There is no evidence for God, so why do you believe?

[PearlSeeker]

It is easy to believe that Einstein believed in God when you only read cherry picked sources.

Why do you think so? All Einstein's quotes against belief in God are only against belief in personal God, Bible, traditional religion...

 

[Subduction Zone]

Why do you think so? All Einstein's quotes against belief in God are only against belief in personal God, Bible, traditional religion...

At the very most he is a deist. Which means that at the most he thought there was a god, lower case g please. That started the universe and left.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

I also found many people say they understand the Bible yet their view of God and the Scriptures are skewed.

Me, too.

As far as the article not mentioning any evidence, here is the place they list 6 evidences and then proceed to explain their findings:

That wasn't my claim. I wrote, "I didn't see any evidence there that made me believe that there was ever a global flood," and that was a reference to that list of six, one element from which I discussed in detail.

They would have written them as myths if that's what they were. They didn't. They named real places and things.

Most myths name real places and things. Every creation myth mentions the earth, and the land, seas, and sky. How about the Garden myth? Does that contain real people and paces?

Faith was needed and still is, to answer the " Why?" questions.

Faith answers no questions unless one considers guesses answers.

What " why" questions? Science cannot even go there.

This is incorrect. Science offers many how explanations.

I believe I am evidence of God.

You are evidence that human life exists, but not why. You are also evidence for abiogenesis and biological evolution

Yet his attitude toward "music of the spheres" or "beautiful harmony of the structure of this world" is far from atheism.

The only thing far from atheism is theism, and having an aesthetic sense is not theism.

Einstein preferred belief in God to "lack of any transcendental outlook of life."

They are not mutually exclusive nor the only options.

What do you think means to "render to the majority of mankind a more sublime means in order to satisfy its metaphysical needs"?

It sounds like an alternative to theism.

 

[Polymath257]

He meant archaeological. He still did not pick up on that. He mentioned a real object, but I do not see how that was evidence for the Exodus. "Israel existed" is not very convincing when people are talking about how the Hebrews got there. We know that Israel existed. That fact was not in dispute.

And, in fact, the 'Ibiru (Hebrews) were mountain people according to the Egyptian sources (and the archeology). And yes, Egypt controlled that area at that time. They had an offshoot of the Canaanite religion as shown by the archeological record.

Another aspect that often gets confused with the Biblical stories is the second Intermediate Period, in which Egypt was ruled by people originating from 'Asia', meaning Canaan. But these rulers adopted the Egyptian religion and were forced out militarily (we even have records describing the approaching army).

Is it *possible* that the Exodus story is some sort of communal memory of that time period? maybe. It's debated. But the story as told is clearly not historical.

 

[Polymath257]

What " why" questions? Science cannot even go there.

Of course it can. And does.

Why is hotter air less dense that colder air?

Why is TNT explosive?

Why is there a strong radio source at the center of many galaxies?

Science is *full* of why questions that have been answered.

 

[Polymath257]

There is evidence of the Israelites in Egypt. Papyrus Brooklyn 35.1446 is an Egyptian document written in hieratic script, that names 95 household servants of a noblewoman named Senebtisi.16 Forty of the names are Semitic.

So? That doesn't make them Israelites. It means that they are from the region of Canaan.

The biblical description of slaves making bricks is affirmed by a painting in the tomb of Rehkmire. ( 1470-1445 BC)

The most famous discovery related to Moses and the Exodus is the Merneptah Stele.
It contains the oldest definitive reference to Israel as a nation outside of the Bible, and the clearest Egyptian reference to Israel.

Not a nation in the sense we think of today. Closer to a race of people that have identified themselves as a unit.

In this case, the 'Ibiru were a mountain people that had separated themselves from the surrounding Canaanites. The stele describes conquering them (a common theme in Egyptian propaganda).

 

[Sheldon]

So you don’t think the Bible is propaganda and I must’ve misunderstood so what is the Bible to you?

So you admit your claim was dishonest, and you never addressed the fact that you cited a creationist website, using lies and propaganda, and pretended this challenges the overwhelming archaeological evidence that falsifies the Exodus myth.

