Originally posted by dj2beckerIt wouldn't prove, but it would provide scientifically acceptable evidence. Of course, this assumes the study was valid in controlling for other variables that might correlate with religious belief.
If there were a statistical improvement, would that prove that God exists?
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Originally posted by PalynkaIt is scientifically impossible to control all the variables, since God is not confined to a test tube.
It wouldn't prove, but it would provide scientifically acceptable evidence. Of course, this assumes the study was valid in controlling for other variables that might correlate with religious belief.
Originally posted by dj2beckerYou don't have to control all the variables, but you should try your best to control for those that may correlate heavily with religious belief.
It is scientifically impossible to control all the variables, since God is not confined to a test tube.
God would play no role in the experiment apart from occasionally answering prayers. If the sample is big enough, it doesn't even need to answer them often. No need for sticking an anal probe up His rectum.
Originally posted by dj2beckerSo you are asking us to assume that a supernatural God exists, then ask us if it can prove it scientifically, then reject any possible scientific explanations we provide? 🙄
It is scientifically impossible to control all the variables, since God is not confined to a test tube.
If a supernatural God does have an effect on the universe, then it will have an effect on metaphorical test tubes which we can measure.
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Originally posted by PalynkaUnless you were assuming it is God answering the prayers when in fact it was the spaghetti monster. But how would you know?
You don't have to control all the variables, but you should try your best to control for those that may correlate heavily with religious belief.
God would play no role in the experiment apart from occasionally answering prayers. If the sample is big enough, it doesn't even need to answer them often. No need for sticking an anal probe up His rectum.
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Originally posted by dj2beckerWhy would the His Holiness, the Spaghetti Monster favour Christian prayers?
Unless you were assuming it is God answering the prayers when in fact it was the spaghetti monster. But how would you know?
We can have more control groups. We can have one praying for salvation from Bolognese Hell, another praying to Jesus, others to Satan and so on and so forth.
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Originally posted by PalynkaWhy would the Spaghetti monster favour Christian prayers?
Why would the Spaghetti monster favour Christian prayers?
We can have more control groups. We can have one praying for salvation from Bolognese Hell, another praying to Jesus, others to Satan and so on and so forth.
Maybe to put everyone under the illusion that the Christian god answers prayers.
We can have more control groups. We can have one praying for salvation from Bolognese Hell, another praying to Jesus, others to Satan and so on and so forth.
But that would still not stop the SM from answering prayers....
Originally posted by dj2beckerYou wouldn't. But it would still be evidence in favor of the existence of a god (the SM is a god.)
Ok then how would you know that it is not the SM answering the prayers?
So, if you are really asking, "can science tell us everything about God", the answer is "no, it can't".
I would follow that up with "is there any other reliable way of finding out about God?", again, I would say "No. There isn't".
(in the above we start with the assumption that God exists).
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Originally posted by dj2beckerWell, we would still find evidence that prayer works. And if the Spaghetti Monster acts in every way like the Christian God in all circumstances then well... what's the difference?
[b]Why would the Spaghetti monster favour Christian prayers?
Maybe to put everyone under the illusion that the Christian god answers prayers.
We can have more control groups. We can have one praying for salvation from Bolognese Hell, another praying to Jesus, others to Satan and so on and so forth.
But that would still not stop the SM from answering prayers....[/b]
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Originally posted by twhiteheadSo you are saying that even if God existed we would not be able to use science to find out anything about him?
You wouldn't. But it would still be evidence in favor of the existence of a god (the SM is a god.)
So, if you are really asking, "can science tell us everything about God", the answer is "no, it can't".
I would follow that up with "is there any other reliable way of finding out about God?", again, I would say "No. There isn't".
(in the above we start with the assumption that God exists).
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Originally posted by dj2beckerNo, I did not say that at all. I said we may not be able to know everything about him. If there are properties of his that either do not have an effect on the universe or do not have enough of an effect to reliably measure, we could not know about those properties.
So you are saying that even if God existed we would not be able to use science to find out anything about him?
Any properties of his that do have a significant effect on the universe would however be theoretically measurable and subject to possible scientific investigation.