Does God Exist?

[Justin Smith]

Nobody knows for certain whether God exists, nobody has proved he doesn't for sure. But, as I said to an agnostic friend of mine, surely it's wise not to annoy him too much just to be on the safe side ! 

[Annie Bynnol]

6 hours ago, Justin Smith said:

Nobody knows for certain whether God exists, nobody has proved he doesn't for sure. But, as I said to an agnostic friend of mine, surely it's wise not to annoy him too much just to be on the safe side ! 

This argument is called 'Pascal's wager'.

As it is impossible to prove something doesn't exist, there always remains the tiniest chance/possibility that a god might give you a hard Being a hypocrite and accepting a god reduces your chance of no change or the suffering the wrath of the vengeful god from 50/50 to 1 in 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Baron99]

Does God exist? 

 

Slightly different angle to the question? 

 

1. Does it REALLY matter if God exists or not, except to the individual?  

 

2. If God exists in the individual, why the need for organised religion? 

 

3. Why in the 21st century, do some feel the need for a God or to believe in a God? 

 

Edited April 25, 2020 by Baron99

[apelike]

2 hours ago, Baron99 said:

3. Why in the 21st century, do some feel the need for a God or to believe in a God? 

 Insecurity and the lack of belief and confidence in oneself.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Baron99 said:

Does God exist? 

 

Slightly different angle to the question? 

 

1. Does it REALLY matter if God exists or not, except to the individual?  

 

2. If God exists in the individual, why the need for organised religion? 

 

3. Why in the 21st century, do some feel the need for a God or to believe in a God? 

 

You think technological improvements and modernization reduces the spiritual need of God?

 

Think again.

[Waldo]

What I don’t understand, is how can we ask such a question (does god exist) without first fully understanding the quantities we refer to as ‘god’ and ‘exist’.

 

Also, the limitations and scope of the tools we have at our disposal to comprehend such quantities, are a significant consider here...

 

For example, without considering what we mean by god, just looking at the ‘exist’ side of the question; how do we know that this god thing is limited to a state of existing OR not existing. Can both be true? Certainly, I think our minds have a hard time contemplating such a state of affairs, but is reality bound by the limitations of our capacity to define it?

 

 

Edited April 26, 2020 by Waldo

[Annie Bynnol]

4 hours ago, Mr Fisk said:

You think technological improvements and modernization reduces the spiritual need of God?

 

Think again.

All religious people and their religious organizations have used "...technological improvements and modernization..." throughout history.

 

Chapels, churches, cathedrals,

Paintings, statues, icons, murals and stained glass,

First bible printed and distributed  in 1454.

1920's BBC religion on radio.

1950'sTV advertising

1980's Digital copies online with interactive explanation/translations/interpretations.

Pope live from Rome via satellite.

Every"...technological improvements and modernization..." has been used to advertise religions.

 

Also I do not understand what "...the spiritual need of God?"  means or implies after 10 year of state funded indoctrination, so the question is a) false, b) can only be answered by people who do a religion.

 

[Guest]

21 minutes ago, Annie Bynnol said:

All religious people and their religious organizations have used "...technological improvements and modernization..." throughout history.

 

Chapels, churches, cathedrals,

Paintings, statues, icons, murals and stained glass,

First bible printed and distributed  in 1454.

1920's BBC religion on radio.

1950'sTV advertising

1980's Digital copies online with interactive explanation/translations/interpretations.

Pope live from Rome via satellite.

Every"...technological improvements and modernization..." has been used to advertise religions.

 

Also I do not understand what "...the spiritual need of God?"  means or implies after 10 year of state funded indoctrination, so the question is a) false, b) can only be answered by people who do a religion.

 

The need to have some meaning, being spritual exists in all of us.

I accept some may not (and do not) subscribe to a particular religion, as I agree this can be quite a loaded point.

 

But I do hold the view that by our innate disposition, we seek meaning, we need to worship something- for some this may be even a materialistic thing (that they make their 'god').

 

Atheism in itself cannot explain this natural state of humans- if it were true (that atheism is the default position as some claim) how does it explain the nature of God. There are people who have had no religious upbringing  but then find a spritual meaning/answer that is not materialistic.

 

Also to answer earlier point made by Baron99, religion/belief in God exists even in atheist states like China and former sovient union.

Despite state controlled atheism, people naturally find their innate belief that there exists something far more greater and intelligent then anything else.

[Annie Bynnol]

35 minutes ago, Mr Fisk said:

The need to have some meaning, being spritual exists in all of us.

I accept some may not (and do not) subscribe to a particular religion, as I agree this can be quite a loaded point.

 

But I do hold the view that by our innate disposition, we seek meaning, we need to worship something- for some this may be even a materialistic thing (that they make their 'god').

 

Atheism in itself cannot explain this natural state of humans- if it were true (that atheism is the default position as some claim) how does it explain the nature of God. There are people who have had no religious upbringing  but then find a spiritual meaning/answer that is not materialistic.

 

Also to answer earlier point made by Baron99, religion/belief in God exists even in atheist states like China and former sovient union.

Despite state controlled atheisma, people naturally find their innate belief that there exists something far more greater and intelligent then anything else.

As we have no common ground of what atheism is, I do not expect that you can accept my world which has no need for a religious version of "meaning", "worship", "innate disposition", "being spiritual" etc.

 

In the world where respect for other people should be fundamental, I would expect other people not to make assumptions  about me and that I am in need something or that I am in some way lacking in ability to function as a fully paid up member of human society.  A society that is not restricted by religious concepts of faith, hope and belief, policed by church and state and justified by the presence of a vengeful, all seeing,  superior and omnipotent construction.

 

 

[Guest]

On 26/04/2020 at 11:21, Annie Bynnol said:

As we have no common ground of what atheism is, I do not expect that you can accept my world which has no need for a religious version of "meaning", "worship", "innate disposition", "being spiritual" etc.

 

In the world where respect for other people should be fundamental, I would expect other people not to make assumptions  about me and that I am in need something or that I am in some way lacking in ability to function as a fully paid up member of human society.  A society that is not restricted by religious concepts of faith, hope and belief, policed by church and state and justified by the presence of a vengeful, all seeing,  superior and omnipotent construction.

 

 

That is the point- under atheism and by extention who adopt philosophical naturalism- you cannot explain what being 'human' is.

After all, you are nothing but an ingrained social, biological pattern- a process.

 

So where does this 'humanity' come from- under naturalism.

Edited April 27, 2020 by Guest