On requesting proof/evidence for God
Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:06 pm
An issue has been raised on what is the forum guideline on when should evidence be required to demonstrate that God exists.
By the very nature of this forum, the word "God" will frequently be used. So, it is not reasonable that every time the word "God" is mentioned in a thread that one is required to give a full apologetics discourse on proving the existence of God.
Where it is appropriate to ask for evidence for the existence of God is when a claim is made that God exists and that it is a premise for an argument related to the thread. Anyone then has the right to ask for justification for that claim, unless it has been agreed beforehand that God is assumed to exist.
If God (or anything for that matter) is only mentioned as an opinion and not related to the OP, then there is no need to defend it or to respond to any requests for God's existence.
I realize that there could be other situations where God would be mentioned that is not covered by these, but we'll address those later as they come up.
By the very nature of this forum, the word "God" will frequently be used. So, it is not reasonable that every time the word "God" is mentioned in a thread that one is required to give a full apologetics discourse on proving the existence of God.
Where it is appropriate to ask for evidence for the existence of God is when a claim is made that God exists and that it is a premise for an argument related to the thread. Anyone then has the right to ask for justification for that claim, unless it has been agreed beforehand that God is assumed to exist.
If God (or anything for that matter) is only mentioned as an opinion and not related to the OP, then there is no need to defend it or to respond to any requests for God's existence.
I realize that there could be other situations where God would be mentioned that is not covered by these, but we'll address those later as they come up.