• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!
  • Welcome to our archives. No new posts are allowed here.

Who/What is God? (My thoughts typed)

My main point is "Who/What is God in our reality?", my secondary point is "Why do we restrict freedom of thought as a society?".
 
Bootlace said:
Evolution isn't going to evolve something that isn't necessary. We are far too complex on a biological level, not to mention an emotional level. A good example is love. Love isn't necessary for our survival. It also isn't necessary for us to find beauty in nature. Ever look close at a beautiful flower? Examine the intricate detail? Ever wonder why we love someone or think something is pretty? Not really necessary.
Click to expand...
Maybe love used to be a good example but not so much, anymore. You might want to read a little more about evolutionary biology, genetics, phenotypes, and throw in a little neuro-biology, too. I think you'll find that "love" (though you failed to mention which type of love - there are neurological differences) does have a biological purpose. In fact, I can't think of anything offhand that doesn't promote our survival in some way that's also predominant throughout our species. Some things are left-overs, some are "by-products" (like the "beauty" in an intricate flower), but they all promote survival in relation to genes.
 
William Rea said:
It is awesome because it IS the result of random mutations being naturally selected. If you don't understand that, you truly miss the most awesome thing about our existence.
Click to expand...
QFT and an often unsaid truth at that. :cool:
 
ethanhulse said:
My main point is "Who/What is God in our reality?", my secondary point is "Why do we restrict freedom of thought as a society?".
Click to expand...
God is a figment of man's imagination. As our understanding of nature increases, god becomes more and more a god-of-the-gaps. The Norse thougth thunder and lightning came from Thor or Odin. Today we know what causes thunder and lightning. Where are Thor and Odin, now? (except in the Marvel Universe!->)

We once thought Atlas carried the world and Apollo made sure the sun came up on schedule. Now ...?






2. Societies are as alive as the beings that create them and all beings try to continue through time just as their societies do. "Freedom of thought" often means change but life tends toward the status quo with changes being "slow" compared to our short lives. We've "learned" to adapt quickly, it's one of our basic survival traits, but our genetic history is always with us.
 
Last edited:
MoSurveyor said:
God is a figment of man's imagination. As our understanding of nature increases, god becomes more and more a god-of-the-gaps. The Norse thougth thunder and lightning came from Thor or Odin. Today we know what causes thunder and lightning. Where are Thor and Odin, now? (except in the Marvel Universe!->)

We once thought Atlas carried the world and Apollo made sure the sun came up on schedule. Now ...?






2. Societies are as alive as the beings that create them and all beings try to continue through time just as their societies do. "Freedom of thought" often means change but life tends toward the status quo with changes being "slow" compared to our short lives. We've "learned" to adapt quickly, it's one of our basic survival traits, but our genetic history is always with us.
Click to expand...


So...your blind guess is that there are no gods...which is different from the people who blindly guess there are.

I got it!
 
MoSurveyor said:
Maybe love used to be a good example but not so much, anymore. You might want to read a little more about evolutionary biology, genetics, phenotypes, and throw in a little neuro-biology, too. I think you'll find that "love" (though you failed to mention which type of love - there are neurological differences) does have a biological purpose. In fact, I can't think of anything offhand that doesn't promote our survival in some way that's also predominant throughout our species. Some things are left-overs, some are "by-products" (like the "beauty" in an intricate flower), but they all promote survival in relation to genes.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice but I like believing the way I do.
 
Frank Apisa said:
So...your blind guess is that there are no gods...which is different from the people who blindly guess there are.

I got it!
Click to expand...
It's not a blind guess for me, it's simply not an issue one way or another since there's no solid evidence either way.

Show me some independently verifiable evidence and we'll talk. Until then, gods come under the same heading as Unicorns, Leprechauns, and Garden Gnomes.
 
Bootlace said:
Thanks for the advice but I like believing the way I do.
Click to expand...
So you take the "... ignorance is bliss" approach?

I prefer and live (as much as I can) by this from Charles Dickens:

"They were a boy and a girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread." ...

“They are Man's and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance and this girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.”


You can't escape the continuing search for knowledge, unless you'd prefer a world wide meltdown.
 
Last edited:
MoSurveyor said:
It's not a blind guess for me, it's simply not an issue one way or another since there's no solid evidence either way.

