Does God exist?

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Michael Mooney

Hi folks,
Looks like I'll be leaving Hypography, as I'm blacklisted by the moderators in the "philosophy of science" section

Blacklisted?

You are mistaken. As a moderator, I can say this as fact.

Some of us are sometimes concerned by your posts, but we have not "blacklisted" you.
Your continual claims that we have done so are cause for concern though. Why do you feel this way?

Moderation note: subsuquent discussion regarding the philosophy of spacetime and moderation rules moved to What is "spacetime" really?

[Pyrotex]

Originally Posted by litespeed

...You are kidding me, right? Since when does SCIENCE accept effect without cause? To do so is simply to resign the scientific method ....

litespeed,
you are in no position to define how science works or what its limits are. Your understanding and training is not up to the task. Simmer down and be patient with the other posters. All will be explained in its own time.

Pyro / Moderator / Online Daycare Administrator / Resident Scientist / Rhetoric Warrior

[C1ay]

Originally Posted by C1ay

Getting back to the original topic, does God exist. I think this question obviously depends on a coherent definition of what God is or the whole discussion is meaningless. Definition anyone?

Is there a consensus on a coherent definition yet?

[Moontanman]

God: A nonexistent mythological being or beings that are supposedly responsible for various aspects of the natural world. Belief in this being or beings has wained as science has explained most aspects of the natural world. In modern times most ideas about God or Gods generally concentrate on aspects of of the natural world that cannot be be explained as yet. As these things are explained belief in God becomes more of a supernatural guardian of the after life rather than the driving force behind natural processes.

[InfiniteNow]

YouTube - What If God Disappeared?

[JMJones0424]

Granted it's not "falsifiable evidence" but I think the speaker in the previous post has a point when he says

I'd likely go on a blood thirsty rampage of killing and cannibalism because the fear of disobeying god is presently the only thing preventing me from doing that

Anyone who knows me knows that I am only a step away from devouring all of humanity. I prefer the cheek, as everyone knows this is the most delicious part of an animal. I leave the rest of the offal to you heathens, if I don't eat you first.

[Pyrotex]

Hmmm, something is wrong here.
I gave up god 35 years ago, and I got BETTER behaved and MORE law-abiding.

[Moontanman]

If the fear of gods retribution is all that keeps you from going berserk then maybe we ought to lock you up now. You are obviously nuts, and just a time bomb waiting to go off. That sort of behavior is classic sociopath! Eventually anyone who really thinks like that will drop off the deep end fear of God or not!

[pamela]

Quote:
Originally Posted by C1ay
Getting back to the original topic, does God exist. I think this question obviously depends on a coherent definition of what God is or the whole discussion is meaningless. Definition anyone?

Is there a consensus on a coherent definition yet?

let's define god

compliments of dictionary.com
1. the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.
2. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute: the God of Islam.
3. (lowercase) one of several deities, esp. a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs.
4. (often lowercase) a supreme being according to some particular conception: the god of mercy.
5. Christian Science. the Supreme Being, understood as Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle.
6. (lowercase) an image of a deity; an idol.
7. (lowercase) any deified person or object.

exist

1. to have actual being; be:
2. to have life or animation; live.
3. to continue to be or live
4. to have being in a specified place or under certain conditions; be found; occur
5. to achieve the basic needs of existence, as food and shelter

perception

1. the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.
2. immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment:
3. the result or product of perceiving, as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.
4. Psychology. a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.

As there is no imperical evidence in support of an actual deity, then we must look at what has become real or viable to the individual. Perception for the believer lies within the mind and not the external observation.The "knowing" is derived from the belief and not factual knowledge. This knowing has formed a pseudo-reality, in which they move throughout their lives. The god, and it's existance has become a reality in the cognitive mind of the individual that believes.Therefore, to them, god exists. For others, who do not subscribe to this cognitive reality, god does not exist

[Pyrotex]

"Reality is that which refuses to go away after you stop believing in it."
Phillip K. Dick