"I believe in science, I don't believe in God"

[McBell]

The concept that science has all the answers has been growing in the secular world.

The only time I have ever heard this nonsense is from theists creating a strawman.
Perhaps you can be the very first theist in all of history to present where this nonsense is presented by science itself?

But I can't order three pounds of justice at the grocery store or a half-gallon of love and righteousness at the gas station.

And?
I mean, it is not like you can order pounds of justice or a half-gallon of love and righteousness anywhere else either.

When a person believes the physical, the material, is all that exists,

I also only here this nonsense from theists creating strawmen.
Perhaps you can present a list of those who actually believe this?

I contend they lose their soul.

Oh Goody!
Now you get to define "soul" in a meaningful useful manner.
Good luck with that.

I'm not referring to their eternal soul, even though that is obviously forfeited as well. I'm referring to their soul now, that which makes them human and separates them from mere animals.

Until you can meaningfully define "soul" in a useful manner...

The soul is that part of us that stands in awe of a starry night or the ocean waves, that is moved by beautiful art or music, and that is inspired by selfless courage or loving self-sacrifice.

Another bold empty claim based upon the idea of the "soul" concept...

I thank God for awakening my soul, redeeming and restoring it. Per the Bible, anyone who trusts Jesus has eternal life--and a soul that is alive and well.

Nice sermon.
Short, sweet, to the point...

 

[PureX]

Provide the evidence for god and science will study that evidence.

It's ALL "evidence". Science can only study the physical/functional realm, though.

 

[Twilight Hue]

'God' is the 'source, sustenance, and purpose of all that is'. And that is what science seeks to understand. It is also what religions seek to understand. And philosophers. And artists. Science focuses on and is limited to physical functionality, but the ultimate quest remains the same through all these disciplines.

Yea but where can science start focusing on?

All that is fine but it's not a starting point.

 

[viole]

The concept that science has all the answers has been growing in the secular world.

Science has not all the answers. Never claimed to. Your myth is supposed to.

Now the question is: why do believers in a theory that has all the answers feel threatened by a system that openly acknowledge to not have all the answers, and not the other way round? Why do creationists get so revved up to defeat modern science, while modern scientists would not care less to rebuke creationists?

The answer is left as a simple exercise to the reader.

Ciao

- viole

 

[PureX]

The concept that science has all the answers has been growing in the secular world.

Yes, "scientism" is clearly an idea on the rise. It's the secularists new religion. But it's not that these 'believers' think science has all the answers, it's that they believe science is the only process by which we humans can get any "real" answers.

Science is invaluable and helps us measure and quantify physical matter and energy. But I can't order three pounds of justice at the grocery store or a half-gallon of love and righteousness at the gas station.

When a person believes the physical, the material, is all that exists, I contend they lose their soul ... that which makes them human and separates them from mere animals.

I totally agree with you, here. Materialism as a philosophy devalues and dismisses the very (metaphysical) things that make us special and significant existential beings.

 

[firedragon]

If you think that God is necessary to feel awe, then I kind of pity you.

And if you think that atheists can't "stand in awe of a starry night or the ocean waves" be "moved by beautiful art or music," or be "inspired by selfless courage or loving self-sacrifice,"

Hmm. Thats absolutely true.

 

[PureX]

Yea but where can science start focusing on?

All that is fine but it's not a starting point.

We can start anywhere we like, using whatever tools we have. it's ALL "of God". Science is a process for exploring physical functionality. Start with a physical observation, speculate on the functions that might be causing it, and devise a test to see if they are.

 

[ChristineM]

It's ALL "evidence". Science can only study the physical/functional realm, though.

It is not all evidence of a god, in fact none is evidence of a god. To tie it to a god without evidence if that god is your belief, nothing more, nothing less

 

[PureX]

It is not all evidence of a god, in fact none is evidence of a god. To tie it to a god without evidence if that god is your belief, nothing more, nothing less

"God" = the mystery source, sustenance, and purpose of all that is. Therefor, EVERYTHING is evidence of that source.

 

[Twilight Hue]

We can start anywhere we like, using whatever tools we have. it's ALL "of God". Science is a process for exploring physical functionality. Start with a physical observation, speculate on the functions that might be causing it, and devise a test to see if they are.

