Does God exist?

[Achilles6129]

Does God exist? What's the evidence pro/con? What do we make of the Anthropic Principle, the problem of evil, and so on?

Discuss.

 

[Jeremy E Walker]

Does God exist? What's the evidence pro/con? What do we make of the Anthropic Principle, the problem of evil, and so on?

Discuss.

"Over the centuries, there have been many attempts by religious philosophers to prove the existence of God, and a canon of classic arguments has been developed. Not all of these arguments have their origins in Christian philosophy; Jewish and Muslim philosophers have made significant contributions to the philosophy of religion, and both Plato and Aristotle have influenced its development.
Recent decades have seen a rise in interest in natural theology and the philosophy of religion. Each of the classic theistic proofs has been revived and refined, presented in revised form and defended afresh. Whether any of these arguments for the existence of God is successful, of course, remains controversial." - Philosophy of Religion » Arguments for the Existence of God

"For people of faith who wish to think through their faith, to see whether reason alone apart from revelation offers anything to corroborate, clarify, or justify what is held by faith, there is no shortage of materials to research or study or criticize. Rather, vast quantities of books, articles, debates, discussions, conferences, and gatherings are available. For those who have no faith, but wish to inquire into God without faith, the same books, articles, debates, discussion, conferences, and gatherings are available. Natural theology is alive and well to assist anyone interested grappling with the perennial questions about God." - Natural Theology[bless and do not curse][Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]


http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm


http://philosophynow.org/issues/99/Does_God_Exist

 

[Blue Box]

There is no evidence for existence of a god, so I say no.

 

[Jeremy E Walker]

There is no evidence for existence of a god, so I say no.

Why do you say there is no evidence for the existence of God?

 

[BL2KTN]

Between the cosmological argument, the precise laws of physics required for a sustainable universe, and the likelihood of the simulation theory... I say the meter swings in the direction of a Creator. Just not an Iron Age, Canaanite war god mixed with the cheif god of the pantheon (Yahweh/El).

 

[Paradoxum]

There is no good evidence for God.

On the other hand, there is much suffering, and no clear sign of God.

(The universe could have occurred naturally, and the laws of nature could be necessary, or the universe could be part of a multiverse).

 

[DennisTate]

Does God exist? What's the evidence pro/con? What do we make of the Anthropic Principle, the problem of evil, and so on?

Discuss.

I personally felt that the explanation for something like the Cyclic Model of the Universe given by a near death experiencer was brilliant.

As I passed into the second light, the awareness came to me that I had just transcended the truth. Those are the best words I have for it, but I will try to explain. As I passed into the second light, I expanded beyond the first light. I found myself in a profound stillness, beyond all silence. I could see or perceive FOREVER, beyond infinity. I was in the void. I was in pre-creation, before the Big Bang. I had crossed over the beginning of time - the first word - the first vibration. I was in the eye of creation. I felt as if I was touching the face of God. It was not a religious feeling. Simply I was at one with absolute life and consciousness.

When I say that I could see or perceive forever, I mean that I could experience all of creation generating itself. It was without beginning and without end. That's a mind-expanding thought, isn't it? Scientists perceive the Big Bang as a single event which created the universe. I saw that the Big Bang is only one of an infinite number of Big Bangs creating universes endlessly and simultaneously. The only images that even come close in human terms would be those created by supercomputers using fractal geometry equations.

(Mellen Benedict, near-death.com)

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

 

[BL2KTN]

(The universe could have occurred naturally, and the laws of nature could be necessary, or the universe could be part of a multiverse).

I like the idea of a simulated multiverse. Don't know if it's true, but I like it. I like unified field string theory as well.

 

[Jeremy E Walker]

There is no good evidence for God.

I am assuming you have refuted all of the philosophical arguments for the existence of God that theistic philosophers defend.

If you have, please send me these refutations in an email or a private message. I would love to take a look at them.

On the other hand, there is much suffering, and no clear sign of God.

Is this evidence that God does not exist?

(The universe could have occurred naturally, and the laws of nature could be necessary, or the universe could be part of a multiverse).

Possibilities come cheap my Love. We are not concerned with what could be an explanation of the existence of the universe but rather, what is the best explanation.

We all could be bodies lying in the Matirx. That is possible. But we all have reasons to think that that is not the best explanation.

 

[BL2KTN]

Possibilities come cheap my Love.

Knock off the sexism.

 

[DennisTate]

I like the idea of a simulated multiverse. Don't know if it's true, but I like it. I like unified field string theory as well.

