What Would Evidence for God's Existence Be Like?

[bhsmte]

And the only proof you offer of your skepticism is being a skeptic.

Shifting the burden of proof?

 

[Colter]

Religion is primarily a pursuit of values, those values are lived out in the life of the religionist. Atheism is the pursuit of skepticism lived out in the antagonism of the religious.

 

[bhsmte]

Religion is primarily a pursuit of values, those values are lived out in the life of the religionist. Atheism is the pursuit of skepticism lived out in the antagonism of the religious.

Atheism is a lack of belief in a God.

To try to make it more than that, is pure speculation and that speculation by some believers, is usually geared around making them feel better about their own belief.

 

[Colter]

Shifting the burden of proof?

Responding to your childish games.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Religion is primarily a pursuit of values, those values are lived out in the life of the religionist.

Valuing is a human act, not a religious one. You can "pursue values" without being religious. It's not a prerequisite.

Atheism is the pursuit of skepticism lived out in the antagonism of the religious.

Atheism isn't really the pursuit of anything. To qualify as an atheist you don't have to pursue anything; you just have to not be a theist. That's it.

 

[Colter]

Atheism is a lack of belief in a God.

To try to make it more than that, is pure speculation and that speculation by some believers, is usually geared around making them feel better about their own belief.

Atheism is the promotion of Godlessness WHEN you join a Christian forum and promote Godlessness by quibbling over spiritual experiences which cant be proven. To say otherwise is simply dishonest.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Sure - all of the people who truly seeked and never found a god and all of the people who truly seeked and left Christianity after finding there was nothing really there.

I'll go with real peoples' experiences rather than random quotes out of a book any day.

I've noticed that some believers seem to have difficulty with the idea that a person could honestly examine their religion and not be compelled to agree with it. They assume that there must be something wrong with the person, rather than the religion itself. The religion is faultless, so the fault must lie within the person who does not assent to it. It's a way of deflecting blame.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Atheism is the promotion of Godlessness WHEN you join a Christian forum and promote Godlessness by quibbling over spiritual experiences which cant be proven. To say otherwise is simply dishonest.

How many times does it have to be pointed out to you that (1) this section of the forum is open to nonbelievers, and (2) many nonbelievers here were once believers and joined this forum as such.

As to the charge of promoting "godlessness," I have no idea what that even means. Is "godlessness" just a convenient buzzword for the inconvenient questions that believers would prefer to sidestep?

 

[Colter]

Valuing is a human act, not a religious one. You can "pursue values" without being religious. It's not a prerequisite.



Atheism isn't really the pursuit of anything. To qualify as an atheist you don't have to pursue anything; you just have to not be a theist. That's it.

A "value" is a transcendent reality, but surely you will spit hairs and parce that as well, and yes, you can pursue values without being religious, that is the spirit of the rebellious atheistic type of personality. It's "look, we can do everything you can do but without God."

Meanwhile, the religious pursue ultimate values from our God weather you like it or not or are to clueless to understand.

 

[bhsmte]

How many times does it have to be pointed out to you that (1) this section of the forum is open to nonbelievers, and (2) many nonbelievers here were once believers and joined this forum as such.

As to the charge of promoting "godlessness," I have no idea what that even means. Is "godlessness" just a convenient buzzword for the inconvenient questions that believers would prefer to sidestep?

Just another broad brush label, that some are so good at placing on others, for their own satisfaction.

If there is one part of scripture that appears to be ignored by many Christians, it is the "log in your own eye" piece.

 

[Colter]

How many times does it have to be pointed out to you that (1) this section of the forum is open to nonbelievers, and (2) many nonbelievers here were once believers and joined this forum as such.

As to the charge of promoting "godlessness," I have no idea what that even means. Is "godlessness" just a convenient buzzword for the inconvenient questions that believers would prefer to sidestep?

Yes, you have an idea of what that means but you aren't honest or perhaps not in touch with you true motives so we get the "gosh, I'm just asking sincere questions?"

You lost your faith and have now joined the darkness of dragging others into it.

 

[Colter]

Just another broad brush label, that some are so good at placing on others, for their own satisfaction.

If there is one part of scripture that appears to be ignored by many Christians, it is the "log in your own eye" piece.

Gee, I was just an Atheist minding my own business......on a Christian forum.....when suddenly a guy starts painting with a broad brush.......

 

[stevevw]

I've noticed that some believers seem to have difficulty with the idea that a person could honestly examine their religion and not be compelled to agree with it. They assume that there must be something wrong with the person, rather than the religion itself. The religion is faultless, so the fault must lie within the person who does not assent to it. It's a way of deflecting blame.

I have no problem with anyone believing what they want, its their right. The other side to what you are saying is that non believers can also assume and think that something must be wrong with a person who believes in God. In fact I think that is more prevalent nowadays. So it works a bit both ways.

 

[bhsmte]

Gee, I was just an Atheist minding my own business......on a Christian forum.....when suddenly a guy starts painting with a broad brush.......

Your actions are your actions.

You tell us a little about yourself, with each one.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I have no problem with anyone believing what they want, its their right. The other side to what you are saying is that non believers can also assume and think that something must be wrong with a person who believes in God. In fact I think that is more prevalent nowadays. So it works a bit both ways.

I only ever seem to debate theists who insist that I am in some way intellectually obligated to share their theological commitments. There are some theists who acknowledge that it is not unreasonable for others to not believe as they do. See my recent exchange with cedric as an example. Our conversation did not take the form of a debate. It didn't need to.

 

[Freodin]

Yes, you have an idea of what that means but you aren't honest or perhaps not in touch with you true motives so we get the "gosh, I'm just asking sincere questions?"

You lost your faith and have now joined the darkness of dragging others into it.

Everytime when I read one of your posts, I pause and think: just what are these ultimate values given by God that he keeps talking about?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

A "value" is a transcendent reality, but surely you will spit hairs and parce that as well, and yes, you can pursue values without being religious, that is the spirit of the rebellious atheistic type of personality. It's "look, we can do everything you can do but without God."

Many theists are under the impression that an atheist's life must be bereft of wonder, joy, and value; that without theism we are only left with nihilism. Dispelling that myth is a worthwhile use of my time.

Meanwhile, the religious pursue ultimate values from our God weather you like it or not or are to clueless to understand.

Yes, we are familiar with the many "ultimates" of religion: "ultimate" values, the "ultimate" good, the "ultimate" revelation, the "ultimate" truth, and so on. Each religion has its "ultimates." The word is cheapened by religion's overuse of it.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I've noticed that some believers seem to have difficulty with the idea that a person could honestly examine their religion and not be compelled to agree with it. They assume that there must be something wrong with the person, rather than the religion itself. The religion is faultless, so the fault must lie within the person who does not assent to it. It's a way of deflecting blame.

Case in point:

Yes, you have an idea of what that means but you aren't honest or perhaps not in touch with you true motives so we get the "gosh, I'm just asking sincere questions?"

You lost your faith and have now joined the darkness of dragging others into it.

 

[Colter]

Everytime when I read one of your posts, I pause and think: just what are these ultimate values given by God that he keeps talking about?

Truth, beauty and goodness. The anti God camp generally acknowledges these but claim they are naturally occurring phenomenon born out of the material elements .......and then something Dawkins-ish about "isn't the universe cool looking?"

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Truth, beauty and goodness. The anti God camp generally acknowledges these but claim they are naturally occurring phenomenon born out of the material elements .......and then something Dawkins-ish about "isn't the universe cool looking?"

What would be so bad about truth, beauty and goodness being, in some sense, natural? How does it being supernatural make it valuable, or why does it need to be supernatural in origin in order to be valuable?