Athiests: Prove that God dosen't exist

[Eleve]

Since the universe did not always exist, and did not come into existence containing life, but contains life now, it seems self-evident that there was a transition from non-life to life.

 

[michaelanthony]

Since the universe did not always exist, and did not come into existence containing life, but contains life now, it seems self-evident that there was a transition from non-life to life.

You say “Since the universe did not always exist”, but we haven’t proven that it didn’t always exist. Scientists once believed it did always exist. Nevertheless, I share your belief that the universe did not always exist. The evidence certainly points that way.

More to the point, however: you say the universe “did not come into existence containing life, but contains life now, it seems self-evident that there was a transition from non-life to life.”

Of course there was such a transition, but that does not prove that non-life evolved into life. I can’t prove that a creator transformed non-life into life. Can you prove that non-life evolved into life?

 

[Eleve]

What do you mean by “evolved”? If you mean “transitioned without intelligent guidance,” then of course I can’t prove that.

 

[HeWillProvide]

It is rather arrogant of man to insist that he knows everything and has to understand everything and if he cannot find the answer, then he will deny it even exists.

Reminds me of the comparison of man trying to understand God is like an ant trying to understand the Internet.

God made our brain and now we stamp our feet in frustration because “it” can’t understand God.

 

[Nebogipfel]

Things turned around for me because I was open (just a little bit) to hearing from God. I heard a challenge in a meeting I went to with the girl I was dating to trust God. As I did, doors began to open, what He was speaking to me through scripture, ministers of various denominations, other books, through worship and ministry He led me into, what He was speaking revealed Him more and more in a myriad of ways. I prayed then more than any other time in my life… and I knew He was there… As I waited on Him, in those many ways, He spoke.

Most of the time it can only begin if we can be open to the possibilities of God being bigger than we can comprehend (that’s His nature). Sometimes God will reveal things to people who are unwilling (Jonah), but that isn’t the most common way.

Hi swplan, sorry for the long delay in replying.

I’m not going to poke holes in the things which give (more) meaning to your life. I can only say that I spent quite a few years in earnest prayer but I can’t honestly say I ever got any answers (at least none which were not the echoes of my own fears and wishes). In the end, I just could not avoid the conclusion that a world with no god or gods made more sense than a world with them.

 

[PennitentMan]

It is rather arrogant of man to insist that he knows everything and has to understand everything and if he cannot find the answer, then he will deny it even exists.

I think rather the reverse is true.
Of course man wants to try to know as much as he can. He’s an inquisitive being. But to label things that he doesn’t immediately understand as “God” is a bit presumptuous. Science rather admits that it doensn’t know the answer yet

 

[HeWillProvide]

I think rather the reverse is true.
Of course man wants to try to know as much as he can. He’s an inquisitive being. But to label things that he doesn’t immediately understand as “God” is a bit presumptuous. Science rather admits that it doensn’t know the answer yet

But man isn’t irrationally pointing at everything he doesn’t understand and immediately labeling it ‘God.’ He is taking his experience, others’ experience, history, tradition, etc. and calling it God.

Simply because the lump of tissue sitting on top of our spinal cords can’t comprehend something (or simply doesn’t “want” to) is no reason to exclude the possibility, particularly when many things point to this possibility.

 

[PennitentMan]

**

But man isn’t irrationally pointing at everything he doesn’t understand and immediately labeling it ‘God.’ He is taking his experience, others’ experience, history, tradition, etc. and calling it God.

It’s all still unproven speculation that he uses to jump to a conclusion that’s not necessarily the logical or simplest explanation.

Simply because the lump of tissue sitting on top of our spinal cords can’t comprehend something (or simply doesn’t “want” to) is no reason to exclude the possibility, particularly when many things point to this possibility.

Only very, very few Atheists are actively excluding such possibilities. The majority of us are just not convinced that the possibility is a plausible one, based on the given evidence.

 

[HeWillProvide]

Only very, very few Atheists are actively excluding such possibilities. The majority of us are just not convinced that the possibility is a plausible one, based on the given evidence.

Out of curiosity, if there is a possibility of God and the afterlife, is it at all worrisome that at the moment following your death, immediately after you close your eyes forever, you will meet a God with whom you are unfamiliar? Just wondering. And certainly not endorsing the “scare tactic,” but I am just wondering if atheists have sort of an “Oh, well, whatever happens, happens”-type attitude toward the possibility of eternity.

 

[blortog]

Out of curiosity, if there is a possibility of God and the afterlife, is it at all worrisome that at the moment following your death, immediately after you close your eyes forever, you will meet a God with whom you are unfamiliar? Just wondering. And certainly not endorsing the “scare tactic,” but I am just wondering if atheists have sort of an “Oh, well, whatever happens, happens”-type attitude toward the possibility of eternity.

