Freethought & Rationalism Archive

EggplantTrent · 03-17-2003, 04:33 PM

Quote:

the one and only event that will cause all unbelievers to believe is an event that will cause all to believe: your death.

Once a human dies, if there is any post-mortal existence, it will result in a believer- at least a believer in the supernatural.

that time will come for all of you.

How apocalyptic. Personally, if God is really out there, making a list and checking it twice, I would like to know now, instead of when I kick the bucket.

What evidence would I need to be convinced that God, or specifically the Christian God exists? Well, if an animal suddenly came up to me and said "Hey, how's it going? You know, God really does exist. By the way, have you got any food on you?"

Or if God assumed a human form, walked up to me and had lunch with me or something to that effect then I'd believe.

Or if he did any of those biblical signs he supposedly did back in the old days "i.e. walking on water, dead rising from the grave, water into blood, etc etc" then I would absolutely repent and believe. Seriously, I would.

I mean, it shouldn't really be too hard for God to do any of these things, because he is omnipotent and posseses infinite power.

EggplantTrent

Mageth · 03-17-2003, 04:37 PM

the one and only event that will cause all unbelievers to believe is an event that will cause all to believe: your death.

Hey, I already know I'm gonna die, and yet I don't "believe."

Once a human dies, if there is any post-mortal existence, it will result in a believer- at least a believer in the supernatural.

That's a big if. And there's an awful lot of different opinions on what that post-mortal existence might be. So why worry? Be happy.

that time will come for all of you.

Yes, death will come to us all. But no one can say for certain what comes thereafter, can they? As far as we know, from what evidence we have, nothing comes after death, just as nothing came before birth.

theophilus · 03-17-2003, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xian
the one and only event that will cause all unbelievers to believe is an event that will cause all to believe: your death.

Once a human dies, if there is any post-mortal existence, it will result in a believer- at least a believer in the supernatural.

that time will come for all of you.

Actually, that time will come for all of US.
"It is appointed to man once to die and after this comes the judgement."

theophilus · 03-17-2003, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mageth
[As far as we know, from what evidence we have, nothing comes after death, just as nothing came before birth.

I'd be interested to know the basis of this statement.

EggplantTrent · 03-17-2003, 04:46 PM

Quote:

That's a big if. And there's an awful lot of different opinions on what that post-mortal existence might be. So why worry? Be happy.

Exactly. One thing that bothers me about christianity is their fixation on death. It could almost be construed as death worship. It's all about selfless sacrifice for others. You're life doesn't really matter. The material world does not matter. Life (to a certain extent) does not matter, it's only to please God so that when you die you get to go to heaven and play your lyre. It doesnt' matter anymore, because when you die, there's heaven or hell. God will help you etc etc.

What's so bad about life? I'm 19 right now. What's so bad about me having fun? Learning, reading, debating, playing basketball, getting drunk at parties, establishing relationships with people, enjoying life?

Sorry that this post is off topic.

EggplantTrent

theophilus · 03-17-2003, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Biff the unclean
The exact same sort of evidence that you would use to prove that anything else exists�a specimen. It needn't perform any tricks it should be obvious enough from the specimen alone to tell what it was.

I'm sure I should understand what you mean, but I don't. Do you mean a "piece" of God, like a "tissue" specimen? Please help>

NumberTenOx · 03-17-2003, 04:49 PM

For me, God is just a name for the answer to the question "Where did this all come from"?

When scientists figure that out (Why is there something instead of nothing? What's outside the universe? What was before the Big Bang? How come our universe supports life? Are these even close to the right questions?) then I will believe in God, because I will believe in that answer.

All the other omnicient, benevolent, heaven/hell, prayer, religious stuff is just bullshit mindcontrol.

Until that day I'm comfortable with the fact that I haven't a clue.

Mageth · 03-17-2003, 04:54 PM

"It is appointed to man once to die and after this comes the judgement."

"Only through ignorance and delusion do men indulge in the dream that their souls are separate and self-existent entities."
- Buddha

Mageth · 03-17-2003, 04:57 PM

I'd be interested to know the basis of this statement.

The basis of the statement is the evidence at hand. Neither I nor you have any real reason to believe, i.e. one supported by evidence, that there's anything more after death than there was before birth.

Mageth · 03-17-2003, 04:58 PM

EggplantTrent:

Your post was not off-topic.

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03-17-2003, 04:37 PM	#12
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	the one and only event that will cause all unbelievers to believe is an event that will cause all to believe: your death. Hey, I already know I'm gonna die, and yet I don't "believe." Once a human dies, if there is any post-mortal existence, it will result in a believer- at least a believer in the supernatural. That's a big if. And there's an awful lot of different opinions on what that post-mortal existence might be. So why worry? Be happy. that time will come for all of you. Yes, death will come to us all. But no one can say for certain what comes thereafter, can they? As far as we know, from what evidence we have, nothing comes after death, just as nothing came before birth.

03-17-2003, 04:49 PM	#17
NumberTenOx Regular Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 284	For me, God is just a name for the answer to the question "Where did this all come from"? When scientists figure that out (Why is there something instead of nothing? What's outside the universe? What was before the Big Bang? How come our universe supports life? Are these even close to the right questions?) then I will believe in God, because I will believe in that answer. All the other omnicient, benevolent, heaven/hell, prayer, religious stuff is just bullshit mindcontrol. Until that day I'm comfortable with the fact that I haven't a clue.

03-17-2003, 04:54 PM	#18
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	"It is appointed to man once to die and after this comes the judgement." "Only through ignorance and delusion do men indulge in the dream that their souls are separate and self-existent entities." - Buddha

03-17-2003, 04:57 PM	#19
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	I'd be interested to know the basis of this statement. The basis of the statement is the evidence at hand. Neither I nor you have any real reason to believe, i.e. one supported by evidence, that there's anything more after death than there was before birth.

03-17-2003, 04:58 PM	#20
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	EggplantTrent: Your post was not off-topic.

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