.
...that any of the arguments for god are valid. We have to pretend of course because they are horrible. But, if one established that a god created us, them, the universe and whatever else, what reason would there be to conclude that creator is still around?
As I like to present for example, maybe god was given a chemistry set for Christmas one year and he accidentally blew himself up. Then his bits and pieces and those of the chemistry set become the universe. There'd be no more god any more.
Tcg
Let's pretend...
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Let's pretend...
Post #1To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
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Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
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I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #2don't worry.like the devil, if there was no God around it would be necewssary to invent one.
Created in our own (various) image, of course.
on the other hand, we could praise and worship whoever gave him the chemistry set.
Created in our own (various) image, of course.
on the other hand, we could praise and worship whoever gave him the chemistry set.
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #3Tricky...
Proving the affirmative - that a creator is still around - would seem to rest on providing some strong evidence for God's influence today. Such evidence would of course have to be stronger than alternative, non-divine explanations. For example, some people still ascribe earthquakes to "God's will", but there's an impressive body of evidence that shows them to be wholly natural phenomena.
There are many people who claim to 'know' God and to have a personal relationship with him. Unless they could somehow demonstrate that relationship was real, not imaginary, it's difficult to see how a strong case could be made on this basis.
Miracles would perhaps be the strongest line to pursue in this regard, although this forum has had more than a few threads on them, and even given a medically-certified modern miracle, that doesn't necessarily point exclusively to God being the cause. It could be any other god or group of supernatural entities.
On the other hand, proving the negative is notoriously difficult too. Just because no evidence of an invisible dragon in my garage exists doesn't mean it's not there...
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #4Very good points and I wasn't suggesting this as evidence against a god, but rather that the arguments for the existence of a creator god wouldn't necessarily lead to the Christian God even if they were valid. They wouldn't even establish that the creator was still alive. I have an old cowboy style leather wallet that was made by a friend of mine in the 70's. That wallet doesn't establish that he is still alive.Diagoras wrote: ↑Tue Sep 13, 2022 11:01 pmTricky...
Proving the affirmative - that a creator is still around - would seem to rest on providing some strong evidence for God's influence today. Such evidence would of course have to be stronger than alternative, non-divine explanations. For example, some people still ascribe earthquakes to "God's will", but there's an impressive body of evidence that shows them to be wholly natural phenomena.
There are many people who claim to 'know' God and to have a personal relationship with him. Unless they could somehow demonstrate that relationship was real, not imaginary, it's difficult to see how a strong case could be made on this basis.
Miracles would perhaps be the strongest line to pursue in this regard, although this forum has had more than a few threads on them, and even given a medically-certified modern miracle, that doesn't necessarily point exclusively to God being the cause. It could be any other god or group of supernatural entities.
On the other hand, proving the negative is notoriously difficult too. Just because no evidence of an invisible dragon in my garage exists doesn't mean it's not there...
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #6For me the reason is, I don't think I would have remained here all this time without God. Yes, probably not good for any atheist, but you asked one reason and that is one of my reasons.

My new book can be read freely from here:
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Old version can be read from here:
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIkqxC ... xtqFY/view
Old version can be read from here:
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #7What does remaining around for a long time have to do with God? Do all those people who only remained around for a very short time therefore indicate that God is no longer around? Your reason has no merit.
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #8Odd that what is supposed ti be a 'God is my strength' argument sounds like weakness "I couldn't get through the day without drink". That's what it sounds like. I get through the day without God. In fact I may find it easier to cope because i don't expect Jesus to be driving.
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #9Why do you repeatedly try to make it an issue about atheists? You've failed to explain how you being around still is evidence of God. Any reasonable person atheist or otherwise would not accept this as a valid reason. All you've presented is your belief. The fact that you believe something is not evidence that what you believe is true. Why do you believe what you believe and how is that evidence that creator god (assuming there ever was one) is still alive.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- Tcg
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Re: Let's pretend...
Post #10Well, the self-existent one was (before his demise) also the self-gifting one.TRANSPONDER wrote: ↑Tue Sep 13, 2022 5:04 pm don't worry.like the devil, if there was no God around it would be necewssary to invent one.
Created in our own (various) image, of course.
on the other hand, we could praise and worship whoever gave him the chemistry set.
Tcg
To be clear: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom
- American Atheists
Not believing isn't the same as believing not.
- wiploc
I must assume that knowing is better than not knowing, venturing than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring, ultimately weaken the human spirit.
- Irvin D. Yalom