RE: The nearness to God factor. How do Atheists feel about moving higher or lower?
April 23, 2014 at 12:41 pm
(This post was last modified: April 23, 2014 at 12:44 pm by Simon Moon.)
(April 21, 2014 at 3:36 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: I think I have to re-word the 2nd premise into:
Ascension in stages of existence is only possible with existence of God.
Albeit the same meaning, but just in case, people get into semantics.
Rewording your second premise makes no difference.
The logical problems with your first syllogism, or the one with the reworded 2nd premise are many, and obvious.
Quote:When we perform good actions and become better people, we ascend in stages of existence.
1. 'good actions' have to be defined.
2. Demonstrable evidence must be provided that there are 'stages of existence'. Without evidence, it sure looks like you are making an unsupported assertion.
Quote:Ascension in stages of existence is only explained by existence of God.
Even if these undefined 'stages of existence' actually existed, that in itself would not mean that a god exists by default. The existence of a god is a separate claim that requires separate evidence.
Quote:Therefore God exists.
Not even close. Your premises do not lead to this conclusion.
Fallacies: Begging the question (several times), affirming the consequent
On an unrelated note. Please define 'Deist' or 'deism', because you don't seem to fit any definition I've ever heard.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
