RE: Christians, what is your VERY BEST arguments for the existence of God?
May 6, 2010 at 10:03 am
(May 6, 2010 at 3:15 am)tackattack Wrote: Fair enough it was a good contradiction... I am fairly doped up though so please allow me to reitterate. I tend to use belief as more of a know and faith as more of a hope.
Ok, instead of using words how you see fit, let's define them first so we don't get confused later on.
Belief:
1 : a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2 : something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3 : conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence
http://www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/belief
Faith:
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant faith>
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faith
(May 6, 2010 at 3:15 am)tackattack Wrote: I have no proof for God's existence therefore I can't know that God exists without a leap of faith. Therefore I believe God exists without proof, resting on my faith.
Which is the great divide between theists and atheists. I contend that I wouldn't believe something existed if I didn't have evidence for it, even if I really wanted it to be true and it gave me comfort. I really don't understand why anyone else would do such a thing. Without evidence, you're quite literally willfully lying to yourself.
(May 6, 2010 at 3:15 am)tackattack Wrote: I know God exists at the very minimum as a concept therefore God does exists as an abstract thought.
Yes, but I doubt anyone has any issues with God existing purely as a concept. The issue is when people make decisions based on the belief that he exists objectively. I make the point that perhaps God doesn't go any further than that, and is purely a concept.
(May 6, 2010 at 3:15 am)tackattack Wrote: However further evidence for God would require a definition of God, which can't be amicably reached.
You would require a definition of God first, before existence can be verified.
(May 6, 2010 at 3:15 am)tackattack Wrote: My subjective proofs only point to what a definition of God would entail, not wheter that being exists or not.
So if you have no good reason to assert that such a being exists, why believe in the first place?
(May 6, 2010 at 3:15 am)tackattack Wrote: Since they are subjective reaching a universal defintion is highly unlikely, therefore we (many Christians) say God is unknowable (plus it's in the scripture).
No you don't. Christianity is based on the tenets that God is indeed knowable. He has specific qualities and performed specific actions to achieve a specific result based on specific intentions which are necessarily part of his character.
Scripture:
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3)