(August 12, 2013 at 4:22 pm)Statler Waldorf Wrote: You’re not following me apparently.
I would never follow you. Listen? Sure. Understand? I try to. Follow you? I don't like presuppositions that try to twist evidence to suit their needs, so no. The only indisputable fact about the Bible is that it exists. I'm never going to suppose that's it's what it claims to be, because there's far too much contrary evidence to my liking. A story here or there that may be shown to be possible does not make it true. It's possible that there are aliens here among us. In fact, it can be demonstrated to be plausible. Can it be demonstrated to be true? That's the unanswered question that let's us realize that the Bible is in the same category as fiction.
Quote: Not only that, but once abiogenesis was shown to be real, we know that it probably happened, even if we don't know how.
SW Wrote:They’ve synthesized life in the laboratory?
They've shown how it's possible, but not that it happened. I'm okay with this. If I was using faith, I would be asserting that I know Abiogenesis is how life began on earth. I don't say this, so I don't use faith. Stop trolling people about that.
SW Wrote:No, it’s an agenda...
Baseless assertion. You love these don't you? This is why I can't take anything you say at face value, and this is why I question all the "so-called" evidence you bring to the table.
SW Wrote:Quote: Now, to wrap this all up, do you have any demonstrable evidence for your God, SW? Oh, the evidence is all your own? I have to experience God to know him? I need faith, and that's all the evidence I need?
Sure, the very notion of evidence proves that the God of scripture exists.
Then you claim that you don't need objective, demonstrable evidence to prove God exists? I'm sorry, but no one should believe in something simply because they think it's true. I sure won't. Even if I think aliens could probably exist, I'm not going to run my mouth off saying that they are truly real. That's irresponsible and leads people from what really matters: evidence that's demonstrable.
SW Wrote:Speaking of character, it looks like your wife needs to keep your lack of civility in check again.
You're unsettled by magical four-letter words even when they aren't aimed your way to describe your character? And the fact that you're trying to bring my family into this in a derogatory way proves once again what a piece of work you are. You deserve this ad hom.
SW Wrote:Quote: Evidence of supernatural things exist, as far as anyone has ever been able to demonstrate, only in the minds of those who assert they do.
No, this is a presupposition made in accordance with naturalism; it is not a demonstrable fact.
Actually that's an observation, and an astute one.
SW Wrote:Naturalism and materialism are both positive claims, and according to you and BWS positive claims bear the burden of proof- so prove that the natural is all that exists and prove that the material is all that exists. Until you do so, I simply reject both claims upon the grounds of lack of evidence.
We can observe the natural world. That was easy to prove. Now get back to proving God or shut up about it.