yep, I comprehended what you said
I'm skeptical you really did given what you continue to post.
it would seem there can only be 1 true GOD (regardless of what He's called), one Supreme Being and that would be what makes Him God (because the topic was on proving God's existence not that "gods" exist.)
That's a pretty mighty assumption. The popularity of monotheistic religious beliefs is fairly 'new' relatively speaking.
But we'll run with it just for the sake of it. So we establish there is a single god, a single ruler of all there is to rule. The issue is still no different than it was in my previous post: What makes you think you're doing the things that this single god rewards for? That god could reward/punish based on any criteria. That single god could simply not abide by the concept of reward/punishment; perhaps that god is truly all forgiving and all accepting regardless of anything. What makes you so sure that single god doesn't reward skeptical people who search for tangible or logical proof? What makes you so sure that single god isn't a sociopath who throws everybody into eternal damnation, regardless of how they lived their life?
You can't be sure. You're playing the odds, just as everybody else is. The odds that you are going to be correct in your choice of what this single god wants are still infinitesimally small. And again, these odds are the same for everybody; everybody has an equal chance of being correct no matter what they believe with respect to this single deity. It's still not 50/50 even if there truly is just a single 'supreme being,' simply because you have no sure knowledge on how that single 'supreme being' judges.
So I think those that feel that those kind of odds are so great that they can play Russian Roulette with their soul in the afterlife should put their "money where their mouth is" so to speak and instead of waiting ---take their odds RIGHT NOW so that others can actually enjoy their peace that comes from knowing where they will be spending eternity.
Again (and this is why I really don't think you comprehended), a non-believer is not playing Russian Roulette with their soul any more than a believer. The odds that a believer is correct in their beliefs are EXACTLY the same as the odds that a non-believer is correct in their lack of belief. Maybe I'll use a different word:
The odds that a believer will be wrong in their beliefs are EXACTLY the same as the odds that a non-believer will be wrong in their lack of beliefs. In other words, the odds that you, as a believer, will be punished in the afterlife are EXACTLY the same as the odds that I, a non-believer, will be punished. They are identical. The same. Not different. You don't have a better chance of being correct. I don't know how else to spell it out.
In any case, I assume you're implying non-believers should off themselves, which really makes no sense to me. Most non-believers don't believe in any sort of afterlife; they believe this life is all you get and you should make the most of it. Why would they be the group to jump off a bridge?
If anything, it's those who you say "know where they'll spend eternity" who should off themselves -- if you truly think life after death is going to be better than on Earth and you're going to heaven to receive eternal happiness why don't you speed up the process? Why are you sticking around here when you're so sure there's something much better?
Frankly, neither group should voluntarily perish. It's a pretty nonsensical idea all in all.
If someone found a treasure mine LOADED full of precious gold, jewels and they knew the supply inside was UNLIMITED. Would you keep it all to yourself? Would you share with just family and friends? What if your best friend was broke and having a hard time, you told them about your riches and they didn't believe you? You gave them some bars of gold and a bag of diamonds but they won't take them because they believe they are fake. You show them the papers where you had the items appraised but they don't believe you. You tell them to go get the items appraised and get some food with the money before they starve to death. They don't believe the items are real so they refuse to waste their time getting the appraisal. Eventually, you get tired of arguing. You KNOW you have the treasure and it's real. The friend eventually starves to death for lack of unbelief or will go get that appraisal but ultimately, it's the friends choice. So, that would be WHY those that believe in God "pester" and sometimes "irritate" those who don't believe. They are trying to share the treasure they have found with a friend.....and waiting for that friend to share the treasure.
The analogy is not valid. If you physically showed me the treasure mine full of precious metals and jewels, I would certainly believe you. Why? Because you provided logical, physical proof that such a treasure mine existed. Has such an exhibit of proof been done in the case of a god(s)? No, not at all. What you have is a book full of stone age principles, thousands of contradictions, historical inaccuracies, and fairy tales written by people who never even met their savior first hand. That is all the "proof" you have.
As for this being the reason people push belief: You really think it's necessary? It's impossible to drive down three miles of road where I live without seeing at least 4-5 churches. It's impossible to drive through my state without seeing multiple billboards telling me I'll burn in hell if I don't repent. It's difficult for me to walk through the downtown region of the city I live in without being preached to.
It's as simple as this: People know you're there. They know where your churches are, they know where to find your information, and they know religious people are foaming at the mouth to preach away. If people are interested, they will come to you (crazy idea, I know). And the people who are not interested will not come to you. So have patience.
Community Forum
Topic: The proof that God exists... (Read 21980 times)
March 19, 2010, 09:35:43 am
