Five Questions for an Atheist
tags:
Stumble ThisAn ongoing battle/discussion between Venomfangx and the Amazing Atheist.
Q1). Is there design in the universe?
Q2). The universe had a beginning! (infinite cannot exist.)
Q3). Does evil exist objectively?
Q4). If the christian god is real, what would you expect to see that you presently don't?
Q5). Does proof of God interest you? Would it change you?
Bonus (if you don't like Q5). Is Atheism's lack of experience more valid than Theism's claims of experience?
Q1). Is there design in the universe?
Q2). The universe had a beginning! (infinite cannot exist.)
Q3). Does evil exist objectively?
Q4). If the christian god is real, what would you expect to see that you presently don't?
Q5). Does proof of God interest you? Would it change you?
Bonus (if you don't like Q5). Is Atheism's lack of experience more valid than Theism's claims of experience?
1. Yes. Humans designed all kinds of things, Videosift being one of them.
2. This is not a question.
3. No.
4. Ironclad proof of his existence, like a huge, shiny man appearing in the sky, looking down at us saying, "hey guys, it's me. God." Like that.
5. Yes and yes.
That was easy.
1. You're basing "design" on how we, as humans, consider it. So, as a designer myself, I know that when you design something, it is not streamlined. It won't perform the best way. It's a concept! You iterate, change things, modify how stuff works.. So therefore design *evolves*. An evolution of design throws a kink into the idea of a God getting it right the first time and gives more credence to Darwin's theory.
2. Bad example using the hotel. You're not proving your point, nor discrediting his.
3. You're completely avoiding the answer objectively. You're saying that there must be a God to give moral authority if there is none to begin with. That's very very presumptuous. Humans create moral authority based on majority opinion. They're called "laws" and they existed for a long, long time even before civilized society.
4. I would echo what Shuac had to say. On top of that, if people of the world are to obey the first commandment, God would have people's undivided attention if he just appeared one day to the world saying, "Hey guys I'm here," performed a miracle or two, and left. Whamo, you have one world under one religion instantly.
5. Proof of God interests me. It would change me. But right now, there will be a day where Science will indeed disprove many more religious beliefs. Science will evolve. How will the church respond? Will they edit the bible? What human has that authority? Won't that cast doubt on the credibility of religion?
I have questions too:
1. Why does God want us to worship him?
2. Why do we need the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, and Clergymen, and why should they dress up the way they do? Why should they have any authority over anyone?
And finally:
3. Generally, are people smarter and/or more intelligent than people 2000 years ago? Reason I ask is that I look through history and I see plain ignorance guiding lives. A century ago, people were fascinated by magicians. Some probably thought they had supernatural ability. During the Salem Witch Trials, people were burnt at the stake for doing things that were misunderstood or suspicious. Earlier than that, some cultures murdered babies for being deformed. Cultures sacrificed virgins to volcanoes to appease their gods. Crazy huh?
Isn't it then a matter of fact that people, generally, were more stupid and gullible 2000 years ago than they were today? If you did a magic card trick to the Apostles, they would think you had special powers too..
2. Do flying magical people live in the sky? Fairies?
3. Is magic real?
4. Do snakes and burning bushes actually talk? Have they ever?
5. Does being 'blessed' grant me +1 to armor class and saving throws?
6. Do sparks shoot from your fingers when you cast your magic blessing spells at people?