(September 16, 2023 at 8:17 pm)Data Wrote:(September 16, 2023 at 6:41 pm)FrustratedFool Wrote: Thanks for the response.
You're most welcome. Thanks for the interest and listening.
(September 16, 2023 at 6:41 pm)FrustratedFool Wrote: What I was asking for was what rational arguments and/or evidence persuaded you. For example, do you find the kalam cosmological argument convincing, or did you have some religious experience.
Or have you not really considered the arguments for and against God?
I had no religious experience. That was sort of what I alluded to in my response. When someone says something like kalam cosmological argument, I don't know what that is. I avoid, like the plague, narrowing my search with theological, philosophical, or doctrinal excursions. Most atheists here know more about those sorts of things than I do. So, if I look that up on Google just to see if I inadvertently have an interest in it, I find this
Now, I never listen to people making these sorts of arguments, so I haven't given them any thought. Doing this sort of thing I've stumbled upon Craig videos and he seems really thoughtful but I don't entertain his theology. That means I have no opinion on it. The description of the argument I've read highlighted on the Wikipedia link I gave isn't convincing to me because as far as we know everything could just as easily have been random. But, like I said, I haven't listened to the argument. I can't get it just looking at that brief description.
Really, in that sort of case, rather than exploring the Bible I would be exploring theology. Leaving the source for the explanation. It seems to me like that would be either some sort of confirmation bias or curiosity and I just don't think that is conducive to my personal exploration of spirituality or search for God. I don't have the time.
So, there's no real reason as such why you believe in the existence of God. You just do. Is that fair?