Is every version of God a God-of-the-gaps?

[ruffen]

They can explain the physical earth and even it's birth. But metaphysically they will never say why there was a birth to begin with (nor should they). Science will never tell us why we are here.

Solar system accretion, anyone?

 

[Iti oj]

They can explain the physical earth and even it's birth. But metaphysically they will never say why there was a birth to begin with (nor should they). Science will never tell us why we are here.

You assume we are here for a reason other then the mechanics that brought us about.

 

[outhouse]

So, is there anything God does, has done, or can do, that is truly divine

Nope.

There is not a single thing that can be attributed to any deity at any time in any place, ever..

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

And yet we have chemicals to take away consciousness and restore it at will. It is not magic.

Wow, so psychoactive drugs exist?! Fancy that!

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Using the mystery (ie. gap in one's knowledge) of consciousness to indicate the presence or work of a deity is another classic God-of-the-gaps.

Rather, it's merely pointing out that science doesn't understand those things and you wrongly said it does.

 

[Iti oj]

Rather, it's merely pointing out that science doesn't understand those things and you wrongly said it does.

No you have missed the point entirely.

 

[Tumah]

Perhaps you could explain it more please.

What I was saying is why are the Laws of Physics the way they are. Why shouldn't it be that when I take a step forward, everything brown turns black. Why should there be Laws of Nature? Why shouldn't 1+1+1=1 for everyone? That G-d creates thunder is not something that need contradict science. It is G-d that keeps existence existing and directs the fundamental forces into the various forms that eventually come to thunder. If that is what you are calling the god of the gaps, then I don't see a problem with that.

Sounds like Ra putting Ma'at in place.

Totally over my head.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

No you have missed the point entirely.

No, I haven't.

 

[Iti oj]

What I was saying is why are the Laws of Physics the way they are. Why shouldn't it be that when I take a step forward, everything brown turns black. Why should there be Laws of Nature? Why shouldn't 1+1+1=1 for everyone? That G-d creates thunder is not something that need contradict science. It is G-d that keeps existence existing and directs the fundamental forces into the various forms that eventually come to thunder. If that is what you are calling the god of the gaps, then I don't see a problem with that.



Totally over my head.

God as the inherent nature of things?

 

[ruffen]

Nope.

There is not a single thing that can be attributed to any deity at any time in any place, ever..

To quote Tim Minchin (in "Storm"):

"Throughout history, every mystery ever solved, has turned out to be..... not magic".

 

[ruffen]

Rather, it's merely pointing out that science doesn't understand those things and you wrongly said it does.

Actually I didn't say that science understands everything, but there is a big difference between unexplained by science and unexplainable by science.

How can one assume that just because science doesn't understand some stuff, then it is unexplainable, and therefore God did it?

If, in a thousand years, scientist understand well and thoroughly and detailed the mechanics behind the Universe coming into existence, abiogenesis, human consciousness etc, then almost all arguments for God's existence today will be just as much God-of-the-gaps as the people using God to explain rainbows a thousand years ago.

So, isn't it time to realize the pattern going on here?

 

[George-ananda]

neuroscience has already shown that our souls are the direct result of our brains

Here you are stating a theory as an established fact.

My study of the paranormal is what convinced me this is not the case. Something that dramatically does not fit into your worldview is going on.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Actually I didn't say that science understands everything, but there is a big difference between unexplained by science and unexplainable by science.

How can one assume that just because science doesn't understand some stuff, then it is unexplainable, and therefore God did it?

If, in a thousand years, scientist understand well and thoroughly and detailed the mechanics behind the Universe coming into existence, abiogenesis, human consciousness etc, then almost all arguments for God's existence today will be just as much God-of-the-gaps as the people using God to explain rainbows a thousand years ago.

So, isn't it time to realize the pattern going on here?

Too many assumptions and too much arrogance.

 

[Iti oj]

Too many assumptions and too much arrogance.

He gave examples and reasons, you have not.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

He gave examples and reasons, you have not.

All the examples he gave are irrelevant to all but the most literalistic of theists. Then he went and made a bunch of assumptions that not only will science explain away everything, but that his own concept of philosophical materialism will be proven true.

 

[Iti oj]

All the examples he gave are irrelevant to all but the most literalistic of theists. Then he went and made a bunch of assumptions that not only will science explain away everything, but that his own concept of philosophical materialism will be proven true.

can you counter his claims with a rational argument? Also again this thread is about god of the gaps, and what's being presented is just that. You are also deny that we have already made some head way in reagrds to those topics. Also how are his example irrelevant?

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Gods in many cases are gap-fillers. In the rest, they are fanciful ways of restating the obvious.

 

[George-ananda]

If, in a thousand years, scientist understand well and thoroughly and detailed the mechanics behind the Universe coming into existence, abiogenesis, human consciousness etc, then almost all arguments for God's existence today will be just as much God-of-the-gaps as the people using God to explain rainbows a thousand years ago.

I think to account for things that are currently referred to as 'paranormal', science of the future will expand to include things we commonly refer to as 'paranormal' now; like soul bodies, super-physical planes of existence, etc.. At that point science will merge with what eastern spiritual masters have been saying all along.

It's all science but the paranormal and spiritual masters have shown me our current science has only gone an inch deep and our universe is a foot deep.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

can you counter his claims with a rational argument? Also again this thread is about god of the gaps, and what's being presented is just that. You are also deny that we have already made some head way in reagrds to those topics. Also how are his example irrelevant?

I don't use the "God of the gaps" fallacy. What I was pointing out was his jumping the gun with his assumptions. But, no. Not every argument for God or concept of God is a "God of the gaps" fallacy. That term came about as a criticism for the way some apologists would argue their case for a deity. In order for the OP to prove his point, he would have to examine every form of theism and see if it fits his claim.

 

[Iti oj]

I don't use the "God of the gaps" fallacy. What I was pointing out was his jumping the gun with his assumptions. But, no. Not every argument for God or concept of God is a "God of the gaps" fallacy. That term came about as a criticism for the way some apologists would argue their case for a deity. In order for the OP to prove his point, he would have to examine every form of theism and see if it fits his claim.

Can we use your beliefs and understanding about God as an example? Is your god a god of the gaps? why or why not.