If there was a loving God, would you accept him?

[Chad32]

If I met a guy that I agreed with, and we got along great, then I'd definitely like him. I'm not sure if I'd worship him or not, though I don't think a benevolent deity would demand worship from freethinking people.

I think there would have to be a lot of one on one discussion either way.

[Losty]

Ladies and Gentleman,

I would like to propose the following question to those who are Atheist:

If there was a loving God, would you accept him? Please explain why or why not.

I realize that this may seem like an overly basic question. But I am trying to better understand the presuppositions (metaphysical dream) that is behind the Atheist belief system. For this to help me improve my understanding of the Atheist belief system, I need everyone to be truthful and forthcoming about the question.

I look forward to hearing everyone's comments.

Thanks,

Nathan

I honestly haven't got a clue what the "Atheist belief system is"....

Anywho, it depends on what you mean by accept....
There is absolutely no way I can accept the possibility of a loving god
But let's pretend if there was proof I would accept his existence. I would never worship him though, because he sucks at his job. Like really bad.

[Coffee Jesus]

Ladies and Gentleman,

I would like to propose the following question to those who are Atheist:

If there was a loving God, would you accept him? Please explain why or why not.

I realize that this may seem like an overly basic question. But I am trying to better understand the presuppositions (metaphysical dream) that is behind the Atheist belief system. For this to help me improve my understanding of the Atheist belief system, I need everyone to be truthful and forthcoming about the question.

I look forward to hearing everyone's comments.

Thanks,

Nathan

I honestly haven't got a clue what the "Atheist belief system is"....

Anywho, it depends on what you mean by accept....
There is absolutely no way I can accept the possibility of a loving god
But let's pretend if there was proof I would accept his existence. I would never worship him though, because he sucks at his job. Like really bad.

At least we exist.

Not only that, but we have the choice to end our existence if it pleases us.

Dear --insert god---, I really really really doubt that you exist, but I'm thankful for my existence. Just don't send anyone to hell, or I will take it back. P.S. Coffee Jesus

[ns1452]

Ladies and Gentleman,

I would like to propose the following question to those who are Atheist:

If there was a loving God, would you accept him? Please explain why or why not.

I realize that this may seem like an overly basic question. But I am trying to better understand the presuppositions (metaphysical dream) that is behind the Atheist belief system. For this to help me improve my understanding of the Atheist belief system, I need everyone to be truthful and forthcoming about the question.

I look forward to hearing everyone's comments.

Thanks,

Nathan

I would like to begin with thanking everyone for responding to my Post. I was surprised how quickly everyone responded and I appreciate your input.

Many of you critiqued that I used the vague words, "accept" and "love". In addition, many questioned which God I was referring too. I realize that the question was vague, but it facilitated precisely what I was hoping it would. If I may summarize, the vast majority rejected (with exceptions of course) the very premise of the question because of a lack of "demonstrable" (empirical) proof. I would like to use this summation to discuss what the theist and atheist "metaphysical dream" may look like. Could those on this post please discuss what they think of the following proposal:

1) What is the difference between fact and truth?

Many of you have pointed to the lack of evidence. But do facts mean truth? Are they synonymous?

In my opinion, facts are simply points on our mental grid of what we interpret reality to be. Atheism is simply an interpretation of how these facts (points) intersect with one another. Therefore, facts can point in many ways. An atheist will look at the facts and interpret them one way. The theist will look at the facts and interpret them to fit their mental grid. But neither of these is necessarily reality itself. Reality is in fact only the right interpretation of the facts.

So is the issue between a theist and an atheist simply about facts (evidence)?

FYI, For those who critiqued that I have not responded. I first posted yesterday afternoon. I am a full time graduate student with a 2 and 3 year old. Therefore, I will respond as I am able to, but this will likely be only once a day. I hope you understand the demands on my schedule and I will be as active as my time allows.

Thanks,

Nathan

[FlyingNarwhal]

Ladies and Gentleman,

I would like to propose the following question to those who are Atheist:

If there was a loving God, would you accept him? Please explain why or why not.

I realize that this may seem like an overly basic question. But I am trying to better understand the presuppositions (metaphysical dream) that is behind the Atheist belief system. For this to help me improve my understanding of the Atheist belief system, I need everyone to be truthful and forthcoming about the question.

I look forward to hearing everyone's comments.

Thanks,

Nathan

I would like to begin with thanking everyone for responding to my Post. I was surprised how quickly everyone responded and I appreciate your input.

Many of you critiqued that I used the vague words, "accept" and "love". In addition, many questioned which God I was referring too. I realize that the question was vague, but it facilitated precisely what I was hoping it would. If I may summarize, the vast majority rejected (with exceptions of course) the very premise of the question because of a lack of "demonstrable" (empirical) proof. I would like to use this summation to discuss what the theist and atheist "metaphysical dream" may look like. Could those on this post please discuss what they think of the following proposal:

1) What is the difference between fact and truth?

Many of you have pointed to the lack of evidence. But do facts mean truth? Are they synonymous?

