Christians, what is your VERY BEST arguments for the existence of God?

[Scented Nectar]

All you have proven so far is that you belive in fairies at the bottom of the garden with no evidence.

The Fairies living in the bottom of my container garden are in a war with the evil Parkinglot Paving Pixies. The Floral Fairies told me so in a sacred dream which was really a holy vision so I know it's true. They chose me because of my hobby of growing rare and strange Fragrant Flowers, knowing me to be a true prophet of Botany (the collective name of the deities we believe in). I have really come to this forum to spread the Chloro-Filled Truth. And to share my amazing salad dressing recipe to anyone who partakes of sacramental leaf derived nutrition. It's best if I just admit that now. Spiritual enlightenment doesn't have to taste bland anymore.

[Watson]

So that's why his name is Scented Nectar! It makes so much sense now!

[Scented Nectar]

So that's why his name is Scented Nectar! It makes so much sense now!

'Her' name but close enough for a cigar. Totally obsessed with fragrant flowers (and unusual flavouring herbs), but kidding of course about my reasons for being here.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I chose to question , found evidence lacking, new evidence presented itself, I reevaluated and thus my stance as theist.

I left the Church at 20 ,but remained theist,searching for evidence for the next two and a half decades. I found none.Atheism was an inevitable conclusion for me. Choosing to remain in denial was no longer a choice,I had been doing that since age 16. I concluded it was moral cowardice and intellectual dishonesty. A choice? Not in the sense I use the word.

Most of us are inculcated with a religious belief before the age of reason. We accept what we are taught uncritically,choice is not involved. That early belief system is in so powerful,that relatively speaking,few people ever seriously question or change their strongest beliefs.

Yes, some people, such as many found here reject their core beliefs,often in adolescence. Most will claim their new position is soley the result of reason and evidence ( or the lack of evidence) I do not believe that is true for many people.

My observation is that thinking atheists and apologists are often able to come up with subtle ,even brilliant rationalistions for their beliefs. A large number of atheists I've run across,in many forums, are also damaged human beings who have suffered greatly because of religion. The often angry and aggressive anti religion attitudes lead me to suspect there is high level of emotional cause for their position. Of course ,I can't prove this it's just a perception,which may be wrong.

It is also my position that human beings as a species are incapable of consistent rational thought or behaviour.

Belief can either be with or w/o evidence.

Indeed,nor did I claim or mean to imply otherwise.What I actually said was that [in my opinion] truth may not be inferred from reason alone. By that I mean I reject the notion of transcendent truths,independent of evidence.


To me belief without evidence,such as all religious belief,is superstition. That is an observation,not a rejection of the value of religion. My position about religion is anthropological , I take a structural functionalist view. Viz that religion exists to meet a range of human needs (hence its variety) It will end when those needs are met in other ways. That process has already begun in some societies.

Seems we are in different books after all,and that's OK.

[tackattack]

@padriac.. very rational approach and I agree with everything except "such as all religion". I have no issues with a structural functionist view of society, as long as it's not static, or overly materialsitic. Using it to approach religion though.. idk. Religion is mostly about the origins and why of things, and from what I've read structural functionism isn't really concerned with that, correct?

Oh Scented Nectar.. I'd love a recipe for dressing

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Religion is mostly about the origins and why of things, and from what I've read structural functionism isn't really concerned with that, correct?

IF you mean rational and materialist, yes,at least for me. I also use theoretical Marxism and cultural relativism.

Anthropology is the study of meaning,but not of truth any definitive sense.The meaning one ascribes to customs,rituals beliefs and social institutions depends on one's approach. Academic differences can be very robust. EG Put a symbolic interactionist and a structural functionalist together and stand back.

[KichigaiNeko]

All you have proven so far is that you belive in fairies at the bottom of the garden with no evidence.

The Fairies living in the bottom of my container garden are in a war with the evil Parkinglot Paving Pixies. The Floral Fairies told me so in a sacred dream which was really a holy vision so I know it's true. They chose me because of my hobby of growing rare and strange Fragrant Flowers, knowing me to be a true prophet of Botany (the collective name of the deities we believe in). I have really come to this forum to spread the Chloro-Filled Truth. And to share my amazing salad dressing recipe to anyone who partakes of sacramental leaf derived nutrition. It's best if I just admit that now. Spiritual enlightenment doesn't have to taste bland anymore.

OMGG!!!

I too have seen the Root!!

Tell us more oh great prophet of Botany!!! Our Stoma are open to drink in the light of your wisdom so we may build greater and greater parenchyma!!

[Scented Nectar]

Tackattack, I don't have the dressing recipe written down, but it's on my to do list. It's a really weird one, thick and based on tahini, which is sort of like a peanut butter that's made from sesame seeds. I have a Weekend Munchies youtube cooking series planned for the future where I'll probably use it too, but I'll try to post it here too when I finally write it down. I've been making this since I was 18, back when I was into health food stores (found tahini there) thinking natural foods could cure every health, social and moral problem in the world, almost like a religious dogma I'm embarrassed to say.

Kichi, you are not ready to hear all yet. You must prove yourself even further by sending rare tropical fragrant flower seeds as tithe to an ordained Prophetess of the Fairies, and then you will be shown the next level of vegetative knowledge. There are many wonderful levels so that you won't run out of goals to achieve. Yikes, I'm going to stop there because I'm feeling dirty like a preacher or something. I need a shower.

Here's a quick, and maybe spammy link to my garden plans for the place I'm moving to next weekend. http://www.scentednectar.com/condo/ Ignore the part about Michelia champaca though, since the seeds didn't sprout because I fucked up by not planting them immediately upon arrival. I'll order more and try again next year. In this new place, I'll finally be able to have my dream garden. Tons of south windows and a huge balcony. The building I'm moving is about 75% Hindu from Sri Lanka I'm told, which is an interesting coincidence since M. champaca is said to be sacred to Hindus and Jains. Also, 3 unusual food herbs I'm growing are used in Sri Lanka (pandanus, lemongrass and curry leaf), so I'm going to have lots of people to give away cuttings and seeds to, I'm thinking.

[Watson]

This is the most amazing religion ever, Scented Nectar. Bask in the light of basking in the light! And sorry for not realizing you were a 'her'...>.<

[Scented Nectar]

This is the most amazing religion ever, Scented Nectar. Bask in the light of basking in the light! And sorry for not realizing you were a 'her'...>.<

Nothing to apologise for. Not like you can see my genitals via forum posts or something. Do you want to join my religion? It's a pretty nice one as far as these things go. A bit of reward sometimes, but no punishments. [/thread hijack to recruit for my cult]