I realise this was in response to DP but if you'll indulge:
Other than the minor point that saying there isn't a god is not a standard atheist position - let alone a deist one! - comparing gods to planets is a bit silly. We tend not to beieve the existence of planets simply on faith, as is the requirement for a god. If I had one other real, observable god to examine, I'd have very little trouble believing in a second or a third or more.
It's not a question of refusing to believe. Again you're conflating genuine experiential, if not quantifiable concepts with purely faith-based ones. Until any god is even shown to be a thing, why should anyone believe in it?
The Problem Of Evil doesn't help the theists' case, certainly. However it's not the primary reason for me, at least, not to like this god of yours. It's that the character as written is clearly dangerously insane. Not exactly what you want in an infinitely powerful being, really.
And this is different from "might makes right" how, exactly?
(June 14, 2013 at 12:59 am)ronedee Wrote: 1. How can you say there isn't a God? For lack of proof? Isn't that like saying there isn't a 10th, 11th, and 12th planet? I choose to believe there is because of 1-9!
Other than the minor point that saying there isn't a god is not a standard atheist position - let alone a deist one! - comparing gods to planets is a bit silly. We tend not to beieve the existence of planets simply on faith, as is the requirement for a god. If I had one other real, observable god to examine, I'd have very little trouble believing in a second or a third or more.
(June 14, 2013 at 12:59 am)ronedee Wrote: 2. If you refuse to believe there is a God.... How can you relate to anything spiritual? Its like complaining about Love when you've never experienced it.
It's not a question of refusing to believe. Again you're conflating genuine experiential, if not quantifiable concepts with purely faith-based ones. Until any god is even shown to be a thing, why should anyone believe in it?
(June 14, 2013 at 12:59 am)ronedee Wrote: 3. If God is considered Love & Good.... Whats not to like? Because the OT says He did bad things? Because there are pedophile priests? Or the one I heard here; I prayed He would save my mom from cancer, and He didn't?
The Problem Of Evil doesn't help the theists' case, certainly. However it's not the primary reason for me, at least, not to like this god of yours. It's that the character as written is clearly dangerously insane. Not exactly what you want in an infinitely powerful being, really.
ronedee Wrote: If we can agree that the "concept" of a God would be basically the same: Omnipotent/essent. Then God can do whatever the heck He wants!
And this is different from "might makes right" how, exactly?
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
