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If god wasnt

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I'm not sure what words are replaceable in this exercise so I'll ask...

If I can replace 'belief' with 'trust' (or preferably 'know'), may I replace the word 'God' with something else as well?

No. That defeats the purpose. Im using believe in as read rather than religious like believing ones own potiential. Believing in your parent because she took care of you.

As for god, the OP is specific to the abrahamic: jewish, christian (well, dont know about christian as much since they have a different view), and muslim.
 

joe1776

Well-Known Member
If it passed all these criteria (if he were nice) why would you believe?

edit
As I wrote earlier, my belief would be based on extraordinary evidence -- a close encounter with a Loving Creator that I could not explain away as a delusion, for example.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I have no idea. You are presenting me with a hopelessly incomplete scenario and asking how I would react to it.

Thats why Im asking those who do have opinions about god and if their negative opinions were false as they would be presented otherwise, would they change their mind why or why not.

I have no opinions about. He doesnt exist. Im just curious since I dont belittle gods I dont believe in. But its interesting nonetheless.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Im not following you since I dont have opinions about god. But, if god was positive and didnt warrent negativity from those who dont believe him, would you believe why or why not.


I believe that the person who almost killed me exists.

I dont think too highly of him, but-
It would be crazy not to believe he is real.

Whether I think the "god" in the bible is a jerk, or not
makes no difference to why I dont believe it exists.

Belief is about what is believable, not what I happen to like.

I find your question utterly weird.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Thats why Im asking those who do have opinions about god and if their negative opinions were false as they would be presented otherwise, would they change their mind why or why not.

I have no opinions about. He doesnt exist. Im just curious since I dont belittle gods I dont believe in. But its interesting nonetheless.

Ah, maybe I get it now.

You dont understand that we view "god" as a
character in a novel.

You know you like some characters in movies
and books, but not others?

We are commenting on literature, not
what you fancy to be reality.
 

jonathan180iq

Well-Known Member
If god was nice, would you believe in him why or why not?

(without assuming he doesnt exit and samantics)
It doesn't matter if God was good or bad or anywhere in between. As you've posed the question, and we have to assume his existence, then of course he would be believed in.

That's like asking if I believe that you exist, even if you're A-hole. Your character doesn't have anything to do with my acceptance of your existence. You could be awesome, or awful. I'd still say that you exist.
 

SalixIncendium

अहं ब्रह्मास्मि
Staff member
Premium Member
No. That defeats the purpose. Im using believe in as read rather than religious like believing ones own potiential. Believing in your parent because she took care of you.

I have a father. I have evidence of his existence. I do not remember ever meeting him, though he created me. I do not believe or trust in him (as you are defining these terms) because he never took care of me (neither personally nor though child support).

Do you see now why I'm struggling with your scenario?
 

KT Shamim

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
If you already had evidence of God, why would belief be required?
Good question.
Because evidence is of many types
1. False evidence
2. Sufficient evidence to suspect but insufficient to definitively conclude
3. Definitive proof

Belief in God initially falls under category 2. Category 3 requires effort.

Like in police dramas
"We have suspects"
"Why don't you arrest them"
"Don't have enough evidence yet"
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
As I wrote earlier, my belief would be based on extraordinary evidence -- a close encounter with a Loving Creator that I could not explain away as a delusion, for example.

My other question was if there are other things that have the same benefit as the creator, would it matter between the two if the benefits were the same?
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
It doesn't matter if God was good or bad or anywhere in between. As you've posed the question, and we have to assume his existence, then of course he would be believed in.

That's like asking if I believe that you exist, even if you're A-hole. Your character doesn't have anything to do with my acceptance of your existence. You could be awesome, or awful. I'd still say that you exist.

Im asking if you would believe in it not his existence. The OP already assumes he exists. Im asking if his character was nice, would people who believe he was bad change their mind to belive in him. If uses, why or why not.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I have a father. I have evidence of his existence. I do not remember ever meeting him, though he created me. I do not believe or trust in him (as you are defining these terms) because he never took care of me (neither personally nor though child support).

Do you see now why I'm struggling with your scenario?

Em. I dont believe god exists so its easier to ask oddball questions. Im asking those who think god is bad if he were not bad would they believe in him.

Since you already believe in god as you believe in your father, I dont see how the OP applies to you unless you pretend the creator is bad, put yourself in the shoes of those that take that position, and give a reason if he was good, why would you change.

But that makes no sense unless you believed god was bad to begin with.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member
The abrahamic god

If you had

1. Evidence of god (Im simple minded; no semantics)
2. God was not like the one in the bible
3. He loves, make present to his creation, and did everything you feel god should do

Would you believe in him?

Why or why not?

I just want to see something.

I gave you many times evidence. But you still don't believe.

I told others "Don't give me evidence, I want to have my own evidence"

For me that is the only way to "know God exists". Personal connection with God.
 

jonathan180iq

Well-Known Member
Im asking if you would believe in it not his existence.
You mean "believe in" as in "can rely upon"?
Like, I believe in my mother's ability to care for her grandchildren?

Sure. If God was objectively good, and we are assuming his existence, then it's an obvious answer, right?

The OP already assumes he exists. Im asking if his character was nice, would people who believe he was bad change their mind to belive in him. If uses, why or why not.
If is character was nice... Is kind of the big give away. There's no other answer but yes.
 

jonathan180iq

Well-Known Member
I gave you many times evidence. But you still don't believe.

I told others "Don't give me evidence, I want to have my own evidence"

For me that is the only way to "know God exists". Personal connection with God.
How is that different from being delusional?

(I'm not saying you're delusional. I'm asking you to look at your argument from an outside perspective. Apply that reasoning to anything else and see if it works.)
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I gave you many times evidence. But you still don't believe.

I told others "Don't give me evidence, I want to have my own evidence"

For me that is the only way to "know God exists". Personal connection with God.

What are you talking about?

I never asked for evidence. I dont even remember you talking to me about it, nonetheless listing evidence. Do you got the right person???

I am asking those who think god is bad, if he were good, would they believe and why.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member
.a
What are you talking about?

I never asked for evidence. I dont even remember you talking to me about it, nonetheless listing evidence. Do you got the right person???

I am asking those who think god is bad, if he were good, would they believe and why.

No I must have got the wrong person
I was just about to delete my reply, when I realized
But you just beat me to it
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
You mean "believe in" as in "can rely upon"?
Like, I believe in my mother's ability to care for her grandchildren?

Sure. If God was objectively good, and we are assuming his existence, then it's an obvious answer, right?


If is character was nice... Is kind of the big give away. There's no other answer but yes.

Thanks. I dont see it as one answer. If god existed, the abrahamic god, and he was nice that wouldnt warrent my belief in him. My heart is set elsewhere. Kinda like you have many possible girlfriends (or boyfriends) with the same quaities but you fell in love with that one person. Why pick another regardless the qualities they share.

Thats me, though. Relating to that, I wanted to know why especially if there are other beings or things that share the same traits but not the same people.

Believe in as in believe in ones potiential, yes, believe in a mothers love, type of thing.
 
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