RE: If I were an Atheist
March 21, 2015 at 10:12 pm
(This post was last modified: March 21, 2015 at 10:21 pm by The Reality Salesman01.)
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: Hi Salesman,
Thanks for providing a definition...
Quote:Supernatural: (of a manifestation or event) attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: Agree or disagree are there are many phenomena currently beyond scientific understanding true?If there are, I do not know anything about them and neither do you.
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: If so until such time as scientists understand such phenomena they are supernatural correct?there is a difference between phenomena that is not yet understood and phenomena that is undiscovered. You keep conflating the two.
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: If the universe was caused to exist that cause couldn't be the very laws of nature that were caused to exist.How do you know that it was caused to exist? Define the type of cause and it's properties, and then demonstrate how you know it is true. If you cannot, the most honest thing would be to say "I don't know" (Welcome to Atheism)
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: the universeis a phenomena beyond scientific explanation and can't be understood by an appeal to the laws of nature.The universe is within the scientific understanding, and it can be understood using the laws of nature. The entire understanding of the universe's origin is still undiscovered, and nothing else can be claimed to know about it beyond that. You are attempting to do just that, and I don't know why you have yet to understand why you are unjustified in doing so.
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: My personal definition (for what its worth) is the supernatural is what can't possibly happen unless it turns out it can happen and then it becomes 'natural'.Exactly. Now stop positing crazy things without evidence.
Quote:An unembodied mind that poofs universes into existence would be a good example of such an unscientific and supernatural entity.
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: Wouldn't mindless forces that poof a universe into existence be a good example also?That's another unknown possibility. I do not know what it was and neither do you. But we do know that minds exist within our universe, and they don't create external physical objects without the aid of their material and physical counterparts which we have every reason to think they are entirely behold unto. Whatever the answer is to the origin of the universe, it is currently unknown. But as you said, when we do find out, it will be natural. So the point everyone here has been slapping you with is, there's no need to preemptively assert unfalsifiable hypotheses while we wait...so stop, unless you have evidence. Until you do, we don't believe you.
Opinions regarding subjective things like music or color do not inspire debate. There is no right answer from one person to another with regard to preference. But when the question is about an objective existence, it either exists, or it doesn't. If you assert the positive (which you have) it can be rejected due to faulty reasoning (which it has). Same goes for the assertion that it does NOT exist, but I haven't done that. I'm dismantling the things you are saying and I don't need to know anything about the actual answer to the question to do that.
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: Have scientists reached an understanding of how the human mind exists?Not a complete one. But we do have some understanding of what it is and what it is capable of doing. And to date, I don't believe a single one has been accredited the creation of an entire physical universe. So, why do you think that a mind could do that? Try to use something other than a circular argument this time...
(March 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm)Drew_2013 Wrote: If we really are autonomous free will agents who can volitionally do things does that fall under the purview of the laws of nature?I don't think there's even a chance that you and I are going to come to an understanding on the possible answer to this question. I don't know what your understanding of "free will" is. Before I answer, do you have an understanding of the differences between Determinism vs. Fatalism? If you believe that you are the conscious author of your thoughts and that you personally conjure each thing into consciousness and you are 100% aware of everything that compels your thoughts from one second to another, we should not even bother trying to converse about that last question...