Is it possible to make any absolute statement about God?

[DarkProphet]

It is a personal belief of mine that it is impossible to make any absolute statement about God because of the nature of what God is supposed to be. If God exists then it might well be impossible to prove that existence because he is supposed to be outside the realm of existence we can perceive. The same problem appears if God doesn't exist because you cannot show something doesn't exist if by it's nature you cannot perceive it. Perhaps I am simply mistaken on the nature of God but I would like to know how Christians and atheists come to their conclusions on the existance of God. Note that this question is about GOD and not RELIGION, there is a difference.

 

[plmarquette]

Have you looked at the Ontological Proof of God ?
... things are moving , God is the first mover
... things have structure and order ...God the designer
.... things are complex & diverse...God the artist
.... seems to be right and wrong ...God the law giver

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

It is a personal belief of mine that it is impossible to make any absolute statement about God because of the nature of what God is supposed to be. If God exists then it might well be impossible to prove that existence because he is supposed to be outside the realm of existance we can perceive. The same problem appears if God doesn't exist because you cannot show something doesn't exist if by it's nature you cannot perceive it. Perhaps I am simply mistaken on the nature of God but I would like to know how Christians and atheists come to their conclusions on the existance of God. Note that this question is about GOD and not RELIGION, there is a difference.

You spelled existence wrong.

The question of god is a costly hypothesis.No being controls us because were are free, condemned to be free, to create a will of our own...and even if god did exist, it could not take away that realization, thus we deny the existent, and overall purpose to god, through a negatite that makes its entire concept entirely irrelevant to our existence.

 

[DarkProphet]

The question of god is a costly hypothesis.No being controls us because were are free, condemned to be free, to create a will of our own...and even if god did exist, it could not take away that realization, thus we deny the existent, and overall purpose to god, through a negatite that makes its entire concept entirely irrelevant to our existence.

This is an argument against a theistic God but not a deistic God. I will agree that at that point it really doesn't matter but the definition of an atheist is someone who denies the existence of God. And that statement cannot be wholly accurate if you cannot disprove a deistic God. It may be a minor semantic point but Christians beat it to death.

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

This is an argument against a theistic God but not a deistic God. I will agree that at that point it really doesn't matter but the definition of an atheist is someone who denies the existence of God. And that statement cannot be wholly accurate if you cannot disprove a deistic God. It may be a minor semantic point but Christians beat it to death.

I didnt try to disprove him, i merely said his existence would not matter.

 

[DarkProphet]

Have you looked at the Ontological Proof of God ?
... things are moving , God is the first mover
... things have structure and order ...God the designer
.... things are complex & diverse...God the artist
.... seems to be right and wrong ...God the law giver

I have looked at the Ontological Proof and I have to say it's circler reasoning makes it very weak. Do you have any other arguments for the existence of God?

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

Have you looked at the Ontological Proof of God ?
... things are moving , God is the first mover
... things have structure and order ...God the designer
.... things are complex & diverse...God the artist
.... seems to be right and wrong ...God the law giver

Ontology has been used to find points of view on existence based souly on the non-existence of god and of the importance of the individual above the importance of god.

 

[The Nihilist]

Both the ontological argument and the cosmological arguments are goofy at best.

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

Both the ontological argument and the cosmological arguments are goofy at best.

Sartre used phenomenological ontology to degenerate god.

 

[DarkProphet]

I didnt try to disprove him, i merely said his existence would not matter.

Fair enough, but by identifying yourself as an atheist leads to confusion over this matter.

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

Fair enough, but by identifying yourself as an atheist leads to confusion over this matter.

No, i merely find the question of god unimportant, i do find it non-existent...but i find it an embarressment(sp?) that it does not exist and my philosophy cannot be swayed by the alterations of its existence being proven because i find i am the soul proprietor to my life.

 

[Questor]

Atheists are fine. Forcing others to give up their faiths is not fine.

 

[The Nihilist]

Atheists are fine. Forcing others to give up their faiths is not fine.

Our only method is honest inquiry. Do you have a problem with that?

 

[DarkProphet]

Atheists are fine. Forcing others to give up their faiths is not fine.

What if it was shown that faith was damaging to humanity as a whole? would it be wrong then?

 

[Questor]

Our only method is honest inquiry. Do you have a problem with that?

If you really believe that your only method is honest inquiry, fine. No problem.

But a great deal of experiences with atheists who attack holds a different persuasion for me.

Certainly you have no problem with that, being so laid-back that the non-existence of God is fine with you.

 

[Questor]

What if it was shown that faith was damaging to humanity as a whole? would it be wrong then?

You can talk, but you cannot change realities. Of course, it is probably worth your time to have at it.

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

If you really believe that your only method is honest inquiry, fine. No problem.

But a great deal of experiences with atheists who attack holds a different persuasion for me.

Certainly you have no problem with that, being so laid-back that the non-existence of God is fine with you.

I dont know if that goes for Recovering, i just find the non-existence of god perfectly fine to my existence...though i strive for its existence and find it sad it is not there...but its non-existence is something that i can still live with. Many atheists merely attack god totally satisfied but i find it distraughting i dont have a creator or over-looking father to forgive my bad choices...it would be so much easier. With no god though responsiblity is single-handedly on my shoulders and its working out perfectly for me for i blame no other consequences that happen from my choices.

 

[us38]

Have you looked at the Ontological Proof of God ?
... things are moving , God is the first mover
... things have structure and order ...God the designer
.... things are complex & diverse...God the artist
.... seems to be right and wrong ...God the law giver

Yay circular reasoning!

 

[The Nihilist]

If you really believe that your only method is honest inquiry, fine. No problem.

But a great deal of experiences with atheists who attack holds a different persuasion for me.

Certainly you have no problem with that, being so laid-back that the non-existence of God is fine with you.

Atheists who attack? Like on a Fox special?

It is not fine with me that there is no God. I wish there were. The fact of the matter, though, is that it is not up to me.

 

[DarkProphet]

Well this thread strayed off topic rather quickly. Let me ask again... Is it possible to make any absolute statement about God? If so then on what grounds do you make that statement? If not why not?