Reply to How can sensible, educated people be religious?

Forum Index » Religion

Reply to "How can sensible, educated people be religious? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How can people who understand basic science also believe that there is a god in heaven protecting them and that they will live there forever after they die here on earth?[/quote]

What “basic science” rules out God?  I suspect your concept of basic science smuggles in a whole host of assumed metaphysical premises that could be disputed if made explicit.  [/quote]

The same "basic science" that rules out Leprechauns, Bigfoot, and universe-farting blue elephants.  No reason to think any are there until there is evidence.[/quote]

What would constitute evidence in your view? I suspect that most believers would take the position that the existence of the universe provides some evidence for a creator, so presumably you have some sort of unstated premise that rules that out.  It would be a more interesting conversation if you made that premise explicit.   Of course, we also all believe lots of things we don’t have *direct* evidence for, which bears on this. [/quote]

No I do not rule it out, and it is not my burden to do so.  I don't agree the existence of the universe is evidence for anything other than the universe, and despite hearing hundreds of cosmological arguments never heard one that wasn't flawed from the premises onward.  And certainly not one that had an iota of evidence for any specific god. More than welcome to listen to another, if you have it.

What are other things we believe that we don't have evidence for, "direct" or otherwise?[/quote]

It is indeed your burden to do so if you are stating that basic science proves God does not exist. [/quote]

Good thing I made no such claim, and in fact explicitly stated so, in the very sentence you are posting.  Why do you ignore what I have said?  Because it makes your narrative more difficult, possibly?

[quote]Further, you are starting with a materialist premise that is nowhere proved; it is assumed.  [/quote]

I have done no such thing.

[quote]The idea that only things that can be observed directly exist is a metaphysical premise, not an objective fact.  Don’t get me wrong:  it’s a reasonable assumption, but it’s only that, an assumption.  
[/quote]

If we disagree on the presupposition that it is unreasonable withhold belief until there is evidence then we fundamentally live differently.

[quote]So too for your view that the existence of the universe proves nothing with regard to the potential for a creator. That’s an interpretation, not a demonstrated fact. Finally you are being slippery about my question on believing things without evidence.  [/quote]

Nope!  See the point above.  The claim that the existence of the universe is evidence of a creator relies on the presupposition that a creator is required for a universe.  Not only is that unsupported by evidence it is wholly circular logic.

[quote]Who’s the “we” you are referring to?  
[/quote]

The "we" the poster (you?) I was reply to typed with "[i]Of course, we also all believe lots of things [b]we[/b] don’t have *direct* evidence for, which bears on this. [/i]"

[quote]I submit that YOU necessarily take a lot of things on faith because you believe certain authorities are reliable.  Is that not so?[/quote]

I do not believe it to be so.  Back up your claim. What do you think I take on "faith" without evidence? [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics