Split from Welcome FAQ thread - Is there a God? Discuss

[xoggoth]

Actually Spod, man is a very typical social animal. Being a social animal does not mean living in harmony, it means that conflicts with one's own kind are for a good reason, survival.

Watch Meercat Manor on TV and you see man. They fight for leadership over the tribe, they fight other tribes that threaten them, they cast out those who threaten the tribe's unity, they mate where they can. What they almost never do is attack each other for no good reason at all.

We have one thing social animals don't have, an intellect. We can therefore build on the sensible provisions of nature to improve our wellbeing, things like not eating our step children or killing the disabled.

[Spacecadet]

Religion contributes nothing to mankind.

That is the part I disagree with. A lot of people derive a great sense of inner peace from their religion. Whether God exists or not is beside the point. The human mind and sense of identity can struggle to come to terms with its own existence. Science may be able to explain how the universe physically works but I doubt it will ever come up with a satisfactory explanation for how the mind is able to say "I am" without taking a fundamental part of our identity away from us.

"I am" not the product of mixing DNA.
"I am" not the product of chemical interactions.
"I am" not the product of environmental conditioning.

These things purely describe my physical attributes and base behaviours. They do not give me ultimate free will.

Dawkin's describes it as a side effect of our biology.

I think it's a fundamental part of the human condition and being acutely aware of ones own existence and reconciling that with our place in the world.

[EC4N]

If a watch cannot function without an intelligent maker, how does the sun appear to rise and set with such perfection?

Consider the fact that the sun is at a safe distance of around 93m miles from the earth. If the distance were to change, either moving closer or moving further out, it would undoubtedly have an impact making the earth inhabitable. Who decided that was the safe distance to begin with? Could it all happen by chance?

[shaunbhoy]

If a watch cannot function without an intelligent maker, how does the sun appear to rise and set with such perfection?

Consider the fact that the sun is at a safe distance of around 93m miles from the earth. If the distance were to change, either moving closer or moving further out, it would undoubtedly have an impact making the earth inhabitable. Who decided that was the safe distance to begin with? Could it all happen by chance?

Did you have someone in mind for making that decision? Or do you accept it just happened by chance?

[Spacecadet]

If a watch cannot function without an intelligent maker, how does the sun appear to rise and set with such perfection?

Consider the fact that the sun is at a safe distance of around 93m miles from the earth. If the distance were to change, either moving closer or moving further out, it would undoubtedly have an impact making the earth inhabitable. Who decided that was the safe distance to begin with? Could it all happen by chance?

Given the huge number of stellar systems in the universe yes.

Although what I like is the double coincidence of the moon being exactly the same size as the sun (when viewed from the earth)

[SupremeSpod]

Given the huge number of stellar systems in the universe yes.

Although what I like is the double coincidence of the moon being exactly the same size as the sun (when viewed from the earth)

It does have a distinct harmony about it, doesn't it?

[shaunbhoy]

Hey d000hg,
you previously stated that you never used to "believe", but that you now do. Care to share with the rest of us what caused this Epiphany of yours?

[NotAllThere]

The chief Rabbi in his response to Hawkins said "...Lord Rees of Ludlow, President of the Royal Society. He too, as he explains in his book Just Six Numbers, was puzzled by the precision of the six mathematical constants that define the shape of the Universe. So unlikely is it that the Universe just happened by chance to fit those parameters that he, too, was forced to suggest the parallel universes hypothesis. If you hold an infinity of lottery tickets, one of them is going to win. "

The trouble with this is, you could hold an infinite number of odd numbered lottery tickets. If the winner is an even number, you still lose.

The unlikeliness of the universe we live in is a fascinating puzzle. Evidence for God? Only to those who've chosen to believe.

[Gibbon]

If a watch cannot function without an intelligent maker, how does the sun appear to rise and set with such perfection?

Consider the fact that the sun is at a safe distance of around 93m miles from the earth. If the distance were to change, either moving closer or moving further out, it would undoubtedly have an impact making the earth inhabitable. Who decided that was the safe distance to begin with? Could it all happen by chance?

You are thinking about it in a human-centric way and whilst you continue to do so will make incorrect and illogical arguements.

If the sun was nearer or further away then maybe there would be abundant life on Mars or Venus.

[NotAllThere]

Oh, and in answer to the question raised initially in this thread. Of course there is a God.

YMMV.