Then dishonestly leaped to a straw man claim I had not made, which you are now pursuing, whilst still avoiding answering what I actually posted. Pretty obviously because you knew from the start that the creationist propaganda site uses pseudoscience and propaganda, and does not support your claim denying the archaeological findings that disprove Exodus.

 

[Sheldon]

Whether it’s my inability or maybe some people just can’t grasp spiritual matters and to them it’s a mystery.

No it was definitely an appeal to mystery, that's how miracles are defined, and also it has no explanatory powers whatsoever, appealing to "spiritual matters" is just another appeal to mystery of course. If this were not the case theists could demonstrate some cogent explanation for them, beyond bare subjective claims, but they never do.

 

[Sheldon]

Seeker of White Light said: ↑
Science isn't the standard for truth, it is just one tool to gain understanding,

Straw man fallacy, as it wasn't I cited science here, it was @Muffled ...I merely extrapolated his claim. You can't blame science for not finding unicorns...

Fancy words again?

Dishonest evasion again. You could just Google any words that you don't understand. Why bother responding, when you clearly have absolutely nothing to say beyond petty ad hominem.

 

[Sheldon]

Scriptures are the "map" toward truth through spiritual practice.

Scripture is mostly unevidenced claims, and myths, I imagine some things in there might be true. However if you are claiming they are a "path to truth", then you need to explain what specifically you're referring to, and support your claim it is true. Instead of these vapid sweeping assertions, which are pretty meaningless, since it is an objective fact that the bible contains erroneous claims.

 

[Sheldon]

A spiritual practice or spiritual discipline (often including spiritual exercises) is the regular or full-time performance of actions and activities undertaken for the purpose of inducing spiritual experiences and cultivating spiritual development.

Which are what exactly? Also you need to explain how you think these are a "path to truth"? As a bare sweeping assertion is pretty meaningless.

 

[Sheldon]

No and see what I mean, you have no idea

Why would he, it's not his claim? @Subduction Zone is hardly culpable for your inability to offer a cogent explanation of this "wishful thinking" and demonstrate any objective evidence for it.

The first explanation was meaningless.

 

[Sheldon]

Already did, I’m a changed man and God is the one who changed me. Adopted me into His family and calls me his child, gave me His Spirit and empowered me to live a holy life instead of an immoral life.

All I see are a string of unevidenced claims and anecdotes.

 

[Sheldon]

Why would I want to put that poison in my body? I’m healed now and not sick anymore. People drink and drug, why? If you’re doing well already why would you need something to make you feel better?

Not everyone who indulges is unable to control it. I'm off to the pub in a bit myself, catching up with a friend, we will be having a drink. Not harming anyone.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Dishonest evasion again. You could just Google any words that you don't understand. Why bother responding, when you clearly have absolutely nothing to say beyond petty ad hominem.

Because your words are just soul anyway

 

[Spirit of Light]

Which are what exactly? Also you need to explain how you think these are a "path to truth"? As a bare sweeping assertion is pretty meaningless.

Why? It was not an assertion, was taken from a Google search, what is spiritual practice

 

[Sheldon]

What " why" questions? Science cannot even go there.

It explains why water boils at different temperatures according to atmospheric pressure.

It explains why the proliferations of species and genetic diversity exist.

Science explains why bodies and planets are attracted to each other, and consequently why they sometimes orbit each other.

I suspect ignorance of science, and a desire to ringfence superstitious beliefs from scrutiny, are at play here.

 

[Sheldon]

Because your words are just soul anyway

Still responding without the integrity to address what I actually said. why bother? If your beliefs are so fragile, you can't stand critical scrutiny just use one of the many forums here that will give you the echo chamber you need.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Still responding without the integrity to address what I actually said. why bother? If your beliefs are so fragile, you can't stand critical scrutiny just use one of the many forums here that will give you the echo chamber you need.

You can critique or make me look foolish, you can do anything thst please you. I has no affect on my personal belief in God. Zero effect

 

[Sheldon]

Why? It was not an assertion, was taken from a Google search, what is spiritual practice

So you don't know then, just as @Subduction Zone said, why not just admit that? It also was an assertion, you simply plagiarised it and posted it here. You didn't even have the integrity to put it in quotation marks, and explain to wasn't your own. Dear oh dear, perhaps debate is not for you?