If there were a god...

public hermit · Jun 6, 2020

I have a couple hypothetical questions for CF atheists. Personally, I ask out of curiosity and not as a set up for debate. If this is the wrong forum, it won't hurt my feelings if the thread needs to be moved. Also, I hope you are all well these crazy days. Here's my two hypotheticals:

1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

It might be that these questions seem nonsensical since, generally speaking, atheists simply don't believe god(s) exists. But, any given atheist's reasons for their lack of belief might differ. Does it seem to you that god is possible, but not preferable? Preferable but not possible?

If god is preferable, then preferable in what ways. If not, why not? If god is possible, why so? If not, why not? I am placing no restrictions on what is meant by "god."

I am truly curious to hear responses to these questions, partly because I think it will show the significant differences there can be between atheists. To be honest, I was not really aware of those differences before these forums, so I am curious to learn more. Thank you, and I wish you all the best.

LaSorcia · Jun 6, 2020

Atheists support non-prophet organizations.

ananda · Jun 6, 2020

public hermit said:
I have a couple hypothetical questions for CF atheists. Personally, I ask out of curiosity and not as a set up for debate. If this is the wrong forum, it won't hurt my feelings if the thread needs to be moved. Also, I hope you are all well these crazy days. Here's my two hypotheticals:

1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

It might be that these questions seem nonsensical since, generally speaking, atheists simply don't believe god(s) exists. But, any given atheist's reasons for their lack of belief might differ. Does it seem to you that god is possible, but not preferable? Preferable but not possible?

If god is preferable, then preferable in what ways. If not, why not? If god is possible, why so? If not, why not? I am placing no restrictions on what is meant by "god."

I am truly curious to hear responses to these questions, partly because I think it will show the significant differences there can be between atheists. To be honest, I was not really aware of those differences before these forums, so I am curious to learn more. Thank you, and I wish you all the best.

If by "god" you meant the highest, then for this Christian-atheist, the Buddha would be the "god" that I prefer.

The message He pointed to is found in the laws governing reality, which not only makes it universally applicable and accessible rather than tied to one land, one time period, one people group, one language, or special intermediaries (e.g. prophets), but also makes that message potentially personally and directly observable & provable rather than relying on faith in lesser, questionable "evidences". So, yes, we are non-prophets as @LaSorcia points out - or perhaps more accurately - anti-prophets.

He also supposedly walked as He talked: the precepts He prescribed were not only for His disciples, but were also precepts He followed Himself.

Finally, He accurately pointed out the highest goal in life (nibbanic peace & bliss) rather than just intermediary goals like heaven, wealth, life, etc.

Clizby WampusCat · Jun 8, 2020

public hermit said:
I have a couple hypothetical questions for CF atheists. Personally, I ask out of curiosity and not as a set up for debate. If this is the wrong forum, it won't hurt my feelings if the thread needs to be moved. Also, I hope you are all well these crazy days. Here's my two hypotheticals:

1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

It might be that these questions seem nonsensical since, generally speaking, atheists simply don't believe god(s) exists. But, any given atheist's reasons for their lack of belief might differ. Does it seem to you that god is possible, but not preferable? Preferable but not possible?

If god is preferable, then preferable in what ways. If not, why not? If god is possible, why so? If not, why not? I am placing no restrictions on what is meant by "god."

I am truly curious to hear responses to these questions, partly because I think it will show the significant differences there can be between atheists. To be honest, I was not really aware of those differences before these forums, so I am curious to learn more. Thank you, and I wish you all the best.

1. A god that would ask me to follow it based on its love, ethics and goodness and nothing else for starters.

2. Don't know.

Caliban · Jun 8, 2020

As an atheist, these questions make no sense to me. Imagine someone asking you what kind of Viking god would you prefer and what qualities of that Viking god would you prefer? Or, imagine you were asked what kind of fairies you prefer living in your garden? You probably don't believe in fairies and think the question a bit strange.

