(November 28, 2023 at 5:55 pm)The Grand Nudger Wrote:No, it’s not. I claim that the change in emphasis is important. Before is a better way to say it than regardless. Once we decide whether God exists or not, then the importance of the questions changes depending on how we’ve decided. Please reread what I had afterwards with that in mind. Let me know where it was unclear as an explanation of this point.(November 28, 2023 at 2:51 pm)SimpleCaveman Wrote: It’s also not the way that Istvan worded it when he said, “Things are equally important with or without God.”That is -exactly- the same as saying these things are or aren't important regardless of god.
I would change that to say that the big questions are important before we know whether a divine being exists or not.
If a divine being exists, then the other questions are very important for everyone. If not, then they are only as important as a person wants them to be. If some person doesn’t think they are important, then how would you argue they are?
(November 28, 2023 at 5:55 pm)The Grand Nudger Wrote: I protect the weak. I feed the hungry. That's what I'm supposed to do. I was built for it. I'm unencumbered by guilts and doubts and reservations that prevent other people from doing this. If not me...then who?And I thank you for that.
(November 28, 2023 at 5:55 pm)The Grand Nudger Wrote: ...or else...you see..I would have been someone else, something else, with some different mission or purpose........we would not be talking..about me.Exactly! And what is the reason you are here and not someone else? You gave a list of events that occurred. Could those events have happened in another way? Did they have to happen just as they did?