Support of a claim

[Edwardo Piet]

...and that is why I need to change my name back to it's original and best: EvidenceVsFaith.

[Tonus]

I do not know one way or the other whether or not there is a god but I noticed in my studies of Philosophy that it is a huge topic producing around 15 or so arguments demonstrating the probability for, and yet none that I could find actually negating the probability.

It seems to me that the concept of god has been developed to include the trait that he cannot be detected by any means that we can use to detect any other item/object in the universe. Therefore the usual methods that we would use to verify the existence of something, and thus the methods we use to conclude that it does not exist, are dismissed when it comes to determining whether god exists.

Theists may roll their eyes when seemingly silly examples like leprechauns and the Tooth Fairy are brought up, but those are used to demonstrate the silliness of the claims in favor of god's existence. God is granted a special exemption that demands that we disprove him or that we accept his existence as a possibility that is much more likely than that of any other fanciful creature.

[bennyboy]

... You could never know ...the laws of physics might be rewritten.

Actually, I think the same about atheism. If the natural order is arbitrary then it can arbitrarily change.

Arbitrary implies a trickster arbitrator. I think you mean "happenstance."

For rules to change, there still needs to be some kind of impetus or event. If the universe is "dead," i.e. just deterministically following rules, then where would that impetus come from?

[FallentoReason]

Hi, I am new here and agnostic, and was looking for an intelligent answer (or non-answer)....

I do not know one way or the other whether or not there is a god but I noticed in my studies of Philosophy that it is a huge topic producing around 15 or so arguments demonstrating the probability for, and yet none that I could find actually negating the probability. Can you help direct me to philosophical studies that demonstrate there cannot be a god(s) or designer (I know the one is not necessary argument and am not looking for a barrage of insults)...I see many people make the blanket claim that there is none, so please show me some arguments, factual basis, or direct me to accepted philosophers who I may read on this subject.

Thanks

I did a philosophy unit last semester at uni which was called "God and Religion". The main text was called "Knowledge of God", which is set up as a debate between Plantinga and Tooley. I'd highly recommend it as it's crystal clear to see who has "the upper hand" in the issues discussed.

My take on it was that the majority of Plantinga's positive arguments for theism relied on him presumably having non-inferentially justified evidence i.e. a religious experience. As a consequence, *none* of those arguments can be taken seriously for the very simple fact that the Hindu/Muslim/Zoroastrian next to him will claim just as fervently that *their* god(s) have appeared to them.