Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Howard · 08-13-2003, 06:37 PM

Hello dienekes and welcome�

The problem is, the believers go on the offensive by asking essentially unanswerable questions. Then they conclude that since you can�t come up with a ready answer, you must be wrong.

The best idea is to turn the tables and ask them unanswerable questions, such as: �If a loving God exists, then why does cancer exist?� or �Why are innocent children suffering and dying by the millions?�

As for the purpose of life, the simplest answer I�ve ever heard is that the purpose of life comes from within, not from without. Each of us has to find our own purpose and meaning in life.

pariah · 08-13-2003, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dienekes
someone asked me this "if God does not exist, why do you think you exist? What's the meaning/purpose of your life in this world?" i think there are a lot of fallacies in this one and would be easily refuted but my thoughts are so scattered right now that i don't think i would be able to give a clear answer that she would understand. any suggestions?

easy, you tell her:

i have no intrinsic purpose.

Peter Kirby · 08-14-2003, 02:53 AM

The same man who said "I think, therefore I am" also argued that "I am, therefore God exists." This is a reductio ad absurdum, and therefore I do not think.

best,
Peter Kirby

PS- I am talking about Descartes.

Kruzkal · 08-14-2003, 06:37 AM

Many thiests claim:

You exist, therefore [insert god here] exists.

Assertion A - You exist. (I think we can grant you this one.)

Does not in imply

Assertion B - Whichever god exists.

A and B are independent assertions. To claim A leads to B, you are making a further assertion:

Assertion C - A implies B

Each assertions require evidence to support indepentently. A and B must be true for C to be asserted.

__________________

Philosophy - Questions that cannot be answered
Religion - Answers that cannot be questioned

Ryanfire · 08-14-2003, 09:58 AM

Quote:

The same man who said "I think, therefore I am" also argued that "I am, therefore God exists." This is a reductio ad absurdum, and therefore I do not think.

best,
Peter Kirby

PS- I am talking about Descartes.

Doh

xorbie · 08-14-2003, 10:58 AM

Yeah, but he also helped with modern day geometry, so give him a break. Although oddly enough, few people I know actually link "Cartesian" plane to Rene Descartes, and even when they hear it was Descartes who this is named after, still don't see the link. Mathemiticians are no longer just assumed to be philosophers as they once were

But that's just my little pet peeve.

08-14-2003, 06:37 AM	#14
Kruzkal Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Void Posts: 77	Logic Many thiests claim: You exist, therefore [insert god here] exists. Assertion A - You exist. (I think we can grant you this one.) Does not in imply Assertion B - Whichever god exists. A and B are independent assertions. To claim A leads to B, you are making a further assertion: Assertion C - A implies B Each assertions require evidence to support indepentently. A and B must be true for C to be asserted. __________________ Philosophy - Questions that cannot be answered Religion - Answers that cannot be questioned

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08-13-2003, 06:37 PM	#11
Howard Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 5,864	Hello dienekes and welcome� The problem is, the believers go on the offensive by asking essentially unanswerable questions. Then they conclude that since you can�t come up with a ready answer, you must be wrong. The best idea is to turn the tables and ask them unanswerable questions, such as: �If a loving God exists, then why does cancer exist?� or �Why are innocent children suffering and dying by the millions?� As for the purpose of life, the simplest answer I�ve ever heard is that the purpose of life comes from within, not from without. Each of us has to find our own purpose and meaning in life.

08-14-2003, 02:53 AM	#13
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	The same man who said "I think, therefore I am" also argued that "I am, therefore God exists." This is a reductio ad absurdum, and therefore I do not think. best, Peter Kirby PS- I am talking about Descartes.

08-14-2003, 10:58 AM	#16
xorbie Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Champaign, IL or Boston, MA Posts: 6,360	Yeah, but he also helped with modern day geometry, so give him a break. Although oddly enough, few people I know actually link "Cartesian" plane to Rene Descartes, and even when they hear it was Descartes who this is named after, still don't see the link. Mathemiticians are no longer just assumed to be philosophers as they once were But that's just my little pet peeve.

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