Subject:
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Re: What Would It Take? (was:Re: Problems with Christianity)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Sun, 24 Dec 2000 19:33:34 GMT
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Viewed:
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3527 times
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John Neal wrote:
> David Eaton wrote:
>
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal writes:
> > > A question (which I think I posed to TomS whose answer I can't seem to find
> > > in the slew) I would like any atheist or agnostic to discuss would be: what
> > > would it take for you to believe that God exists? The reason I ask is
> > > because, after having heard all of the arguments presented here, I am left
> > > with the impression that there is *nothing* that could make one believe in
> > > God. Is that a fair assessment?
> >
> > Sadly, I fear the answer is just about yes, going by what I think you define
> > as God.
> >
> > But really what we've got to do is define 'God' first, because I may be
> > wrong. In fact, depending on what you define as 'God', I may in fact already
> > believe in His existence. Perhaps you could expound?
>
> I would simply define God as a single Entity which created the universe. We
> all instinctively long to be united with that Entity.
Do we? What makes you think this?
> > But in the meanwhile, I'm forced to say no, no event could "convince" me
> > 100% of what I think you mean by a God. I cannot conceive of an event that
> > would make be believe so, as I would be inclined to believe an alternative
> > explanation remaining unknown was the cause. Lar suggested miracles, but to
> > quote someone-or-other, 'Technologies yet unknown and unconcieved of by
> > someone are indescernable from magic.'
> >
> > However, there could be events that would make be BELIEVE, without being
> > 100% sure. For instance, let's say that God, because He wanted to, sought to
> > prove to me that He existed. And so he appeared in front of me, and asked me
> > to test his existence by making me fly or making me read someone's mind, or
> > letting me travel through time, or by Him making me suddenly think something
> > or some such ridiculous event. But again, even this wouldn't convince me
> > 100%... One could still argue the absurd that my brain is sitting in a vat
> > somewhere with sensory inputs in it making me experience whatever it is I
> > experience without the existence of a Christian 'God'.
>
> Dude, you are one serious skeptic! :-)
Skepticism is GOOD.
However, I don't think cynicism is good ;-)
--
| Tom Stangl, Technical Support Netscape Communications Corp
| Please do not associate my personal views with my employer
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