As an atheist, I am always encountering people who have specific beliefs in a god. I respond to their god concept when discussing religious claims. I don't have a concept of god or an expectation of one myself; nor do I have hopes for the nature or qualities of any supernatural being.

zippy2006 · Jun 9, 2020

Caliban said:
Or, imagine you were asked what kind of fairies you prefer living in your garden?

Simple: kindly fairies that create a peaceful atmosphere, aid the growth of the various vegetation, and congregate large amounts of fireflies at night.

Ken-1122 · Jun 10, 2020

public hermit said:
1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?

One that remains hidden and allows humans to fail or flourish on their own terms without any interference from him

public hermit said:
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

One that remains hidden and allows humans to fail or flourish on their own terms without any interference from him

Nihilist Virus · Jun 10, 2020

public hermit said:
I have a couple hypothetical questions for CF atheists. Personally, I ask out of curiosity and not as a set up for debate. If this is the wrong forum, it won't hurt my feelings if the thread needs to be moved. Also, I hope you are all well these crazy days. Here's my two hypotheticals:

1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

It might be that these questions seem nonsensical since, generally speaking, atheists simply don't believe god(s) exists. But, any given atheist's reasons for their lack of belief might differ. Does it seem to you that god is possible, but not preferable? Preferable but not possible?

If god is preferable, then preferable in what ways. If not, why not? If god is possible, why so? If not, why not? I am placing no restrictions on what is meant by "god."

I am truly curious to hear responses to these questions, partly because I think it will show the significant differences there can be between atheists. To be honest, I was not really aware of those differences before these forums, so I am curious to learn more. Thank you, and I wish you all the best.

1. I'd prefer a god that would not create a world in which nearly every living thing with a nervous system dies in terror and agony. I'd prefer a god that does not demand to be worshipped. I'd prefer a god that does not claim to be vastly beyond our understanding, but then also threatens eternal torment for not picking the correct religion. I'd prefer a god who unites us rather than divides us. I'd prefer a god whose holy book is, at bare minimum, self-consistent and consistent with known science and history, while not promoting or tolerating racism, sexism, slavery, rape, and genocide. I could go on but we'd be here all day.

2. I think any kind of god is possible, even one with mutually contradictory properties. I did say that I prefer a god with a holy book that is not self-contradictory, and there are reasons for that. But as for what actually exists, particularly when speaking of what is beyond our universe, it is difficult to place restrictions based on man-made logic, especially given that quantum mechanics seem to violate logic as we know it. However, despite all this, I'm confident that most religions crafted their deity with the hopes that he/she/it is logically consistent. I'm certainly not going to take Jehovah's mutually contradictory properties as a good reason to believe he exists. I'm merely saying that if we are talking about something "beyond" our universe, then we not only are barred from using science to say such a thing definitively doesn't exist, but we are barred from using logic as well. In short, if our reality is not fully constrained by logic as we know it, then anything beyond our reality need not be either.

Given the state of reality, I would prefer that no god exists. If a god exists, then it is hopefully ignorant of us. If a god exists and knows about us, then it is either evil or indifferent.

2PhiloVoid · Jun 10, 2020

Nihilist Virus said:
1. I'd prefer a god that would not create a world in which nearly every living thing with a nervous system dies in terror and agony. I'd prefer a god that does not demand to be worshipped. I'd prefer a god that does not claim to be vastly beyond our understanding, but then also threatens eternal torment for not picking the correct religion. I'd prefer a god who unites us rather than divides us. I'd prefer a god whose holy book is, at bare minimum, self-consistent and consistent with known science and history, while not promoting or tolerating racism, sexism, slavery, rape, and genocide. I could go on but we'd be here all day.

2. I think any kind of god is possible, even one with mutually contradictory properties. I did say that I prefer a god with a holy book that is not self-contradictory, and there are reasons for that. But as for what actually exists, particularly when speaking of what is beyond our universe, it is difficult to place restrictions based on man-made logic, especially given that quantum mechanics seem to violate logic as we know it. However, despite all this, I'm confident that most religions crafted their deity with the hopes that he/she/it is logically consistent. I'm certainly not going to take Jehovah's mutually contradictory properties as a good reason to believe he exists. I'm merely saying that if we are talking about something "beyond" our universe, then we not only are barred from using science to say such a thing definitively doesn't exist, but we are barred from using logic as well. In short, if our reality is not fully constrained by logic as we know it, then anything beyond our reality need not be either.

