Why does the existance of a god matter?

jdanton · 12-22-2007, 05:32 AM

We are all here, but that doesn't prove how we got here.

If we were on an island, would it matter if we were there because a boat sank or a plane crashed?

There certainly seems to be no evidence that "God" gives a damn about or has any control of what happens here.

To make my point clear, what people BELIEVE is important as it impacts the way they live; usually trying to convince other to believe as they do, or forcing their beliefs on others via laws, if they can.

Out of beliefs has come some beautiful music, and a lot of killing in "his" name.

My question is: Why does it matter if the God people believe in actually exists or not?

Environment Man · 12-22-2007, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdanton

There certainly seems to be no evidence that "God" gives a damn about or has any control of what happens here.

You ignore almost everything God has done by making this statement from the Big Bang to the creation and maintenance of the entire universe and all the atoms in it.

The massive amount of energy it takes to maintain the universe and the conditions for life on 'your island' alone is evidence of his caring. I could go on almost infinitely about the great gifts God freely gives, but you should get the idea. Morevover, he even directly revealed himself to us by sending his messenger and rescuer to 'the island' and sending a book with his instructions in it for how we should conduct ourselve 'on the island.'

You have to intentionally WANT to reject a huge amount of evidence and actions to reject God. And there is nothing anyone can point to that would porve that God is bad for us. Or seeks to be our adversary.

Brainpolice · 12-22-2007, 05:44 AM

His point seems to be that the universe functions the same wether there is a god or not. So in a sense the question is irrelevant. The laws of nature are the laws of nature, wether they were created by a diety or not. Physics would still be physics, with or without a god.

Sean · 12-22-2007, 05:45 AM

It doesn't matter. We're the only ones putting any importance on that. Now that said something created the first zygote. Personally I believe in God/Jah/Allah/Buddha/Mother-Earth/Jesus-Christ/Karma and Energy. I don't know its name I only know we can't create from nothing, not a glow in the dark mouse or a seed. We can only replicate animate objects that were already here.

jdanton · 12-22-2007, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Environment Man

You ignore almost everything God has done by making this statement from the Big Bang to the creation and maintenance of the entire universe and all the atoms in it.

The massive amount of energy it takes to maintain the universe and the conditions for life on 'your island' alone is evidence of his caring. I could go on almost infinitely about the great gifts God freely gives, but you should get the idea. Morevover, he even directly revealed himself to us by sending his messenger and rescuer to 'the island' and sending a book with his instructions in it for how we should conduct ourselve 'on the island.'

You have to intentionally WANT to reject a huge amount of evidence and actions to reject God. And there is nothing anyone can point to that would porve that God is bad for us. Or seeks to be our adversary.

Evidence that something is here is NOT evidence as to how that something got here.

I'm asking why it matters how all of this got here.

Once you convince me that how we got here matters, I'll entertain arguments as to IF there's a God.

Brainpolice · 12-22-2007, 05:54 AM

I think the point is that wether or not a god set things in motion is irrelevant to how we will make use of what is here. It changes nothing in the face of the question of what we will do now. JDanton is correct that it does not matter HOW all this got here when our concern is WHAT to do with it. Discovering how we got here does not answer the question of "what should we do?".

jdanton · 12-22-2007, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

It doesn't matter. We're the only ones putting any importance on that. Now that said something created the first zygote. Personally I believe in God/Jah/Allah/Buddha/Mother-Earth/Jesus-Christ/Karma and Energy. I don't know its name I only know we can't create from nothing, not a glow in the dark mouse or a seed. We can only replicate animate objects that were already here.

Who created God?

Didn't something have to always have been?

Brainpolice · 12-22-2007, 06:02 AM

It's the old chicken/egg paradox. Both the theory of god and the big bang run into this paradox (what created god or where did the singularity derive? and where did that come from? the problem repeats itself endlessly).

Sean · 12-22-2007, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdanton

Who created God?

Didn't something have to always have been?

I answered your question, you answer me one on this subject and you'll have the answer to this second question.

What created energy?

jdanton · 12-22-2007, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

I answered your question, you answer me one on this subject and you'll have the answer to this second question.

What created energy?

the fact is, I don't know.

What I'm asking is why it matters.

For many years we believed electricity flowed from positive to negative. I met a guy who was all excited to learn this was wrong, that it actually flows from negative to positive.

I pointed out that all the tv's radios, light bulbs, etc. made while they though it ran the wrong way work, so why does it matter?

I"ve seen extremely religious people with ST. Christopher medals get killed in car accidents.

So, what's the point?

12-22-2007, 05:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
jdanton Puddy Tat Watch Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,775 My Mood: Thanks: 38 Thanked 51 Times in 38 Posts	Why does the existance of a god matter? We are all here, but that doesn't prove how we got here. If we were on an island, would it matter if we were there because a boat sank or a plane crashed? There certainly seems to be no evidence that "God" gives a damn about or has any control of what happens here. To make my point clear, what people BELIEVE is important as it impacts the way they live; usually trying to convince other to believe as they do, or forcing their beliefs on others via laws, if they can. Out of beliefs has come some beautiful music, and a lot of killing in "his" name. My question is: Why does it matter if the God people believe in actually exists or not? __________________ Author: Memoirs of a Sleepless Mind, a book you CAN judge by its cover.
	Top

12-22-2007, 05:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Brainpolice Free Market Anarchist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Euclid, Ohio Posts: 378 My Mood: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	His point seems to be that the universe functions the same wether there is a god or not. So in a sense the question is irrelevant. The laws of nature are the laws of nature, wether they were created by a diety or not. Physics would still be physics, with or without a god. __________________ http://mises.com/blogs/brainpolice/
	Top

12-22-2007, 05:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sean Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Austin, Texas...ya'll Posts: 1,420 My Mood: Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 16 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	It doesn't matter. We're the only ones putting any importance on that. Now that said something created the first zygote. Personally I believe in God/Jah/Allah/Buddha/Mother-Earth/Jesus-Christ/Karma and Energy. I don't know its name I only know we can't create from nothing, not a glow in the dark mouse or a seed. We can only replicate animate objects that were already here.
	Top

12-22-2007, 05:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Brainpolice Free Market Anarchist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Euclid, Ohio Posts: 378 My Mood: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think the point is that wether or not a god set things in motion is irrelevant to how we will make use of what is here. It changes nothing in the face of the question of what we will do now. JDanton is correct that it does not matter HOW all this got here when our concern is WHAT to do with it. Discovering how we got here does not answer the question of "what should we do?". __________________ http://mises.com/blogs/brainpolice/ Last edited by Brainpolice; 12-22-2007 at 05:56 AM.
	Top

12-22-2007, 06:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Brainpolice Free Market Anarchist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Euclid, Ohio Posts: 378 My Mood: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's the old chicken/egg paradox. Both the theory of god and the big bang run into this paradox (what created god or where did the singularity derive? and where did that come from? the problem repeats itself endlessly). __________________ http://mises.com/blogs/brainpolice/
	Top

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate View Forum Leaders Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read