I meant if it was real it should be fought against rather than worshiped. I would only hold him responsible if he existed, the world we live in is all the proof i need that an all loving all powerful god does not exist.
That Americans are cute when they get their atheism on.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. --Arthur C. Clarke
A devout atheist would assume that anything presented as “proof” of a god could be simulated by some culture that is unimaginably more advanced than us. A really orthodox atheist doesn’t merely not believe in a god, an atheist believes there is no god, and furthermore believes that there can’t be a god because the whole concept is just the product of mass imagination. I suppose that early humans would have worshiped me as a god if I showed up with a gun and an iPod.
Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology. --Larry Niven
On the other hand, just as a point of contrast, true believers aren’t swayed from their faith, regardless of a persistent lack of scientific evidence. Many scientific phenomena that are well understood are sometimes pointed to as being proof of a god (i.e., Intelligent Design). An interesting counterpoint to the OP might be the question, “If you believe in God, what would it take for you to lose your faith?”
If all we have access to is the inside of the simulation, and are never given a view outside or told w are in a simulation, then yes, because it would be capable of doing things that refute naturalism. Anything that can refute naturalism is a deity.
However if, tomorrow, something rearranges the stars to spell out “Grant season is upon us. You have thirty years to send a person to Mars or you will get shut down.” then that would refute the hypothesis “We are not living in a simulation.” which is weaker/less interesting because it implies naturalism is valid for whoever built the simulation.
So, as in Star Trek or Clarke’s writings, it’s possible for something sufficiently advanced to pose as a deity. However, and this is the key, we are no longer Neolithic tribesmen. We know things about the Universe that seem fairly fundamental, namely General Relativity and Quantum Electrodynamics. Fully refuting, as opposed to refining, those is most likely physically impossible unless you actually are a deity.
The statement you are asking about is the equivalent of, “The atheist doth protest too much, methinks.”
I can’t think of anything you could show me in life that would convince me.
If I were to be shown something seemingly godlike, though, I wouldn’t assume aliens. Aliens are extremely improbable. I’d think I was having a delusion caused by mental illness or brain trauma, which is quite common. A mild strike or tumor is a lot more likely than aliens.
If I arrive at the Pearly Gates after death, then I’ll believe.
I disagree. you ignored all the other relevant comments and only replied to that one.
Its because they grew up in a Christian society. If they grew up in a Muslim society they would argue about mohammed and his God (dont bother correcting..). If they grew up in India they would argue against those Gods.
In any case, they dont believe in any. Christians dont care about their non beliefs in anything but Christianity because they share the same opinion about the rest.
How will you know you’re dead?
And an afterlife doesn’t require a god of any kind.
The problem being that once you find out that any level of manipulation of your reality is possible, you cant really trust any of your previous experiences or understanding. So attempting to decide what is ‘most possible’ becomes extremely problematic. FWIW, my understanding of mental health etc makes this level of delusion rather improbable with our current understanding, but of course that could be part of the delusion etc etc.
If everyone else was telling me I was delusional Id have to consider it of course, but that possibility would presumably be comparatively easy to eliminate.
Otara
Yeah, I think there is a lot of disappointmen and resentment at the God Of Sunday School for not existing; it goes beyond accepting an untruth to outright antagonism: “but I was promised peace and love and eternal life and I * didn’t get any!”*
Oh, there’s nothing recent about my use of italics for emphasis.
We’ll stop protesting when the religious get their religion out of politics.
What about us “capital A” atheists who weren’t brought up in a Christian household or Sunday School, or a majority Christian community? And who aren’t American? And whose first dabblings with religion at all was Hare Krishna and Wicca? What are we resentful of? :rolleyes: This is just a version of the “angry atheist” argument, and it’s bullshit.
I don’t “accept” that they withhold the FTL tech. I mean, I wouldn’t (and probably couldn’t) force them to give it to me, but I’d think they’re dicks for holding back, and the line about “You’re not ready to understand it,” would make me highly suspicious that there were shenanigans afoot. When they try the same line about their God, I’d consider it shenanigans confirmed.
Evidence of supernatural ability would establish bona fides. A solid interview, not necessarily with myself, could indicate what sort of God He was. More extravagant claims would require better evidence.
I would hope that He would at least let me take notes.
I said “you’re not ready for it”, not “you wouldn’t understand it”. Something like Klaatu not wanting humans in interstellar space until we “grow up”. They won’t give us FTL because they don’t trust us with it. It’s Dad keeping the car keys from us.
I think Atheists want truth (or facts) not just belief. Facts(or truth) does away with faith.
It wouldn’t really be that hard. Just let me feel that love that’s supposed to be so wonderful and amazing. Give me a burst of the faith and power. Just kick it up a notch for a bit and I’m sure I’ll be convinced.
That’s all I’ve ever asked.
Uh, what?
I now would like to know why you have introduced nationality into this discussion and what you think is significant about said nationality.
I think that this board has a plurality (majority?) of American posters, so it is not surprising that Americans post to it; and that many of these posters have grown up in a culture where most believers come from the Abrahamic mythos.
As a result, you get a lot of American atheists talking about the religion they are most familiar with.
I ask in all seriousness: what is revealing about your first comment that
and your quote about Americans?