tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418825914680132383.post7571341411506233404..comments2024-02-20T10:05:48.189-06:00Comments on Startled Disbelief: "Atheism Requires Faith"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01226088146391183228noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418825914680132383.post-54570294055323175762010-11-16T08:10:17.451-06:002010-11-16T08:10:17.451-06:00"Since the existence of an external, supernat..."Since the existence of an external, supernatural agent cannot be proven rationally, it must be discounted."<br /><br />The main problem that I have with that statement is this: just because something cannot be "proven" does <i>not</i> mean it must be discounted. This is a clear misunderstanding (or intentional distortion) of our position.<br /><br />As I mentioned at the creation museum, proof is not a scientific concept: it is a mathematical, logical, and philosophical one. All the same, many scientific theories are still useful, because they are good models backed by solid evidence.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01226088146391183228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3418825914680132383.post-69821946047727803262010-11-16T00:24:08.216-06:002010-11-16T00:24:08.216-06:00"Since the existence of an external, supernat..."Since the existence of an external, supernatural agent cannot be proven rationally, it must be discounted."<br /><br />He's trying to paint us negatively, but I contend that one is logically obligated to hold that position. <br /><br />ASSUME there is a deity. You have two options: It is a deist deity (ie NEVER interviens) or it is a theist deity (ie has interviened at least once in human history). <br /><br />if a, deist) You by definition can have no evidence of this god, as it has never, and will never interact with the universe. Regardless of whether this god exists, you can assume it doesn't and nothing changes.<br /><br />if b, theist) This god has interacted with the universe at least once. This interaction must be a natural one, as the universe is a natural thing. Therefore, this interaction can be rationally studied, and therefore there is at least one part of your god that is not *super*natural<br /><br />In short, if your god is fully and only supernatural, you can assume he doesn't exist and nothign changes. If he interacts with the universe, this can be observed and judged.erauqssihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16219367018908376819noreply@blogger.com