24 Oct 09
Originally posted by josephwI think that if there is a god (an unlikely proposition) that he/it is inherently unknowable and that any attempts to quantify his/it's attributes is an exercise in folly. Unless, of course, god is conceived of as being purely metaphorical, in which case one is free to assign him any attributes one desires.
Lord Shark prompted this idea.
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think God would be like if there were a God?
How would you know there was a God?
How would you know about God?
How would you know anything about what God was like?
24 Oct 09
Originally posted by rwingettWhy would He be unknowable?
I think that if there is a god (an unlikely proposition) that he/it is inherently unknowable and that any attempts to quantify his/it's attributes is an exercise in folly. Unless, of course, god is conceived of as being purely metaphorical, in which case one is free to assign him any attributes one desires.
24 Oct 09
Originally posted by josephwPersonal experience. Thats the only thing I can base anything on in this crazy world..
Lord Shark prompted this idea.
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think God would be like if there were a God?
How would you know there was a God?
How would you know about God?
How would you know anything about what God was like?
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24 Oct 09
Originally posted by josephw
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think God would be like if there were a God?
There is a sense in which 'god' is a label used for members of a set of human concepts. Since I have heard about these via a culture influenced by religious writings, I can only answer 'I don't know'. Whether or not the term 'god' has a referent is a matter of some debate.
How would you know there was a God?
I think by two main methods:
1) Revelation
2) Evidence (from the world).
How would you know about God?
As above.
How would you know anything about what God was like?
As above.
24 Oct 09
Originally posted by josephwYou would know there is a God by all creation that is around you, and by the inherent need that most have to worship him.
Lord Shark prompted this idea.
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think God would be like if there were a God?
How would you know there was a God?
How would you know about God?
How would you know anything about what God was like?
25 Oct 09
Originally posted by josephwI prompt this idea.
Lord Shark prompted this idea.
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think God would be like if there were a God?
How would you know there was a God?
How would you know about God?
How would you know anything about what God was like?
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think Flobadobadob would be like if there were a Flobadobadob?
How would you know there was a Flobadobadob?
How would you know about Flobadobadob?
How would you know anything about what Flobadobadob was like?[/b]
26 Oct 09
Originally posted by galveston75Why is the 'need' for most people to believe indicative of a god's existence?
You would know there is a God by all creation that is around you, and by the inherent need that most have to worship him.
Most kids believe there are fairies and hirsute fat men giving out endless amounts of presents from somewhere near the North Pole. Does this indicate that these myths and stories are any more likely to be true?
26 Oct 09
Originally posted by josephwFirst define 'God'. I notice that you capitalized it, so you are being a bit more specific than 'if there was a god'.
Lord Shark prompted this idea.
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think God would be like if there were a God?
How would you know there was a God?
How would you know about God?
How would you know anything about what God was like?
Once you have defined 'God' we then know that whatever attributes you put in your definition must be assumed true (as per your proposal), then we would think about who those attributes imply must be true possibly in combination with other known facts about the universe.
Some such assumed facts would pose a problem as many claims about God I find to be self contradictory, and I don't know what to do when you assume two contradictory facts.
Other such assumed facts may contradict the observed facts about the universe - so I guess we would have to rethink our knowledge of the universe.
I think at present our knowledge of the universe tells a lot about what such a God is not.
It seems clear to me that if there was a God then he/she does not have many of the attributes claimed by Christians as they either contradict each other or contradict observations about the universe.
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26 Oct 09
Originally posted by lauseyWeeeeeed!
I prompt this idea.
Without using any religious writings as an authority, what do you think Flobadobadob would be like if there were a Flobadobadob?
How would you know there was a Flobadobadob?
How would you know about Flobadobadob?
How would you know anything about what Flobadobadob was like?[/b]