So far it's all been a natural explanation. Easily observed, easily tested, and repeatable. Not a single poof or wave of a magic hand found anywhere that would attribute any God or being as responsible.

 

[ChristineM]

"God" = the mystery source, sustenance, and purpose of all that is. Therefor, EVERYTHING is evidence of that source.

In your opinion, without any evidence to validate your claim. Clear the "mystery" and you are on to.a winner however science does not deal in mystery and magic but in evidence

 

[ElishaElijah]

Well, all one has to do is make science and God meet, and the mystery is over.

So far, God hasn't showed up.

Yes He did

 

[RestlessSoul]

Well, all one has to do is make science and God meet, and the mystery is over.

So far, God hasn't showed up.

That's one way of looking at it. Another is to say that God shows up everywhere, is always present, but seldom recognised or acknowledged.

 

[osgart]

There may or may not be a tendency in many to devalue life without a soul. But that doesn't apply to everybody atheist.

The thread would be better if it were posed as a question. The question being about how an atheist finds meaning and purpose in life.

Perhaps bashing theists all day is one way. But seriously the questions run deeper and so do people's answers than a forum can provide.

Science gives atheists a high degree of motivation, and lots of things to do.

Atheists usually just want to live this one life to the fullest, and deny any eternal significance to life.

Really though RF is characturizing theists and atheists for the most part. I don't find much truth in atheist depictions of theists. I don't find much truth in theists depictions of atheists.

I think generalizing everybody and defining everybody by that generalization is ludicrous. And then attaching it to a word.

People are more individual then that.

 

[Twilight Hue]

That's one way of looking at it. Another is to say that God shows up everywhere, is always present, but seldom recognised or acknowledged.

Yea, but that only makes God a superfluous term.

 

[PruePhillip]

I can see why some feel that way, I used to feel that way, too.

The concept that science has all the answers has been growing in the secular world.

Science is based on the scientific method, a process by which truth is discovered, including objective observation, testing, hypotheses, etc. To those who boast in the scientific method, I say, "Big deal. I've never known anyone who didn't."

Science is invaluable and helps us measure and quantify physical matter and energy. But I can't order three pounds of justice at the grocery store or a half-gallon of love and righteousness at the gas station.

When a person believes the physical, the material, is all that exists, I contend they lose their soul. I'm not referring to their eternal soul, even though that is obviously forfeited as well. I'm referring to their soul now, that which makes them human and separates them from mere animals. The soul is that part of us that stands in awe of a starry night or the ocean waves, that is moved by beautiful art or music, and that is inspired by selfless courage or loving self-sacrifice.

I thank God for awakening my soul, redeeming and restoring it. Per the Bible, anyone who trusts Jesus has eternal life--and a soul that is alive and well.

Not sure of the connection. Science and religion live in different non-overlapping realms.
Science cannot speak of things which are non-material, nor does it have any answer
whatsoever to the questions
1 - how did the universe come into existence?
2 - why did the universe come into existance?
3 - why am I here?

Science will say, 'There is no reason for your existence' but that is not a scientific
answer as it offers no evidence for the statement.

And looking at the world around me, I am not sure that modern society DOES have
all the answers. Seems pretty lost to me.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Yea, but that only makes God a superfluous term.

God is certainly a word that means different things to different people. But in general, I would suggest that those who see God in every manifestation of the natural world, are alive to the mystery and wonder of that world.

Of course, you don't have to call that God. Nor do you have to believe in God, to view the world in that way.

 

[ChristineM]

nor does it have any answer
whatsoever to the questions
1 - how did the universe come into existence?
2 - why did the universe come into existance?
3 - why am I here?

Does religion have valid answers to those questions other than"don't know so god"?

 

[RestlessSoul]

Not sure of the connection. Science and religion live in different non-overlapping realms.
Science cannot speak of things which are non-material, nor does it have any answer
whatsoever to the questions
1 - how did the universe come into existence?
2 - why did the universe come into existance?
3 - why am I here?

Science will say, 'There is no reason for your existence' but that is not a scientific
answer as it offers no evidence for the statement.

And looking at the world around me, I am not sure that modern society DOES have
all the answers. Seems pretty lost to me.

I think there absolutely is an overlap. And that the spirit of scientific endeavour is akin to the spirit of both philosophical and religious endeavour.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Does religion have valid answers to those questions other than"don't know so god"?

God knows.