Most of you will not like me after this but i have to say what i have to.Before commenting please read previous post i made on this topic along with comments( else just leave) -> Religions
A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.
Albert Einstein
Most of what we do is governed by whether there's evidence or not to prove it's existence. We claim there are no unicorns or flying garoods because no one was proof of them. We know the world is not flat because there was no proof to prove otherwise, until someone proof was given by sailing around and circumnavigation, and much later through space exploration.It's all about what makes sense.
In the same way, there's no way to prove that God exists, the burden of proof is on those who believe in him. If he is here prove that he exists, otherwise he simply doesn't. There's no empirical evidence, without that God believers are just living in matrix.
Ok think about it for a bit. There is some "holy" being who somehow has the massive reserves of energy to create the entire universe. wow, that is so plausible. In some form or another, every civilization that we have records of, have had all forms of different gods or god. From polytheistic to monotheistic, they all believed in something that came after they died. That's all gods and religion really are, humans not wanting to believe that it will end. I'm not necessarily saying all religions are scammers or liars, except scientologists of course, just that they are natural humans giving in to natural human behavior.
some points i make :
1. If God created the universe, than the universe must be an artifact (i.e. something that was created) There is no scientific or naturalistic evidence for claim (besides faith which should really count for nothing).
2. To say that God created the universe would be to say that He is the only known uncaused cause. By that, I mean that religious faithful always claim that God has no cause, so why can an atheist not suggest that the original cosmic soup resulting in the big bang was an uncaused cause as well. Apparently God defies the scientific causal principle, and is the only known thing to have done so.
3. God is all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful and yet he permits the suffering of innocence. God knowingly, willingly, and purposely allows the suffering of innocent children on a daily and global basis. This includes, and is not limited to, Darfur, South African apartheid, the Holocaust, poverty, AIDS, the Invisible Children, and so many more. He loves these children, yet witnesses their destruction even though he is powerful enough to intervene.
4. There is no way for humans to transcend language to ascertain the omnipotence of a theistic God. All terms and explanations for God are derived from the human language and is taken as Gospel. How is it possible to transcend this human artifact (i.e. language) to ascertain that there is really a God? We cannot, it is not possible.
5. Religion is the opiate of the masses. Ignorant and close-minded fools are pacified by the "need for salvation" because men are "inherently evil". I choose to disregard these foolhardy comments and embrace the beauty of being human. Humans are naturally weak and suck at the tit of those powerful tyrants who have always oppressed them, from biblical times to the present scenario. Religion is nothing but a controlling technique that limits true empirical evidence by manipulative and harmful means. This is why religiosity yields war, and those who are stupid enough to follow are slaughtered by the thousands in the name of some higher power (God, Allah or many of the other synonyms)
On a final note, if I am incorrect and this is, after all, God's world which is a deciding factor for His eternal life, I would rather have no part of it. If the best God can create is a dysfunctional melting pot of sin, suffering and violence, than I am more than content to disown myself as a child of God. He could make all believe in Him at the drop of a hat....Why not try me then?
faith definition
here is a definition from one online dictionary
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
5. a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.
6. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.
7. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.
8. Christian Theology. the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.
In a nutshell...to belief without having any evidence to justify it.
Interesting how there is a very linear correlation between education/intelligence and rejection of mythologies to explain the world. Interesting how the religious will not hesitate to take their sick loved one to a hospital for the best medical technology which is a byproduct of science and rationalism. Interesting how scripture is loaded with violence and intolerance, conveniently ignored (by most) to focus on the nice parts. Interesting that no religious leader is willing to take on the atheist intellectuals (Dawkins, Hitchens etc) in a debate.
Belief in a supernatural deity is a cultural artifact of our history; very understandable origins. It's now well past the time for it to go.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able, and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?
-Epicurus
