Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: March 28, 2024, 5:47 pm

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
#1
Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
To start with you must realise that you can't be 100% certain about anything. However you can be more certain about some things than others. In science you may describe this as a confidence level.

If I were to make a list of things, what in terms of certainty that they exist from high to low, it might look something like this:

My parents
My home town
Australia
Other Galaxies
Giant Squid
Man-made Global Warming
Alien Life
Sentient Alien Life
UFO encounters (as in spaceships piloted by sentient aliens)
Ghosts
God of the Bible




So to explain, a lot of the top ones are fairly similar in certainty, and could be shifted around. Giant Squids are interesting as up until fairly recently their existence was quite uncertain, though there is now actual camera footage although very little is know about them. Global Warming is pretty certain, but we're probably looking at 95% confidence levels.

Alien Life is not confirmed yet. It is however more likely than sentient alien life.

We have no evidence of sentient alien life. We do however have an actual example of sentient life in ourselves. 

UFO encounters require both sentient alien life and technology that may or may not be possible within the laws of physics. We do have one example of a sentient life using spacetravel, albeit very limited.

Ghosts. We have no evidence that Ghosts exist.

God of the Bible. Ditto, though the claims are even grander. You could argue the God of the OT is above ghosts as it is actually more clearly defined than the God that modern Christians describe.



You'll note that for all of these, you will have many people who claim to have seen them. This is not necessarily a good indicator as to whether something exists or not.


My question for Theists is thus: Can you re-order the list I provided in terms of which you are most certain of (you may of course not choose to re-order it)?
Reply
#2
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
Freetony, you know what has always fascinated me.
How theists somehow make the automatic connection between ghosts and God.
Basically, if they have been conditioned to believe in the absolute ridiculous, then why not the partially ridiculous?
That's why you buy into all of it or nothing.

God, the soul, ghosts, virgin mary, objective morality, etc.
All are 100% real because .........  Because?!
No God, No fear.
Know God, Know fear.
Reply
#3
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
Damn few Christian theists are certain enough to take the Bible as God's Literal and Inerrant Truth.

We know that to a certainty . . . .
 The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it. 




Reply
#4
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
God (I am not christian so "God of the bible" does not apply for me, I am theist)
My parents (have existed)
My home town (still exists I hope)

Following I have not seen or visited.  
Australia
Other Galaxies
Giant Squid
Based on books and maps I presume it exists, but that means I am not relying on my own observation.  I am not sure what this proves?

Regarding Man-made Global Warming
I am not sure what you mean that this exist?
Are you trying to say if there were no humans at all, there would be no global-warming?  


The following is just as dumb as the flying spaghetti monster.  
Alien Life
Sentient Alien Life
UFO encounters (as in spaceships piloted by sentient aliens)
Ghosts

Have you seen any of these?  Probably not!! Then what is the probability that alien life exists?  Why is Alien life more probable then Sentient Alien Life?

If you really an atheist, you need to apply the same logic regarding the existence of Alien Life as you do regarding the existence of God.
Reply
#5
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
(July 28, 2015 at 10:18 pm)ktrap Wrote: God (I am not christian so "God of the bible" does not apply for me, I am theist)
My parents (have existed)
My home town (still exists I hope)

Following I have not seen or visited.  
Australia
Other Galaxies
Giant Squid
Based on books and maps I presume it exists, but that means I am not relying on my own observation.  I am not sure what this proves?

Regarding Man-made Global Warming
I am not sure what you mean that this exist?
Are you trying to say if there were no humans at all, there would be no global-warming?  


The following is just as dumb as the flying spaghetti monster.  
Alien Life
Sentient Alien Life
UFO encounters (as in spaceships piloted by sentient aliens)
Ghosts

Have you seen any of these?  Probably not!! Then what is the probability that alien life exists?  Why is Alien life more probable then Sentient Alien Life?

If you really an atheist, you need to apply the same logic regarding the existence of Alien Life as you do regarding the existence of God.

You speak of logic, yet you cannot fathom why 'sentient alien life' is less likely than 'alien life'. Come on. Try and think why that might be. You can do it.
[Image: rySLj1k.png]

If you have any serious concerns, are being harassed, or just need someone to talk to, feel free to contact me via PM
Reply
#6
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
(July 28, 2015 at 10:18 pm)ktrap Wrote: God (I am not christian so "God of the bible" does not apply for me, I am theist)
My parents (have existed)
My home town (still exists I hope)

Following I have not seen or visited.  
Australia
Other Galaxies
Giant Squid
Based on books and maps I presume it exists, but that means I am not relying on my own observation.  I am not sure what this proves?

Regarding Man-made Global Warming
I am not sure what you mean that this exist?
Are you trying to say if there were no humans at all, there would be no global-warming?  


The following is just as dumb as the flying spaghetti monster.  
Alien Life
Sentient Alien Life
UFO encounters (as in spaceships piloted by sentient aliens)
Ghosts

Have you seen any of these?  Probably not!! Then what is the probability that alien life exists?  Why is Alien life more probable then Sentient Alien Life?

If you really an atheist, you need to apply the same logic regarding the existence of Alien Life as you do regarding the existence of God.

Not quite, you're comparing apples and oranges.

