Hang on....are you asserting that we believe that people only existed as long as the Bible did?
The Bible wasn't written until after Israel was established as a nation. Many peoples existed before the Bible was written....and yes, they worshipped other gods. But none of those gods existed before the true God created humans in Eden thousands of years before.
You said:
“In my view, as opposed to your own, the Creator had one on one contact with his creation from the beginning of their existence....so how could people exist before that who knew other gods?”
You can’t even demonstrate that the God
you worship exists. Why do you expect from others what you yourself cannot provide?
The God(s) were very real to the people who worship(ed) them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have worshiped them in the first place. Your claims about the Bible are just claims, as are everybody else’s claims about their holy books and pantheons.
I agree that we don't necessarily choose what to believe, but what we accept is a reflection of what we
want to believe for our own reasons. What makes something appealing? What makes something "convincing"? There is an appeal made to something within us that makes something "click".....so why do some things appeal to some people, whilst others find them repelling?
Because we’re all wired slightly differently and so we are convinced by different things. I wish everyone would be convinced by good evidence, but it’s not really up to me, I guess.
Back to the point … Pascal’s Wager is nonsense that doesn’t work, given the number of available options.
I prefer that those who assert that they have "mountains of evidence" can substantiate the mountains. There is no substantiation because it doesn't exist. There are not even any real molehills.
They can and have. That you wave it off, speaks nothing about the people who have provided you the very evidence you’ve asked for. The only evidence you’ve ever provided for your beliefs are pretty pictures and just-so stories. Again, you ask for much more than you’re willing to give.
You should spend some time reading some scientific journals. That is, if you’re actually interested in evidence.
I asked before how science can possibly know that 99.9% of of all species have gone extinct? That is a ridiculous assertion backed up by what?
Like everything else, it’s based on the available evidence. Boy, you’re really, really trying to avoid this point, aren’t you?
https://www.raco.cat/index.php/ActaGeologica/article/viewFile/75050/97880
Reproductive failure: a new paradigm for extinction
Ecology, Conservation and Extinction | Global Underwater Explorers
Interview: 99.9% of Species Ever on Earth Are Extinct Now | HuffPost
Mass Extinction | AMNH
Already addressed all that. Short memory?
You didn’t address it with me, as far as I can see. Unless I missed it. I’ve asked you the question many times.
I can show 'this guy' to me, because he is my constant companion.....there might be a reason why he has not ever revealed himself to those who demand more than what he is willing to reveal about himself.
I have a friend who sees his grandfather all the time. His grandfather is dead. My friend is schizophrenic. Or is he?
Why is it that these God(s) only ever show up to people who already believe in them and not to those that don’t? That tells me a lot.
You want evidence for God but accept evolution with no real evidence apart from speculation and guesswork.
False.
So the choice is not between fact and fiction....because there are no facts for either. We choose our 'camp' based on our own personal needs.
You may, but I follow the evidence.
I used to believe in a God, remember? I don’t now, because I realized I didn’t have good reasons or evidence to believe in god(s).
I see some who divorce themselves from God because he did not personally fulfill their expectations. There are some who see only God as some sort of a 'wish granter' and they get cheesed off when he doesn't do what they ask. He didn't answer a prayer so therefore he doesn't exist? He has answered many prayers for me....sometimes in remarkable ways. That is why my faith is so strong. He has given me real evidence for his existence.
That may be sufficient evidence for
you to believe. I’ve never had such experiences so it doesn’t really do much for me. It’s funny that these experiences only happen to those who are already in the mindset of belief though, isn’t it?
Good for you. If you are happy with this being as good as it gets....then "eat drink and be merry".......You will get what you expect from this life. And any effort you personally make to result in a better place for those who come after you? Realistically...what does that even mean in the big picture? How much does a better place depend on you? The world is not shaped by us......we are all at the mercy of external forces beyond our control. The Bible tells us to expect things to get worse.....we see it happening. Can you stop it?
The world is indeed shaped by those who inhabit it. I don’t see your God around here anywhere, so it is up to human beings to make the world what we want it to be. Nothing depends on
me specifically – it depends on all of us.
The state of the earth and humankind has steadily improved over the millennia. We live in the best time for human beings to live in all of our history on this planet. I’d much rather live now than say, in the Middle Ages, wouldn’t you? I don’t see things getting worse, but you have an agenda you have to stick with about “end times” or whatever so you see what you want to see.
I see God as the only path to accurate knowledge..
I can’t obtain knowledge from an entity that doesn’t bother giving me any.
He designed and created all that science studies, so when you eliminate him, nothing makes sense.
Please demonstrate this assertion is true and accurate.
I don’t see any scientists inserting God(s) into their explanations about how the world works, do you? So it seems to work just fine without having to put a God in the equation.
I can see deliberate design everywhere in nature.....it can't be the result of an endless series of fortunate flukes. IMO, that actually requires more faith to believe than I have.
Get back to me when you can demonstrate that.
Accepting scientific evidence doesn’t require faith.
If you think so, that is up to you, but what a waste to assume that this is all there is.
I don’t assume we know every single thing about every single thing in the universe. There is still much to investigate.
Isn't there that 'something' inside of you that longs for everything to be beautiful and clean and peaceful? Don't you long for some good news instead of the steady stream of bad news that fills the news media? Have you ever known a time of more trouble in the world....nation after nation....week after week sees some other disaster happening?
Yes, I do want to live a peaceful and happy life and I want the same for others. That’s why I do things to try to make life more peaceful and happy for the most amount of people I possibly can while they are alive rather than telling them that things will be better when they’re dead.
There have been many times with many more troubles in the world – like during World War I or World War II.
There is a reason why people flock to 'paradise' locations...even for a brief vacation. I believe that we are actually programmed to live there. How else do you explain the collective desire in humans to want to go there?
Yes, people prefer to be happy and healthy rather than sad and sick. It’s not that difficult to figure out why the former is preferable to the latter, is it? I don’t see what it has to do with God(s).
