How do I know the things I know?

[Darkstar]

Don't you think that maybe this 'seeing' god is actually just interpreting things that are completely natural as acts of god? Why do we have to 'find' god anyway? Should we take our seniors' word for it? Why does god value belief over worship; shouldn't he just reveal himself to everyone and see who will follow?

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1. Maybe, but no, I don't think so. Do you ever think your faith in scientism is actually just interpreting acts of god as completely natural?

2. You certainly don't have to if you don't want to.

3. Depends. Sometimes it's smart to take your seniors words on things, other times, not. I'm sure we've all had both experiences.

1. Agreed, arguing over that point would be ultimately futile.

2. Okay

3. Right. There is a difference between taking someone's word for it and following the evidence.

Extraordinary claims require extrordinary evidence.

If someone says that they have a dog, we can take their word for it. The claim of owning a dog is not extraordinary. If we didn't believe them, they could just show us the dog to prove it. If someone said they had a pet alien, we would not take their word for it. If they showed us the alien, we would believe them, but if they refused, we would assume they were lying about it. If someone said an all-powerful being created the universe, whilst refusing to explain how said being's origins could possibly be less complex and unlikely than the origins of the universe itself, we would not believe them (unless we were little kids being indoctrinated). You see, scientists do all of the questioning for us. You might say that they could be lying about that too, but here's the thing: science works. Computers work, the laws of physics work, scinece has earned our trust in that not only does it work, but if it is ever wrong, it will correct itself.

Scientism - the view that empirical science can entirely explain reality, based on the fallible authority of the human attempt at knowledge - is a myth.

Sorry, but science can entirely explain reality. It can't explain that which lies outside reality, like god. No, not the universe, reality, as in actually existing. If god existed, we couldn't explain him, but the fact is that we don't have any reason to think he exists. To say that we haven't yet explined everything; therefore god, is a common fallacy. To say we aren't perfect, therefore god is unknowable and undetectable, contradicts this:

Who says God values belief over worship? He does reveal Himself to everyone and sees who follows.

...no he doesn't. If he did, there would be no atheists.