Yup….. a simulated multiverse!

The Anthropic Principle… plus…. String Theory….. plus The Law of Complexity Consciousness….. plus The Cyclic Model…. imply an incredibly powerful creator who ultimately is also a Scientist/ Inventor and Educator as well!

"Although nature manifests four distinct forces, physicists believe that
each may be part of a smaller number of more primitive forces. At high energy, the electromagnetic and weak forces appear to merge into a single "electroweak" force. Some "grand unified theories" suggest that a further amalgamation takes place between the electroweak and strong forces at as yet unattained energies. The most ambitious unification schemes envisage an amalgamation of all four forces into a single "superforce" at ultra-high levels of energy."
...


"The real burden in the next three centuries will not be the development of fancy mathematics, but the experimental testing of these ambitious theories. All current thinking about total unification assumes that the effects of linking all the forces and particles together will only become manifest at energies that are some trillion times greater than those currently attainable in particle accelerators. Probably we shall never reach such energies directly" ( A Theory of Everything" Volume 21 of "The World of Science)

 

[Paradoxum]

I like the idea of a simulated multiverse. Don't know if it's true, but I like it. I like unified field string theory as well.

I like the idea of chocolate in my fridge. Sadly I actually have none.

Maybe we are in a simulation, but I see no good reason to think we are in one.

I am assuming you have refuted all of the philosophical arguments for the existence of God that theistic philosophers defend.

If you have, please send me these refutations in an email or a private message. I would love to take a look at them.

I have arguments against the main apologetics in favour of God. I can't be bothered to write an essay just for you though.

If you want to ask me my opinions on some arguments, I'll happily answer them them though.

Is this evidence that God does not exist?

It makes a loving God who wants a relationship with us seem less likely.

Possibilities come cheap my Love.

We are not concerned with what could be an explanation of the existence of the universe but rather, what is the best explanation.

There is no conclusive argument or evidence to tell us what the origin of the universe is, so we don't know.

We all could be bodies lying in the Matirx. That is possible. But we all have reasons to think that that is not the best explanation.

I suspect it would take too much computing power, but it could be true.

Knock off the sexism.

 

[BL2KTN]

I like the idea of chocolate in my fridge. Sadly I actually have none.

Maybe we are in a simulation, but I see no good reason to think we are in one.

Do We Live in the Matrix? | DiscoverMagazine.com

I started to find an article that gave the percentage chance that the multiverse is a simulation... couldn't find it quickly enough and tuckered out. I think it's about 35% but you can look for yourself.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Does God exist? What's the evidence pro/con? What do we make of the Anthropic Principle, the problem of evil, and so on?

Discuss.

Let's just be frankly honest here, the evidence for and against the existence of deities is few and far between. Simply put, we don't freaking know.

 

[Paradoxum]

Do We Live in the Matrix? | DiscoverMagazine.com

I started to find an article that gave the percentage chance that the multiverse is a simulation... couldn't find it quickly enough and tuckered out. I think it's about 35% but you can look for yourself.

I also read something before that put it around 30%. That doesn't mean I believe it though, or base my life on it.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Does God exist? What's the evidence pro/con? What do we make of the Anthropic Principle, the problem of evil, and so on?

Discuss.

I'm assuming you mean the "person" type of God like the one described in the bible?

I don't think so.

All I know about God is what people have told me. I feel the same way about ghosts. I've never experienced anything I would call "paranormal" so, I don't really give much credit to someone's "ghost" story or encounter.

Until the day I see something that I have no choice but to call it a ghost, I will continue to not believe in ghosts. Same applies to God.

There's nothing I can point to and say, "That's God."

 

[BL2KTN]

I also read something before that put it around 30%. That doesn't mean I believe it though, or base my life on it.

Neither do I. I recognize it's a real possibility, and am incredibly interested in Dr. James Gates' findings. I'm not sure how you could base your life on it though - I'm not sure it makes a difference as to the meaning of life.

 

[Gottservant]

I don't understand what the problem with the anthropic principle is, are you ever "not" going to be human and are you ever going to be judged for having stayed "human"?

the only exception to that is if you are being hated for everything including being human, in which case why would you care or alternatively even object?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Does God exist? What's the evidence pro/con? What do we make of the Anthropic Principle, the problem of evil, and so on?

Discuss.

As it stands, religion has done a poor job of advancing a compelling and coherent case for deities.

 

[BL2KTN]

I disagree. I think it is demonstrably probable that the divine exists rather than does not.