Given the state of reality, I would prefer that no god exists. If a god exists, then it is hopefully ignorant of us. If a god exists and knows about us, then it is either evil or indifferent.

Meh.

cvanwey · Jun 12, 2020

I don't know if I would label myself an 'atheist'? I'd rather not label myself anything really But here it goes...

public hermit said:
1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?

If there were a god, it would not matter which kind of god I prefer. I would likely have to accept the one(s) which exist, on it's terms; if this/these god(s) produced any terms of engagement.

public hermit said:
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

To be honest, I'm not quite sure how to answer this specific question? I guess some of the current assertions, which exist in circulation, could be possible? I guess there could even exist god(s), for which I have not even thought of, or am capable of thinking of, as possible?

But, as I've mentioned here before... If god(s) do exist, seems illogical that the proclaimed God of the Bible exists...? I see too many discrepancies, and/or would find it necessary to engage in a rather large cognitive dissonance.

public hermit said:
It might be that these questions seem nonsensical since, generally speaking, atheists simply don't believe god(s) exists. But, any given atheist's reasons for their lack of belief might differ. Does it seem to you that god is possible, but not preferable? Preferable but not possible?

I would imagine that many do not want to think that when they die, that is all. Is the existence of god preferable? Good question... I guess it would depend upon what god(s) do exist, and this demonstrated god(s) attributes? And thus far, I see insufficient evidence to infer any particular flavor of god(s) as existing?

public hermit said:
If god is preferable, then preferable in what ways. If not, why not? If god is possible, why so? If not, why not? I am placing no restrictions on what is meant by "god."

If god(s) do exist, I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea, or would be preferable to me anyways, to demonstrate his/her/other mere existence? Just for starters...

Eight Foot Manchild · Jun 20, 2020

public hermit said:
1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?

One that behaves as if he doesn’t exist.

So, exactly like the god we apparently have right now, in other words.

public hermit said:
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

One that is at least positively and coherently defined.

Ophiolite · Jun 22, 2020

public hermit said:
1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?

It would be the nature of any God that my preference would be wholly (and Holy) irrelevant, but - if you insist - one that was made in my image.

public hermit said:
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

I don't believe I, or any current or past human, has anything like sufficient knowledge to provide a relevant answer to that question.

HitchSlap · Jun 24, 2020

public hermit said:
I have a couple hypothetical questions for CF atheists. Personally, I ask out of curiosity and not as a set up for debate. If this is the wrong forum, it won't hurt my feelings if the thread needs to be moved. Also, I hope you are all well these crazy days. Here's my two hypotheticals:

1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?

One that cared.

public hermit said:
2. If there were a god, what kind of god would you consider possible?

Pantheism.

public hermit said:
It might be that these questions seem nonsensical since, generally speaking, atheists simply don't believe god(s) exists. But, any given atheist's reasons for their lack of belief might differ. Does it seem to you that god is possible, but not preferable? Preferable but not possible?

I don't have a preference.

public hermit said:
If god is preferable, then preferable in what ways. If not, why not? If god is possible, why so? If not, why not? I am placing no restrictions on what is meant by "god."

Things are as we find them, I don't suppose a god/s existing would have any influence over this.

public hermit said:
I am truly curious to hear responses to these questions, partly because I think it will show the significant differences there can be between atheists. To be honest, I was not really aware of those differences before these forums, so I am curious to learn more. Thank you, and I wish you all the best.

Of course there are differences, as I would never assume all Christians believe the same things.

Atheism is a binary position on a single claim. At the least, all you can know about all atheists, is they don't believe in god/s.

jayem · Jun 25, 2020

public hermit said:
1. If there were a god, what kind of god would you prefer?

I gotta go with the Mormons on this one. I’d prefer a god who’s just like me. And not only just like me, IS me.

If there were a god...

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