Pretty much, “Oh well, Whatever happens, happens” not worried about it at all.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Out of curiosity, if there is a possibility of God and the afterlife, is it at all worrisome that at the moment following your death, immediately after you close your eyes forever, you will meet a God with whom you are unfamiliar? Just wondering. And certainly not endorsing the “scare tactic,” but I am just wondering if atheists have sort of an “Oh, well, whatever happens, happens”-type attitude toward the possibility of eternity.

If this God that is claimed by christians exists, he will know why I did not jump up and run to the first RCIA class I could find to sign up. Surely he wants sincere believers who actually have thought about this carefully according to their consciences. If he is expecting leaps of faith in claims that are being made about him on his behalf, well then I am doomed.

Pretty much, “Oh well, Whatever happens, happens” not worried about it at all.

No, for me its more of a problem of whatever reason do I have to believe these claims being made about you were correct or not? Many before them believed in “legends” and “myths” and I don’t think that they were insincere either.

 

[PennitentMan]

Out of curiosity, if there is a possibility of God and the afterlife, is it at all worrisome that at the moment following your death, immediately after you close your eyes forever, you will meet a God with whom you are unfamiliar? Just wondering. And certainly not endorsing the “scare tactic,” but I am just wondering if atheists have sort of an “Oh, well, whatever happens, happens”-type attitude toward the possibility of eternity.

Sorry dude, I only now say this post, I missed it in the follow up a few weeks ago!

In answer to your question, no I’m not worried.

In the unlikely event that the christian god exists (Almost sound like an air hostess there for a sec, didn’t I? ), I’m really not interested in serving him, so essentially, if he is there, my fate is already decided.
Stemming from that point, I guess I could try to believe in him out of the fear of hell (just for incase), but it would still be a farce and deep down I’d know it. I can’t make myself believe in something that I just can’t believe is there, you know?

 

[WayAstray]

Considering that there is no way to “prove” a negative, I find this challenge rather spurious.

 

[michaelanthony]

Considering that there is no way to “prove” a negative, I find this challenge rather spurious.

Some atheists claim that one cannot prove a negative, so that claiming “You can’t prove God doesn’t exist” is meaningless.

That claim is clearly false. If someone tells the police that no corpse is buried in his yard, the police can obtain the legal authority to dig up the yard and search for a corpse. If they dig up the yard and find no corpse, they will have proven the negative, namely, that “a corpse is not buried in Mr. X’s yard”.

Some atheists will respond that the claim “No God exists” is a universal negative, and it cannot be proven for that reason. This is also false. The way to prove a universal negative is by way of contradiction. If the existence of God were self-contradictory, then that would prove that no God exists. Atheists often try to do this by demonstrating the self-contradictory nature of omnipotence. This is often called “the omnipotence paradox.”

For example, can God create a stone so heavy that even He cannot lift it? If so, then God would not be omnipotent, because he couldn’t lift that stone. If not, meaning that He couldn’t create such a stone, then creating such a stone is something He cannot do, and He is not omnipotent. Therefore, they conclude, an omnipotent God cannot possibly exist.

If “omnipotence” means the ability to do absolutely anything whatsoever, then Christians know God does not meet this definition of “omnipotence”, because “it was impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). Christians believe that God cannot do evil. St. Augustine addressed the issue of omnipotence in his book The City of God. He stated:

“For He is called omnipotent on account of His doing what He wills, not on account of His suffering what He wills not; for if that should befall Him, He would by no means be omnipotent. Wherefore, He cannot do some things for the very reason that He is omnipotent.”

In Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas stated:

“Nothing which implies contradiction falls under the omnipotence of God”

The fact that the word “omnipotence” itself is self-contradictory, in that omnipotence implies the ability to be not-omnipotent, doesn’t result in a proof by contradiction that “No God exists,” nor does it constitute scientific proof that God does not exist. It proves that humans can think abstractly, even about self-contradictory terms.

 

[Angel7]

Having more arguments for God is not equal to proving God. If christians can’t prove God exists and they believe in him, then how can you expect and demand people who make no claim of his existance to prove he does not exist? Athiests do not claim to have proof God does not exist. God does a good job proving that himself.

It’s like this.
If WE could Understand G-d, and everything about him. He wouldn’t be big enough to be worshipped. If he were Small enough to be understood.

If you seek ABSOLUTE PROOF, we can’t give 100% we but we sure can give you over 90%

 

[Angel7]

You say “Since the universe did not always exist”, but we haven’t proven that it didn’t always exist. Scientists once believed it did always exist. Nevertheless, I share your belief that the universe did not always exist. The evidence certainly points that way.

More to the point, however: you say the universe “did not come into existence containing life, but contains life now, it seems self-evident that there was a transition from non-life to life.”

Of course there was such a transition, but that does not prove that non-life evolved into life. I can’t prove that a creator transformed non-life into life. Can you prove that non-life evolved into life?

No I can’t prove that, but I can give a Passage in teh Bible.

We did not evolve, but rather were Created. G-d made Adam out of Ash and Dust.
Not Evolve, but Created.