Christian Apologetics

[Thruve]

In what way does having an experience that you can not explain 'point up'? Not being able to explain an experience you have had is not evidence for the superatural at all, let alone a god.

The equation: I do not understand _________ , therefore God! Is unsound.

You missed my point. Nice critical thinking.

Reread where I said whether god exists or not is irrelevant.

Im hoping you got the hint that something, whether a will of the universe, spirits, a goblin, predeterminism, alien, fate, whatever, exists in a manner that, in many of our eyes, deserves to be called a "god". Who are you to say it doesn't exist? You think if god did exist, hed leave bread crumbs for you to follow? Such experiences open those doors to people like savage and me. Our experiences opened those doors, faith opens those doors.

 

[Bunyip]

You missed my point. Nice critical thinking.

I read your comment carfully, and asked a relevant question.

Reread where I said whether god exists or not is irrelevant.

Im hoping you get the hint that something, whether a will of the universe, spirits, a goblin, predeterminism, god, whatever, exists in a manner that, in many of our eyes, deserves to be called "god". Who are you to say he doesn't exist? You think if god did exist, hed leave bread crumbs for us to follow? are you not critically thinking of what a god could be capable of?

Why would that something (an experience you can not explain) be at all suggestive of a god, or supernatural agency of any form? How do you get from 'I don't understand' to 'something that deserves to be called god'?

 

[Thruve]

I read your comment carfully, and asked a relevant question.

Why would that something (an experience you can not explain) be at all suggestive of a god, or supernatural agency of any form? How do you get from 'I don't understand' to 'something that deserves to be called god'?

Because the individual has been preconditioned to a particular god or religion, to which the experience often strongly reinforces. It would of never have happened or been realized had the individual never had faith in that particular religion or god. How its reinforced is the very part that cannot be explained. The 'something that deserves to be called god' is the source for such an experience that defies critical thinking, other than to the individual themself. To someone like you, it may be considered a unique coincidence, but to someone with faith, its something entirely different because their eyes are opened to the irony, purpose, and relevance for that experience. They know its not just 'random'. Its often associated to the particular god or religion they have faith in.

 

[Bunyip]

Because the individual has been preconditioned to a particular god or religion, to which the experience often strongly reinforce. It would of never have happened or been realized had the individual never had faith in that particular religion or god. How its reinforced is the very part that cannot be explained.

On the contrary, that phenomenon is called 'confirmation bias'.

The 'something that deserves to be called god' is the reason for such an experiences that defies critical thinking, other than to the individual themself.

But not being able to explain something is not a problem for critical thinking at all. You only need to suspend critical thinking when you go from 'I do not understand______' to belief in the supernatural because you did not understand something.

 

[Thruve]

On the contrary, that phenomenon is called 'confirmation bias'.


But not being able to explain something is not a problem for critical thinking at all. You only need to suspend critical thinking when you go from 'I do not understand______' to belief in the supernatural because you did not understand something.

Oh its phenomenon lol Yet, its so selective and quite convincing, enough to fool the world and cause so much suffering and yet so much enlightenment to individuals who don't even believe in a god. It doesn't deserve the term God, whatever it is. Nah, it doesnt deserve a term despite its power.

You do realize we apply critical thinking to our faith and beliefs right?

One of two things happen when we do, we become atheists, or our faith becomes stronger.

The path your on is quite obvious, and so is savage'.

God may or may not exist, and Yes, thats not something you can critically determine.
To you he cannot exist, to savage, he cannot-not exist lol

If there is a god, I bet he likes it that way ;D

 

[Bunyip]

Thruve

Attributing things you do not understand to a god is not a power.

 

[psychoslice]

Bunyip, I have been enjoying your replies, very interesting.

 

[Bunyip]

Bunyip, I have been enjoying your replies, very interesting.

Cheers mate.

 

[savagewind]

Bunyip, I have been enjoying your replies, very interesting.

It seems to me he is saying the same thing over and over and over........

 

[savagewind]

I read your comment carfully, and asked a relevant question.

Why would that something (an experience you can not explain) be at all suggestive of a god, or supernatural agency of any form? How do you get from 'I don't understand' to 'something that deserves to be called god'?

It is not "an experience". It is a string of them and it seems to me none happen independently but each occurance happens with a pair. Pairs are hard to explain so I think I should not try.

With the first occurance it's like WOW! What the hell ways THAT? By the third or forth (I forget) it's "I hope I'm not in trouble". Eventually it becomes a strengthening agent which brings comfort but I still can't say for sure what it is. I shall say God has something to do with it.

 

[Cephus]

You are believing something about my posts that is not true. My response was to this: Faith is good for NOTHING. I believe the first schools and hospitals were Christian establishments but outhouse isn't here to check me.

Sure but the first schools were intended to teach monks how to copy the Bible, they didn't really become institutions of higher learning until they became secular. It's reasonable to assume that even if religion hadn't started these things, that they would have come about because of basic human need without religion's involvement. The same goes for hospitals.

 

[savagewind]

Sure but the first schools were intended to teach monks how to copy the Bible, they didn't really become institutions of higher learning until they became secular. It's reasonable to assume that even if religion hadn't started these things, that they would have come about because of basic human need without religion's involvement. The same goes for hospitals.

I don't doubt you but can you see you are trusting in unrealities? "the world would have it's schools, hospitals and orphanages had religion never existed". That is an unknowable. You are not so different from us.

 

[Cephus]

It seems to me he is saying the same thing over and over and over........

Because some of you don't get it.

 

[Cephus]

I don't doubt you but can you see you are trusting in unrealities? "the world would have it's schools, hospitals and orphanages had religion never existed". That is an unknowable. You are not so different from us.

Even when it was shown that hospitals did exist before Christianity, you tried to equivocate and say you only meant a certain kind of hospitals because you didn't like being proven wrong. That makes you a lot different from me.

 

[savagewind]

Because some of you don't get it.

I saw some good words thrown in. Kudos.

 

[savagewind]

Even when it was shown that hospitals did exist before Christianity, you tried to equivocate and say you only meant a certain kind of hospitals because you didn't like being proven wrong. That makes you a lot different from me.

Please cut an paste your source. It seems to me it wasn't much of a source.

When I look around I see Christian good will. I am from the West. I see NO Eastern good will. Wiki says there were hospitals in the East but it does not say what kind.* I might read some of those references but probably not. If I could stop time (I think I'll never be able to do that) I would read every word because I really do care about truth.

*Hospitals in the East might have been like spas we have in the West presently. Can I go? I am sure I can never go there though I want to.