If the existence of God were proven, would that be the end of religion as we know it?
Depends…
If He were to come down and hang with us for a while, tell us what the deal really is, then maybe.
If we simply showed somehow that there was a God, than it would just be a new beginning…
That said, what if there are more than one God? That might complicate matters, wouldn’t you say?
Yer pal,
Satan - Commissioner, The Teeming Minions
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I don’t see why that would happen. Sure, most religions teach from the standpoint that you must have faith and now you don’t need to because you have the naked truth (or clothed truth if God is wearing a robe). But consider that generations from now they won’t have seen “the proof” and must have faith again. If the Bible is correct, it’s already happened several times before. Also, just seeing God, knowing unequivicably that HE - or She - exists, would renew most everyone’s spirits and bring them all back to religion.
The tough question is what happens if God is proven to not exist? I’d like to think that religion isn’t based completely on God. That if there is no one to pray to we can still be pious and still follow the commandments. After all, what is religion but our morals written down?
…although I’m doing this from memory so forgive me if it’s not dead on.
From: The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy:
Setup: A little fish called a Babel Fish, when stuck in your ear, instantly translates any language you hear directly into your head.
God says to man: I refuse to prove that I exist for proof denies faith and without faith I am nothing.
Man says to God: Ahhh…but the Babel Fish is a dead give away isn’t it? The possibility that something so mind boggling useful could have evolved purely by chance is so inconceivable that it proves you exist–so therefore you don’t.
God to Man: Oh my…I hadn’t thought of that. (And promptly vanishes in a puff of logic)
Ok…so it’s a bit of a joke but I think the proof denies faith bit sits well with me.
Is the whole basis of God faith? I think so.
It is a logical fallacy to try to prove the non-existence of something. If you want to believe there is no God, you have to do it on faith alone.
Oh, great, this one again.
Sorry, mipsman, but not believing in something doesn’t require faith. We’ve only addressed this in a hundred or so other threads around here at one time or another…
In regards to the OP, no. Religionists would, as they usually do, ignore all facts that disagree with their pre-concieved ideas about their faith.
It is not like God can do anything to prove to you that he exists anyway. Were he to perform miracles, people would still not keep the commandments – and that is what the Christian faith is – trust in God not belief in God.
In what sense?
If you prove that G-d exists, then certainly people would still feel the need to pray, to observe rituals, etc. The only thing that would probably change would be the need to evangelize, since the existence would be proven.
Why in the world would you think that a proof for the existence of G-d would cause religion as we know it today would come to an end???
Considering the number of people who are 100%, absolutely, certainly, positively convinced that God exists, I highly doubt proving his existence would change anything.
[quote]
It is a logical fallacy to try to prove the non-existence of something. If you want to believe there is no God, you have to do it on faith alone.*
So I take it that your non-belief in Santa Claus is based upon faith alone?
i think if God showed himself and said ‘hey, here I am! it’s me, God!’, and had some kind of proof (maybe he creates a mountain so big he cannot move it or something) you would have 2 types of reactions: number 1 is the sheep, who believe everything that they are told, you know the type. they would be on their knees shouting hosannahs even without the mountain thing. then you have the people who practice their religion for it’s own sake, or because they have self esteem problems and think they have to or they’re bad people. these people would immediately declare the newly revealed god as a demon or the devil himself, meant to cause the righteous to stray from the path with his deceptions. So in short (lol), nothing would change at all, imho.
I think it’s safe to say that if God wanted to reveal his/her/its existence then there would be no doubting it. Don’t you think an all knowing, all powerful entity would have the smarts to convince even the most diehard atheist (be it with miracles, just talking you into it or simply zapping your brain into believing)?
I’m making no comment on God’s existence (or lack of it) merely trying to define the parameters of this discussion which presupposes not only that God exists but chooses to reveal itself in no uncertain terms.
-Oolon Colluphid, Well, That About Wraps it Up for God
Yes, that’s exactly what I was getting at in the OP.
Boy, is MY face red! You can bet I won’t hit that old “reply” button without checking the WHOLE DAMN THREAD anymore.
In order to prove the existance of God, one should start with determining the existance of self. Answer what is it that I am? I am! I am no-thing, I am an illusion, a figment of my own being, or imagination. The speed of conciousness exceeds that of the speed of light, conciousness never dies. Neither do we. Nor does Goddess. You should have known all along that God would be a woman. Which image most closely resembles the idea of one with another of the same within? A pregnant woman. And they should be revered as such. You should know that the Goddess is a consumer of the highest quality of marijuana, enjoys magic mushrooms, and really enjoys sex. People need to embody the connectedness of the cosmos. Do you really want to find God? This is how you do it: Find yourself a special place in the woods, preferably near a shallow stream, on a mountian, with lots of trees and foilage. Someplace safe yet away from any commotion of the capitalistic nightmare. It is best to be alone. If you have the opportunity to be naked, use it. Remember to keep warm however. Eat a small handful of 'shrooms, and smoke some “kindness”. Wait until you start to feel peculiar, and then have some more “kindness”, and maybe a couple more 'shrooms. Rest in a comfortable location, let your mind be still. Do not fear. Do not focus on the Goddess, but yourself. Forgiving yourself for being so blind and deaf to her voice, is the hardest obstacle to transcend. You can do it, because it has already been done. You just may not be aware. You will discover cosmic conciousness, and realize that the Goddess is our mother, she loves all of us because we are her, and she loves herself because she is all love, which dictates that we are also all love. And therefore we should love all things, there is not separtion.
Well, that’s the best answer I’ve seen here yet, but in either case you state, Satan, the answer is yes. Because if it’s a whole new beginning, then it’s still the end of religion as we know it.
But here is a question that just popped in my head - what is “religion as we know it”? I doubt you could get more than 10% of this entire board to agree on exactly one single definition of what “religion” is.