In my opinion, facts are simply points on our mental grid of what we interpret reality to be. Atheism is simply an interpretation of how these facts (points) intersect with one another. Therefore, facts can point in many ways. An atheist will look at the facts and interpret them one way. The theist will look at the facts and interpret them to fit their mental grid. But neither of these is necessarily reality itself. Reality is in fact only the right interpretation of the facts.

So is the issue between a theist and an atheist simply about facts (evidence)?

FYI, For those who critiqued that I have not responded. I first posted yesterday afternoon. I am a full time graduate student with a 2 and 3 year old. Therefore, I will respond as I am able to, but this will likely be only once a day. I hope you understand the demands on my schedule and I will be as active as my time allows.

Thanks,

Nathan

Not a guinea pig dude.

[pocaracas]

Hey, look! We got a reply!
:hooray:

I would like to begin with thanking everyone for responding to my Post. I was surprised how quickly everyone responded and I appreciate your input.

You're welcome.

Many of you critiqued that I used the vague words, "accept" and "love". In addition, many questioned which God I was referring too. I realize that the question was vague, but it facilitated precisely what I was hoping it would. If I may summarize, the vast majority rejected (with exceptions of course) the very premise of the question because of a lack of "demonstrable" (empirical) proof. I would like to use this summation to discuss what the theist and atheist "metaphysical dream" may look like. Could those on this post please discuss what they think of the following proposal:

1) What is the difference between fact and truth?

Many of you have pointed to the lack of evidence. But do facts mean truth? Are they synonymous?

Ah.... truth, fact, reality...
The way I was taught to use those words is:
- Reality: the actual physical world and it's goings.
- Fact: An accurate description of a physical event, which could be very restricted in scope.
- Truth: The description of a physical event as interpreted by an individual, with all the potential faults in his sensory apparatus and mental constructs. One example: guy is driving his space-ship along and skips a red light. He's pulled over by a cop, but the guy swears he saw the light as green. It was green, to him... because he was going at roughly half the speed of light and got dopler shifted.

In my opinion, facts are simply points on our mental grid of what we interpret reality to be. Atheism is simply an interpretation of how these facts (points) intersect with one another.

Atheism is the interpretation which disregards all claims made by other humans concerning any god(s), given that all the information about said god(s) available to mankind seems to come from other humans... and never from any outer source.
If (or when) such an outer source manifests itself, it will be thoroughly tested until the god hypothesis passes and becomes accepted.

So is the issue between a theist and an atheist simply about facts (evidence)?

It's about who do you trust.
If you trust your family with its apparent delusion of the divine then you will become a delusional person who perpetuates the delusion.
If you trust yourself, you may come to see the delusion as an unbroken chain of human dreams and wishes... and when you see it that way, you tend to break the chain.
But humanity is a social species, the chain is not really a chain, but rather a net.
Some have managed to cut holes in the net... but intact areas still exist.

FYI, For those who critiqued that I have not responded. I first posted yesterday afternoon. I am a full time graduate student with a 2 and 3 year old. Therefore, I will respond as I am able to, but this will likely be only once a day. I hope you understand the demands on my schedule and I will be as active as my time allows.

Meh... full-time post-doc with a 10, 8 and 5 year old.
Do keep coming back!

[Tonus]

So is the issue between a theist and an atheist simply about facts (evidence)?

Okay, I'll accept that. What now?

[Cinjin]

Many of you critiqued that I used the vague words, "accept" and "love". In addition, many questioned which God I was referring too. I realize that the question was vague, but it facilitated precisely what I was hoping it would. If I may summarize, the vast majority rejected (with exceptions of course) the very premise of the question because of a lack of "demonstrable" (empirical) proof. I would like to use this summation to discuss what the theist and atheist "metaphysical dream" may look like. Could those on this post please discuss what they think of the following proposal:

1) What is the difference between fact and truth?

Many of you have pointed to the lack of evidence. But do facts mean truth? Are they synonymous?

In my opinion, facts are simply points on our mental grid of what we interpret reality to be. Atheism is simply an interpretation of how these facts (points) intersect with one another. Therefore, facts can point in many ways. An atheist will look at the facts and interpret them one way. The theist will look at the facts and interpret them to fit their mental grid. But neither of these is necessarily reality itself. Reality is in fact only the right interpretation of the facts.

This is actually a very common ploy in the effort to attain evidence where none can be found. In order to validate ethereal and philosophical ruminations as evidence one must first attempt to redefine and devalue the accepted standard of what legitimate evidence is. This is done by getting your opponent to admit haphazardly that what you're proposing is possible and then using it against him later in the argument when your real agenda is revealed. Criminal attorneys do this on cross-examinations. Sometimes it works in a court of law with a half-wit, but it always fails miserably here.

So is the issue between a theist and an atheist simply about facts (evidence)?

[Jackalope]

@OP - put succinctly, if you manage to produce one, we can talk.

[archangle]

If God showed that looked the one from the big 3. My first thought would be
I hope the aliens are friendly.