Alternate Universe

Consider if you can a universe very similar to our own ... the only difference being that God does not exist. (and all atheist theories are fact)

What would be the test to distinguish our universe from the Godless one?

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Consider if you can a universe very similar to our own ... the only difference being that God does [b]not exist. (and all atheist theories are fact)

What would be the test to distinguish our universe from the Godless one?[/b]

If there were no God then there would be no such thing as atheism.
Atheism derives its existance from God.

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Consider if you can a universe very similar to our own ... the only difference being that God does [b]not exist. (and all atheist theories are fact)

What would be the test to distinguish our universe from the Godless one?[/b]

Do you mean an interventionist God?

Originally posted by Rajk999
If there were no God then there would be no such thing as atheism.
Atheism derives its existance from God.

not necessarily true. theists can exist in a godless universe while atheists can exist in a magical universe.

Originally posted by VoidSpirit
not necessarily true. theists can exist in a godless universe while atheists can exist in a magical universe.

Also the label (concept) exists independent of the existence of god, and if we were to describe the non-believers in this 'other universe' then we use the terms from this universe.

Originally posted by wolfgang59

What would be the test to distinguish our universe from the Godless one?

Trailer trash would be seen worshiping sea urchins.

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Consider if you can a universe very similar to our own ... the only difference being that God does [b]not exist. (and all atheist theories are fact)

What would be the test to distinguish our universe from the Godless one?[/b]

I have trouble with this because we are in the universe you describe...
perhaps you would have more luck comparing us to a universe that does have god...

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Consider if you can a universe very similar to our own ... the only difference being that God does [b]not exist. (and all atheist theories are fact)

What would be the test to distinguish our universe from the Godless one?[/b]

The Godless universe doesn't exist.

Originally posted by josephw
The Godless universe doesn't exist.

That is irrelevant.

The point of a thought experiment is to do a 'what if' scenario that enables conclusions to be drawn about reality.

It is a common thing to do in science to imagine what the world were different (in a specified way) and use that
as a comparison with how the world is.
It's also useful in criminal investigation (unsurprising as done properly this utilises the scientific method) for trying
to determine what kind of evidence should exist if a particular version of events (your own hypothesis or a witness
or suspects version of events) was true and whether that matches reality.

eg. Sure her blouse had blood on it but it was all smeary like she held the dead man in her arms but has no splatter
you would expect if she had been the one frenziedly attacking him....


In this instance the idea of the thought experiment is to try to get people to think about what kinds of things would
be evidently different between our universe (which supposedly, possible has a god) and one which we defined to
not have a god but that is otherwise as similar as possible without having a god.

If there is no tangible difference then that would tend to suggest the non-existence of god in this reality.

Originally posted by josephw
The Godless universe doesn't exist.

Just pretend there is light without a sun. 😛

Originally posted by whodey
Just pretend there is light without a sun. 😛

Que?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=EUNL6igxYsM

Originally posted by googlefudge
Que?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=EUNL6igxYsM

That guy is funny. Haven't seen him before. 😀

Originally posted by whodey
Just pretend there is light without a sun. 😛

you mean like in genesis?

Originally posted by RJHinds
That guy is funny. Haven't seen him before. 😀

Fawlty towers, classic British comedy series, you should definitely check it out.

Originally posted by googlefudge
That is irrelevant.

The point of a thought experiment is to do a 'what if' scenario that enables conclusions to be drawn about reality.

It is a common thing to do in science to imagine what the world were different (in a specified way) and use that
as a comparison with how the world is.
It's also useful in criminal investigation (unsurprising as ...[text shortened]... tangible difference then that would tend to suggest the non-existence of god in this reality.

well you gave it to the theists on a plate.
I wanted them to think for themselves!
😞