about metaphysics is unaware of this concept, then that person is unaware of absolutely basic concepts in the field.
Quote:Platonists, Aristotelians, and theologians have all been superseded by scientists.
Science has not superseded anyone on metaphysical issues, because science doesn't address metaphysical issues. By definition, science works within the boundaries of methodological naturalism. (This is why it's so good at what it does.) Some people, like "polymath," also hold naturalism as a metaphysical belief, but of course science can't prove this. It may be true, but it's not demonstrable by science.