Show me some independently verifiable evidence and we'll talk. Until then, gods come under the same heading as Unicorns, Leprechauns, and Garden Gnomes.
Click to expand...

As I said...interesting blind guess about REALITY.

There may indeed be no gods.

But then again...there may be.

Bootlace guesses one way...you guess the other.

No problem.
 
Frank Apisa said:
As I said...interesting blind guess about REALITY.

There may indeed be no gods.

But then again...there may be.

Bootlace guesses one way...you guess the other.

No problem.
Click to expand...
There's a big difference between us. While he is absolutely certain there is a god, I am not absolutely certain that there is not one. Like I said, it's like anything else for which there is no defining evidence. Should we start listing the infinite number of things of which there is no evidence and say the same thing about all of them???

How about this? I am absolutely certain there is a teapot in solar orbit between Earth and Mars. Now, I suppose your blind guess is that there is no teapot in solar orbit? If not you then I'm sure I can scare up dozens of Christians who would claim there isn't and that I'm crazy to even consider such a thing. :lol:
 
Frank Apisa said:
As I said...interesting blind guess about REALITY.

There may indeed be no gods.

But then again...there may be.

Bootlace guesses one way...you guess the other.

No problem.
Click to expand...

Is there a need to **** on another thread with your garbage Frank?
 
MoSurveyor said:
There's a big difference between us. While he is absolutely certain there is a god, I am not absolutely certain that there is not one. Like I said, it's like anything else for which there is no defining evidence. Should we start listing the infinite number of things of which there is no evidence and say the same thing about all of them???

How about this? I am absolutely certain there is a teapot in solar orbit between Earth and Mars. Now, I suppose your blind guess is that there is no teapot in solar orbit? If not you then I'm sure I can scare up dozens of Christians who would claim there isn't and that I'm crazy to even consider such a thing. :lol:
Click to expand...

Okay...but you sounded certain, Mo, and I was reacting to that. Sorry if I misinterpreted your words.

There certainly are lots of people who guess there are no gods...just as there are many who guess there is at least one.
 
William Rea said:
Is there a need to **** on another thread with your garbage Frank?
Click to expand...

How about you decide what you want to say when you want to say it...

...and I decide what I want to say and when I want to say it.

You are welcome to disregard my remarks.
 
Frank Apisa said:
Okay...but you sounded certain, Mo, and I was reacting to that. Sorry if I misinterpreted your words.

There certainly are lots of people who guess there are no gods...just as there are many who guess there is at least one.
Click to expand...
Anything is possible until it isn't. I can make a pretty good case for the existence of unicorns. We already have horses and some mammals like rhinos and narwhals have single horns (instead of a bilateral pair) along their center-line. Not much of a stretch to get to unicorns, really, regardless of how fanciful and/or crazy some people may think. Of course, there's no objective evidence of unicorns, so I generally don't give them much thought. If you want to believe in them be my guest but I warn you, some people will laugh and some people will avoid you thinking you a little crazy.
 
MoSurveyor said:
Anything is possible until it isn't. I can make a pretty good case for the existence of unicorns. We already have horses and some mammals like rhinos and narwhals have single horns (instead of a bilateral pair) along their center-line. Not much of a stretch to get to unicorns, really, regardless of how fanciful and/or crazy some people may think. Of course, there's no objective evidence of unicorns, so I generally don't give them much thought. If you want to believe in them be my guest but I warn you, some people will laugh.
Click to expand...

I do not do "believing" at all, Mo.

I certainly do not "believe" in gods...just as I do not "believe" there are none.

I am totally willing to acknowledge when I do not know something. It does not threaten me in any way.
 
MoSurveyor said:
Anything is possible until it isn't. I can make a pretty good case for the existence of unicorns. We already have horses and some mammals like rhinos and narwhals have single horns (instead of a bilateral pair) along their center-line. Not much of a stretch to get to unicorns, really, regardless of how fanciful and/or crazy some people may think. Of course, there's no objective evidence of unicorns, so I generally don't give them much thought. If you want to believe in them be my guest but I warn you, some people will laugh and some people will avoid you thinking you a little crazy.
Click to expand...

Psst, Frank special pleads for gods (just like a theist).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom