Stott Despoja said:
The question still stands.
I'm not expecting an answer, I'm just pointing out the obvious problem with the entire idea that a cautious person would be best to believe in God as it is described by the Christian faith (or the Abrahamic faiths in general).
I won't provide a proper answer then, just my opinion. Which [loving] God? IMO God is love. If there is a loving God then simply decide to love. Love love!
IMO as a logical choice, one which promotes so called postive values and demotes negative values. This is entirely debatable as to such values being set in society, and consistently changing. In terms of eternity, one could assume that if God is truly loving, then He will understand such a choice within the "obvious problem". If God is cruel and sends you to Hell based on that choice alone, then would you have wanted to spend eternity in Heaven with Him?
IMO as a personal response, I hold to Christianity (even though it pointedly seems to have a basis in ancient egyptian belief), since the evidence for Jesus' life is sound (although the resurrection is absurd on logical grounds). I believe that Jesus is the only way to God, but many don't even have the chance to get to know him (or he is portrayed to them falsely), so assumedly a loving God would understand that. Others would claim I believe this only through my desire and upbringing. Makes sense either way.
KFunk said:
If you tend towards "I've come to know what I perceive to be god" then I have no qualms. If you choose to pit hope and love against reason in order to oppose infinite resignation then all I can say is that I respect your ability to take that position (that of the 'knight of faith' it would seem), since it is one which I doubt I will ever be able to take myself. Thanks for the discussion, best of luck in your exams.
Thanks, I respect that KFunk. I've appreciated your insight and thoughts to this discussion. Best of luck in all you aspire to achieve.
Not-That-Bright said:
That's fine, but why this sort of standard where you can come up with any 'absurd' conclusion for the question of God's existance but not apply the same standard to your everyday life?
Everyday life is logical with nothing to inspire an absurd approach.
Not-That-Bright said:
IMHO the problem is that you're being dishonest on at least one account. Either you've come to the conclusion that God exists or it doesn't, using logic. The only question is what sort of logic you used.
I've come to the conclusion that God is illogical. Logically God does not exist within logical grounds. Logically, God can exist outside of those logical grounds if God created those logical grounds, based on the understanding of the creator not being limited by the creation. Syllogistic logic perhaps? (I honestly don't know much about the classification of such "sorts")
Premises: God does not exist within logical grounds.
Premises: That which does not exist within logical grounds is illogical.
Proposition: God is illogical.
*Premises: A creator is not limited by a creation [Logic].
Premises: God is a creator.
Proposition: God is not limited by His creation [Logic].
*Regarding laws, rules and principles.
Obviously this can be criticised, otherwise it would be solid proof, as such that which destroys faith. God may not be considered a creator, where He would then only be a concept, which is then bound within the creation of logic. There are other flaws I'd assume, after all I am only human, I make mistakes.
Not-That-Bright said:
See the problem here is that you say that logically you accept God does not exist, however you then claim that ultimately to accept that would be to lie to yourself. Even if you've come to the conclusion that God exists on a 'hunch' instead of formal logic, it still means that you do not logically accept that God exists.
I logically accept that God does not logically exist. I absurdly accept that God does absurdly exist. If that poses a logical problem, try doublethink, otherwise don't worry about it. Logically nothing is worth worrying about, since by itself worry achieves nothing.
Not-That-Bright said:
Logic is infallible until you can show it isn't... you can hypothesize that it possibly could not, but you haven't shown it to be so. As logic works for us in our reality, I see no reason to abandon it based off an unproven possibility.
Since when can anything be proven using logic alone? A computer will solve a logical problem, but there is no meaning to it without intuitive understanding. Logic works for us as long as we can comprehend it. Don't abandon it, but realise that pure logic makes you more of a machine than a human (I'm sure you're aware of that). The delusion is that it can prove anything by itself. By itself it serves to prove itself, seemingly logic supports its own veracity. I used this one before: "Every notion is debatable." That notion itself should be debatable too, logically negating itself. Obviously it doesn't logically prove the infalliability of logic, but makes you aware of the inability to prove the point using logic alone.
Not-That-Bright said:
So because to be skeptical of such a claim, it's not as happy as believing the claim, you're willing to believe it?
Guess so, absolute skepticism destroys any notion of trust. I could even be skeptical about that, leading nowhere.
Not-That-Bright said:
I mean faith to the point where you accept God's existance as a truth as much as I accept gravity as a truth. To me there are very few people in the world that exhibit the sort of signs I would expect people to if they held this sort of belief.
Their loss, although maybe they are content anyways. IMO faith in a loving God is terrific! Essentially losing nothing and gaining something meaningful (which to those who accept nothing, the something doesn't exist). Still I'd assume faith in anything else asides from love can potentially lead to destructive behaviour. I have seemingly "insane" faith, but I'm not by any account a fundamentalist fanatic.
Not-That-Bright said:
But what are you basing this on? Again a hunch? Your world must be quite confusing when any nice idea that pops into your head can = truth.
Be clear on truth bearing in belief, as I posted awhile back. Obviously my belief would seem confusing if you don't understand that. An idea does not equate truth. Whether I believe or don't believe, reality will march on.
If we don't have free will, then I don't have a choice in my belief. Such a choice is merely an illusion. If we do have free will, then out of choice I believe. If it is just an illusion, then I have no way of believing otherwise.
dagwoman said:
To me, religion is an outdated system of beliefs. It was people's way of understanding the world around them before there was much knowledge of scien=ce.
Whilst I honestly don’t use God an explanatory reason for any scientifically proven concepts or even any unknown concepts, just feeling His love is a source of comfort at all times. Also I'm neither sexist nor homophobic, IMO such prejudices are seemingly archaic or even barbaric in their intolerance.