Does 'Goddidit' constitute an explanation?

[Wiccan_Child]

Does 'Goddidit' constitute an explanation? It doesn't matter if it's an untestable one, but does it count as an explanation?

In that respect, is it a scientific hypothesis, albeit a woefully poor one?

 

[MoonLancer]

It is the final stand in a lost argument in my opinion.

 

[Sanguis]

It's just a creationist flounce.

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Split Rock]

Does 'Goddidit' constitute an explanation? It doesn't matter if it's an untestable one, but does it count as an explanation?

In that respect, is it a scientific hypothesis, albeit a woefully poor one?

Yes it is an explanation. No it is not a scientific hypothesis, because it is not testable.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Yes it is an explanation. No it is not a scientific hypothesis, because it is not testable.

I'm of the opinion that testability is not necessary for a hypothesis to be scientific. Otherwise, science is blind to explanations that, while untestable, could very well be true.

After all, maybe God did do it. For science to work at its best, it needs to acknowledge that possibility. It may not be able to do anything with it, but still.

 

[LifeToTheFullest!]

Nah. It's childish really. Akin to 'my dad can beat up your dad.' Doesn't really mean anything. It's an arrogant way of ending a discussion.

 

[Nooj]

Does 'Goddidit' constitute an explanation? It doesn't matter if it's an untestable one, but does it count as an explanation?

I think it might depend on what 'Goddidit' is meant to explain. If the question is 'What is the ultimate cause of this event', then Godidit sounds like an explanation to me.

In that respect, is it a scientific hypothesis, albeit a woefully poor one?

I'm not sure how we could test for God's agency in an event.

 

[Tenka]

Does 'Goddidit' constitute an explanation? It doesn't matter if it's an untestable one, but does it count as an explanation?

I don't think so, it doesn't give any useful predictions or aid in any understanding.

It is an allowance for the facts rather than an explanation of them.

 

[BobW188]

I would call it a belief; and not a scientific hypothesis since we do not consider God subject to observation and measurement as science uses those terms. Creation, (Cosmos, if you prefer,) can be studied by science; but not the creator.

Whether it is a credible explanation is up to the hearer.

 

[hangback]

'Goddidit' actually means nothing unless you know more, what is a God? is there more than one God? (we know there is because there are hundreds of religions) if so which God are we talking about, this is a Christian forum so we can assume we are talking about the Christians God, but to just say 'Goddidit' is not enough, if it's not your God then it's the wrong God because you know (because you were told) that your 'Goddidit', all those people who say their 'Goddidit' don't know squat because you have it on good authority (and you were born in the right place) that your God is the only God so 'Hemusthavedoneit'.

 

[AV1611VET]

When I see a board with a nail in it, I assume 'hammer did it'.

When I see a Focus, I assume 'Ford did it'.

When I see the stars in the night sky, I assume 'God did it'.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

 

[The Penitent Man]

When I see a board with a nail in it, I assume 'hammer did it'.

When I see a Focus, I assume 'Ford did it'.

When I see the stars in the night sky, I assume 'God did it'.

Indeed. So do I.

 

[hangback]

When I see the stars in the night sky, I assume 'God did it'.

Indeed. So do I.

Then I believe you have both been blinded by a religion, that or someone's been telling you lies, perhaps both.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Then I believe you have both been blinded by a religion, that or someone's been telling you lies, perhaps both.

Please don't troll my thread, consol.

 

[TangledUpInGlue]

Goddidit is not an explanation. An omnipotent God could have done anything, so merely saying "Goddidit" does not rule anything out - it does not tell us why things are a particular way, rather than any other way.

 

[AV1611VET]

Goddidit is not an explanation. An omnipotent God could have done anything, so merely saying "Goddidit" does not rule anything out - it does not tell us why things are a particular way, rather than any other way.

"God did it" explains Who did it, and in the case of God, should automatically explain how He did it.

 

[Naraoia]

Great, a thread that isn't fifteen pages long and/or several months old!

I'm with those who say it isn't an explanation. To me, an "explanation" has to have a little more, you know, explanatory power than "it just is that way", which is basically what "God did it" amounts to.

At least if we are talking about an omnipotent god. Now, if gods are posited to have their own laws of godness that they must obey, so they can't do just anything, that's a stickier question. I think it all boils down to what everyone means by an "explanation".

A scientific hypothesis? Well, I'm not a theoretical physicist, so I prefer them to be testable But I'd rather let the philosophers argue over that.

(Ironically, I'm not sure one of the biological hypotheses I'm most interested in is actually testable.)

 

[AV1611VET]

Paul Harvey (I think it was) once pointed out that whenever a famous upcoming sports figure was interviewed and asked where he got his inspiration; if he answered with someone like, "Walter Payton" or "Sonny Liston" or "Bobby Orr", he would be asked what it was about them that gave him his inspiration.

But in every single case where the person answered, "Jesus Christ", the interviewer changed the subject.

"God did it" is indeed a powerful explanation.

 

[hangback]

Please don't troll my thread, consol.

Grow up.

 

[sandwiches]

"God did it" explains Who did it, and in the case of God, should automatically explain how He did it.

Do you mean that we can find the explanation of HOW this deity did it by reading the Bible or are you saying that if you explain, for instance, the flood by saying "god did it," we instantaneously know how it happened even without having read the Bible?