RE: Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76.
April 23, 2018 at 8:44 am
(This post was last modified: April 23, 2018 at 8:45 am by Jehanne.)
(April 23, 2018 at 6:17 am)RoadRunner79 Wrote:(April 23, 2018 at 4:28 am)Jehanne Wrote: If there is no evidence for "it", then, yes. For instance, I think that it is probable that ET exists, but if a systematic survey of the sky was conducted and no evidence for ET was found, then, yes, I would conclude that ET may simply not exist, even though ET is completely a natural phenomenon. If god exists, what expectations can we have for the existence of such a being (or, beings)? You are of the mindset that there can be no expectations whatsoever, and for you, that's okay, but for me, it's not. I cannot see how your belief in god is any different than believing in fairies.
Ok... but the issue is; (and where this all started) that you are now making a claim, and have a burden of proof towards that claim. What you are saying is not just a mere passive lack of belief.
If you would like to make your case, against whatever, then, go ahead.
Also, I think you are incorrect on your expectations of what my mindset is. I would focus on your arguments and let me speak for myself.
Here are my arguments against the existence of god:
1) Like invisible dragons, no empirical evidence for such a being, beings. Consistency demands that we treat all such invisible "entities" with the same respect (or, disrespect).
2) The concept of god is contradictory and incoherent and not well-defined -- Can God make a rock so big that he cannot lift it?
3) Divine hiddeness -- if God exists, why does He not reveal Himself to those of us who would pleased to make His acquaintance?
4) Argument from evil -- Why all the natural suffering in the World, for so long? Perhaps god exists, but is a perfectly evil being who allows some good to happen in the world in service of his ultimate evil?
5) The null hypothesis -- the burden of proof is on those who assert; if you have a new drug that you claim will lower high blood pressure, the FDA is not going to take your claim "on faith". It is up to you to provide empirical proof of your claim, by disproving the null hypothesis ("no efficacy").
