(May 25, 2015 at 10:39 am)Randy Carson Wrote: First, it is possible to prove a negative. Show me a four-sided triangle...or prove to me that you can't. You CAN do it...tt's a philosophical proof based on contradiction. Prove that God is a contradiction and you will have proved that God does not exist.
I let this idiocy pass earlier, but I'll take a crack at it now. You haven't proven that there are no four-sided triangles. Triangles are by definition three sided two dimensional shapes. Saying there aren't any four sided ones is merely an agreement as to the definition. There are no married bachelors either, or virgins who've had sex, or three sided squares.
But, and here's the kicker, the "proof" you offer that there aren't four sided triangles is: "show me a four sided triangle." To which I say exactly. That's what having the burden of proof means. It means being the person who must bring forward evidence. No evidence of a lack of four sided triangles can be produced. Therefore anyone claiming there are such things has the burden of proof to show a four sided triangle.
I'll prove there is no god the same way you purport to prove there are no four sided triangles: show me god or I'll assume there isn't one. Which is by the way, exactly my position. I do not accept claims for which there is inadequate evidence. Nor do I take the time to investigate all claims. I could spend my life trying to find out if there are unicorns, alien abductions, ghosts, esp, etc. I don't have the time. And I see no reason to make time for the god claim.
Ditto the resurrection: show me convincing evidence of the resurrection and I'll believe it. Otherwise not.
Besides, I have investigated the god claim before, which is to say I grew up in a very Christian household, have read the Bible, have read numerous theologians, philosophers, and historians concerning not only the Christian god but others as well. I have seen no evidence of god sufficient to make a ten dollar bet let alone spend my life in worship. You have produced nothing new in this thread, and haven't even reached the better arguments (weak as they are).
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.