Is God's Existence Possible?

[ToddNotTodd]

Ultimately I would like to demonstrate that if God's existence is possible then God exists. But so far no atheists have admitted that God's existence is possible.

Why would I claim to know if something is possible when I have no information either way?

 

[Tree of Life]

Why would I claim to know if something is possible when I have no information either way?

I would say that it's possible that unicorns exist somewhere in the universe. I cannot see why this is not possible. But I don't base this possibility on any information I have about unicorns.

 

[ToddNotTodd]

I would say that it's possible that unicorns exist somewhere in the universe. I cannot see why this is not possible. But I don't base this possibility on any information I have about unicorns.

So you believe it's possible that there's an animal that can only be tamed by a virgin, and whose magic horn can counteract poisons, make unsafe water potable and cure diseases?

I definitely wouldn't say that I thought it was possible. But it's interesting that you are.

 

[durangodawood]

I would say that it's possible that unicorns exist somewhere in the universe. I cannot see why this is not possible. But I don't base this possibility on any information I have about unicorns.

How do you even understand the question if you dont have information about the object of the question???

 

[Philip_B]

So you believe it's possible that there's an animal that can only be tamed by a virgin, and whose magic horn can counteract poisons, make unsafe water potable and cure diseases?

I definitely wouldn't say that I thought it was possible. But it's interesting that you are.

Thank you for the diagram. If the existence of God is demonstrable in any empirical sense, one would conclude that such a position was a matter of science, not faith. Some Christians do make a case for sure and certain empirical knowledge of the divine, and whilst that is fine from the position of faith, it is a little deceptive when it is presented as a matter of scientific fact. And the same might be said of the outright a-theist who declares that there is no God as a matter of empirical truth where in point of fact it is a faith (or perhaps non-faith) position.

Christianity calls us to faith, to step one step further than logic will allow. Whilst that step is terrifying and engaging, and undoubtedly makes sense once taken, it is still a step beyond.

 

[Tree of Life]

So you believe it's possible that there's an animal that can only be tamed by a virgin, and whose magic horn can counteract poisons, make unsafe water potable and cure diseases?

I definitely wouldn't say that I thought it was possible. But it's interesting that you are.

Yes there's nothing logically impossible about the existence of such a creature somewhere in the universe. It is therefore logically possible.

 

[Tree of Life]

How do you even understand the question if you dont have information about the object of the question???

We're talking about logical possibility, not plausibility.

 

[durangodawood]

We're talking about logical possibility, not plausibility.

And for that, knowledge of the object in question is unnecessary?

 

[ToddNotTodd]

Yes there's nothing logically impossible about the existence of such a creature somewhere in the universe. It is therefore logically possible.

How do you know that magic isn't logically impossible?

 

[Steve Petersen]

Yes there's nothing logically impossible about the existence of such a creature somewhere in the universe. It is therefore logically possible.

You have said earlier, in more than one post, that because it was POSSIBLE for God to exist, therefore he MUST exist. Don't see how you made that leap.

 

[Tree of Life]

And for that, knowledge of the object in question is unnecessary?

That's right.

 

[Tree of Life]

How do you know that magic isn't logically impossible?

I don't see anything logically impossible about magic.

 

[Tree of Life]

You have said earlier, in more than one post, that because it was POSSIBLE for God to exist, therefore he MUST exist. Don't see how you made that leap.

Are we ready to go there yet? Most people are still confused about what it means for something to be "possible".

 

[durangodawood]

That's right.

If you dont need to know about the object to decide whether its possible, then anything is possible.

Is that where we're going with this?

 

[ToddNotTodd]

I don't see anything logically impossible about magic.

I don’t see any evidence that magic could be possible. There’s certainly no precedent for it..

 

[ToddNotTodd]

You have said earlier, in more than one post, that because it was POSSIBLE for God to exist, therefore he MUST exist. Don't see how you made that leap.

I bet that the leap involves wordplay that doesn't correspond to reality.

 

[Tree of Life]

I don’t see any evidence that magic could be possible. There’s certainly no precedent for it..

I'm not sure you appreciate what we're talking about when we say "possible" or "impossible". We're not talking about evidence or plausibility. We're imagining whether some situation might obtain in some possible world.

For example, in another thread some posters in this thread have argued that it's possible that a tea kettle is orbiting Jupiter. There is no evidence for this. But posters here are very hesitant to say that we could prove that a tea kettle is not orbiting Jupiter. This is because it's possible that one is, even though we don't have any evidence for this and even though it's implausible.

 

[Tree of Life]

If you dont need to know about the object to decide whether its possible, then anything is possible.

Is that where we're going with this?

Didn't you argue in another thread that it's possible that a tea kettle is orbiting Jupiter?

 

[durangodawood]

Didn't you argue in another thread that it's possible that a tea kettle is orbiting Jupiter?

I know what a tea kettle is.

Can you respond to my question?

 

[Tree of Life]

I know what a tea kettle is.

Can you respond to my question?

If your question is "is that where you're going with this?" then the answer is "no".

Many things are possible that are not actual - such as a tea kettle orbiting Jupiter or a unicorn existing somewhere in the universe. To be clear, let's define unicorn as "equine animal with one horn."