Generator said:
Ah, yet your reasoning is valid? That because
something has not yet been answered, there must be a god and that this
particular entity is an answer in itself? If you are willing to take
such a line of attack, then surely the idea that there is no god must
be just as valid? In other words, why must there be a god? Don't just
respond by saying that it is evident in the world around us, because
though that may be reason enough for you, it's hardly indicative of a
higher force (such as a god).
Ps, the fact that institutional religion and faith offer hope and
comfort (and something to fear) to many isn't to say that they are
correct and that a god or higher force actually exists, it's merely to
say that they offer hope and comfort (and something to fear).
I see your point, and it is a fantastic one. If it is possible to say
that God could be there from nothing then it is possible to say that
the beginnings of the universe could exist from nothing also right?
What an eye opener, I never thought of it like that.
There are still a few reason's why would not believe this however. The
first is the reason you suggested I do not suggest. In that this world
is evident enough. I fail how you can think that it is not indictative
of a higher existance. I mean seriously, the chances of this world
exsiting without supernatural intervention are a practical
impossiblity. From the research I have seen it seems that rather a
universe being formmed in which we exist, the universe has been formed
so that we can exist. It's too bad I'm not at home at the moment, or I
would find some links or something to this research because it really
is intriguing. (I may re-edit this post when I get home tonight)
The second reason, is that without a God there is no reason. This is
not to say that things don't happen without reason, but rather that if
there is no God, then you and I have no reason - no meaning, no
purpose, no nothing. What were we created to live for in this case,
die? I am baffled that someone would choose to believe this when there
is just as much of an argument that a purposful creation of the
universe is possible. Why would someone choose to ignore the opposite
side of the argument when it's implications are so far reaching and
purposeful? Because they don't want a purpose for thier life? I doubt
this however. I think it is because we would rather live a life for
oursleves. I mean if God existed then that means that right and wrong
would also exist right? Who wants to be told they are wrong when
society at the moment can label everyone as "right for themselves".
If God could exist then surley it would be wise to look at both sides
unbiasedly? If he does exist and we choose to ignore him simply
because we don't want him to exist we will not change anything.
Automatically assuming He does not exist simply on the basis that we
don't want him to will get us no closer to find a true unbiased
conclusion.
I would not agree that a belief in God offers hope and comfort. Sure
maybe in the knowledge to the big questions in life, but as I have
pointed out, the possibility of Gods existance has far reaching
implications. I'm assuming you were suggesting hell as one of them,
and as you said this is not comfortable. It also comes to an exsitance
of absolute truth. That means that if God exists, we are wrong, and
can be told by him that we need to change even though we don't want
to. What's more if we don't change then we are disobeying God. Is
persecution for a belief in God comforting? I doubt it, yet it happens
all over the world.
I would suggest that a belief in God is not the hope and comfort that
you make it out to be. Far from it. A belief in God is the hard path
to follow because it means that we have to admit to oursleves that we
are wrong and willing to change. Ignoring the possibility of God seems
the far easier option to me because, practically, we become the god of
our own lives. And who in their right mind would change that to amdit
they are wrong and need to live differently?