How can one "know" God exists? - Page 2

DizzyDee · 09-21-2006, 09:57 PM

I'm disappointed that I'm not getting any believers' opinions on this topic - oh well.

**George** · 09-21-2006, 10:07 PM

Not to worry, I'm sure if we keep bumping this thread Grant and SOC will be along

QuantumTheory · 08-23-2007, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyDee

Thanks Nanner, I am certainly of the same mind that you are. Having been religious once before, that is how I now interpret my experience. However, I am curious about others who have not come out the other side of religion - those that are convinced there is evidence of a God. I just want to understand the different logic believers use to interpret their own experiences and what they see as evidence.

One could argue about you and me that we've decided there is no evidence for God or don't believe in God and therefore we only see evidence of our conclusion.

Perhaps I could convince you as a deist to accept the view that a supreme entity that you may define as 'God' exists. Everyday we hear arguments between Christians/Jews/Moslems against atheists debating whether God created Adam & Eve, Genesis is more accurate than the Big Bang, God's existence is true, Faith in God teaches us morals & ethics not secular philosophy, the list goes on.

Are you familiar with deism in the first place? Do you know why it is clearly distinct from institutionalized religion? Essentially, deism is the philosophical view that a supreme entity that you may define as 'God' created the universe but does not have anything to do with human affairs, nor does deism accept any of the prophecies of 'revealed' texts, i.e. Torah, Gospels, Qur'an. If you would like to learn more about deism please visit (www.deism.com) or search the term 'Deism' on Wikipedia, Google or Encyclopedia Britannica.

The greatest objection to deism is of course atheism, which posits that no supreme entity exists.

The final resolution of this problem will eventually be up to science to settle.

kjk437 · 08-23-2007, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumTheory

Are you familiar with deism in the first place? Do you know why it is clearly distinct from institutionalized religion? Essentially, deism is the philosophical view that a supreme entity that you may define as 'God' created the universe but does not have anything to do with human affairs, nor does deism accept any of the prophecies of 'revealed' texts, i.e. Torah, Gospels, Qur'an. If you would like to learn more about deism please visit (www.deism.com) or search the term 'Deism' on Wikipedia, Google or Encyclopedia Britannica.

Does deism necessary have to believe that an entity exists, or just something supernatural? That is my interest as an onlooking third party. I don't believe in God, but I do believe in something that binds all beings together... It's just not easily classified as a being...

QuantumTheory · 08-23-2007, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjk437

Does deism necessary have to believe that an entity exists, or just something supernatural? That is my interest as an onlooking third party. I don't believe in God, but I do believe in something that binds all beings together... It's just not easily classified as a being...

If you go to the website I recommended (www.deism.com) that will specifically answer your question.

(Most deists would posit that an entity does exist that you can define as 'God' not necessarily a supernatural 'force' that came from George Lucas' Star Wars, a force that penetrates us, binds us, and brings the universe into order)

QuantumTheory · 08-23-2007, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanners86

I think people that believe do because they just put the faith in it, and they claim to have religious experiences: I think these experiences are a release of chemicals in the brain, they say it is god. I also think they look to find god in everything and when you are obsessed with something (are looking for something in everything) you will find it. Lets just say I want to find the number 28 in everything, well it may take me 28 steps to get to the front door of my apartment from my car, I may have waited 28 seconds to get on the elevator, the day may be the 28th, you see how it can get carried away? If you are looking for something you will find it. Ya know? I hope this helped you some.

There is more to theism than simply accepting God on the basis of faith. During the enlightment period in England, France & the United States there was a philosophy that emerged known as 'Deism'...the belief in a supreme entity based on reason, logic and natural science instead of faith, superstition and religion.

Deists do not claim to find God in everything the way you draw parallels with people obsessed with trying to find the number 28.

If you posit that God exists then that tells me you're a theist; but it doesn't specifically tell me why you base your reasoning on accepting the existence of God in the first place.

Deism posits that a supreme entity created the Universe and governed the natural laws that bring it's existence into order...

Deism does not get carried away with God being governed in human affairs, providing humanity with relief, raising our souls into heaven, bringing judgement upon the wicked, etc.

Tomasz · 08-23-2007, 03:07 AM

As I said God could just show up. That would be all

Well, it seems that God retired some 2000 years ago, probably being a little bit fed up with improving what he had created

bobleplask · 11-10-2007, 09:24 AM

We can "know" a God exists in the same way you can "know" a history book is correct or that a red ball is red and a ball. When you have enough factors that says something is correct then you say it is correct.

But.. Usually we are asked or ask "Do you belive in God?", not "Do you know God exist?". And what lead me to the Agnostic viewpoint was that no matter what you do you can never really, really, really know if something is true or not. You just have to make a decision and claim some things for truth and some things for "crazytalk".

bobleplask · 11-10-2007, 09:35 AM

Opps, double post :/

AB517 · 11-12-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyDee

Thanks Nanner, I am certainly of the same mind that you are. Having been religious once before, that is how I now interpret my experience. However, I am curious about others who have not come out the other side of religion - those that are convinced there is evidence of a God. I just want to understand the different logic believers use to interpret their own experiences and what they see as evidence.

One could argue about you and me that we've decided there is no evidence for God or don't believe in God and therefore we only see evidence of our conclusion.

For me. I had one of them there religous experiences. I believe now.

*EDIT-------here down added

I agree with you about the spiritual experience explanation.
I thought I was crazy. Well, I am crazy
How else would it talk to you? Like a radio your brain tapes into it. Like a radio the brain functions as it does, bio-chemically

I see the big big.
It needed a starting condition. I do not think it went “poof” out of nothing.

I see life:
A collection of atoms that began to replicate. Maybe something started it.

DNA:
I see as a running program, solving and mutating to reach something …. To evolve.

Awareness:
A collection of atoms now asks why. Amazing

Matter/awareness:
We see our solar system. What fraction of the mass of the universe is in our solar system?

The universe contains awareness, we are proof of that. What fraction of the universes’ awareness are we? How many levels of life are there?

These are just what I use.
These are the questions that I ask.
I do not know the answers.
These point to a higher power for me and me alone.