Alien life, conceptually, has a basis in the existence of biological organisms, which are empirically demonstrated to exist in at least one place in the universe. No empirical precedent exists for any deity as of yet.
freedomfromfallacy » I'm weighing my tears to see if the happy ones weigh the same as the sad ones.
Reply
#7
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
HELLO!!!

Please read the post carefully before replying

I am not comparing alien life to sentient alien life.  

It was FreeTony who said "Alien Life is not confirmed yet. It is however more likely than sentient alien life."  

Why don't you ask him why he is comparing alien life to sentient alien life?

I am stating, why even presume that Alien Life is more likely than Sentient Alien Life?  Has anyone proved Alien Life exists?  No!!!!

Which goes to my point, how can an atheist use different logic regarding the existence of God versus the existence of Alien Life?  When it comes to the existence (or probable existence) of Alien Life, it seems atheists find it easy to deviate from the logic they use in regard to existence of God.  That is very illogical.
Reply
#8
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
(July 28, 2015 at 10:58 pm)ktrap Wrote: HELLO!!!

Please read the post carefully before replying

I am not comparing alien life to sentient alien life.  

It was FreeTony who said "Alien Life is not confirmed yet. It is however more likely than sentient alien life."  

Why don't you ask him why he is comparing alien life to sentient alien life?

I am stating, why even presume that Alien Life is more likely than Sentient Alien Life?  Has anyone proved Alien Life exists?  No!!!!

Which goes to my point, how can an atheist use different logic regarding the existence of God versus the existence of Alien Life?  When it comes to the existence (or probable existence) of Alien Life, it seems atheists find it easy to deviate from the logic they use in regard to existence of God.  That is very illogical.

Right, I'm gonna make this as easy as I can for you.

Sentient alien life cannot spontaneously develop in an instant. It must evolve from a more basic ancestor. In other words, sentient alien life COMES FROM alien life. By definition, because less than 100% of any existing alien life out there will be sentient, sentient alien life will be less common.

This is real ground-level shit, man. And considering the sextillions of planets out there, I think we can fairly safely say it's happened more than once. We are not that special, biologically speaking.
[Image: rySLj1k.png]

If you have any serious concerns, are being harassed, or just need someone to talk to, feel free to contact me via PM
Reply
#9
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
(July 28, 2015 at 10:58 pm)ktrap Wrote: HELLO!!!

Please read the post carefully before replying

I am not comparing alien life to sentient alien life.  

It was FreeTony who said "Alien Life is not confirmed yet. It is however more likely than sentient alien life."  

Why don't you ask him why he is comparing alien life to sentient alien life?

I am stating, why even presume that Alien Life is more likely than Sentient Alien Life?  Has anyone proved Alien Life exists?  No!!!!

Which goes to my point, how can an atheist use different logic regarding the existence of God versus the existence of Alien Life?  When it comes to the existence (or probable existence) of Alien Life, it seems atheists find it easy to deviate from the logic they use in regard to existence of God.  That is very illogical.


HELLO! 

Please read all posts carefully before replying, I already demonstrated how different logic can be used to assume alien life's probabilities versus assuming the probability of God existing.
freedomfromfallacy » I'm weighing my tears to see if the happy ones weigh the same as the sad ones.
Reply
#10
RE: Theists - how certain are you that a God exists?
(July 28, 2015 at 10:58 pm)ktrap Wrote: Which goes to my point, how can an atheist use different logic regarding the existence of God versus the existence of Alien Life?  When it comes to the existence (or probable existence) of Alien Life, it seems atheists find it easy to deviate from the logic they use in regard to existence of God.  That is very illogical.

Fact: All life we know consists of the same elements that are present throughout the universe.

Fact: The building blocks of life are present in asteroids.

We are not special.

We have no evidence of god. Not one iota. Not a smidge.

We do, however, have proof of life and no reason to believe it does not exist elsewhere in this vast universe.
You make people miserable and there's nothing they can do about it, just like god.
-- Homer Simpson

God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers

Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders

Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
Reply



Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  If god exists, isnt humans porn to him? Woah0 7 1027 November 26, 2022 at 1:28 am
Last Post: UniversesBoss
  Theists, tell me, an atheist, why your God has neglected to show himself to me? ignoramus 75 24518 March 5, 2021 at 6:49 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  If artificial super intelligence erases humans, will theists see this as God's plan? Face2face 24 5141 March 5, 2021 at 6:40 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Am I right to assume, that theists cannot prove that I am not god? Vast Vision 116 32096 March 5, 2021 at 6:39 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Is God weaker than theists imagine, and is mankind stronger? invalid 6 2327 March 5, 2021 at 6:38 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Theists: how do you account for psychopaths? robvalue 288 39222 March 5, 2021 at 6:37 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Theists: What do you mean when you say that God is 'perfect'? Angrboda 103 16548 March 5, 2021 at 6:35 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Are there any theists here who think God wants, or will take care of, Global Warming? Duty 16 3441 January 19, 2020 at 11:50 am
Last Post: Smedders
  Theists, please describe how you experience your god I_am_not_mafia 161 15967 June 15, 2018 at 9:37 am
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  List of reasons to believe God exists? henryp 428 83472 January 21, 2018 at 2:56 am
Last Post: Abaddon_ire



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)