Existence of God

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No amount of reason alone will ever prove the existence of God, because it only provides a flawed understanding at best.
I can’t agree with that. And it is my understanding that the CC doesn’t either.

But of course it DOES depend on who is trying to see reason. 😃
 
I can’t agree with that. And it is my understanding that the CC doesn’t either.
Reason doesn’t even make sense without God…what does??? Nothing. There is no other reason to be on this earth, except to live for God. Open your eyes!
Aren’t you searching for something…more?
 
Force is not “describe[d]” by a vector. Force is a vector–and vectors exist on paper, in our minds, etc., not in the physical world.
and yet im still stuck to the ground. you dont seem to get that a vector represents a force, one that actually exists, in whatever form, as we can empirically observe its effects. do we know the exact form it takes? no. does that mean it doesnt exist? no. can you even really deny it exists? no. we have only to remember that our feet are stuck to the ground
My point is to help clarify for you what force is and what it is not.
youre playing semantic games. any force with magnitude and direction is a vector quantity, it is not itself a “vector”. “vector” is simply the generic term for various, possibly unknown force carriers. a convenience of mathematical manipulation.
Here is what I would like you to clearly answer: Do you not envision force as some kind of transcendent stuff in the universe? If not, then what do you think it is? And if so, then why are you complaining?
no, i dont envision it as some “transcendant stuff” “in the universe”, thats almost a contradiction in terms.

i think it is what it is, a force that can be defined by its relationships with other things, in the case of gravity. i dont know the mechanism, yet it is clear that there is a mechanism operating. one that must exist to have effect as James said.

and im arguing, because you implied or said that gravity doesnt exist except on paper. an obviously false proposition.
 
I thought you agreed that the model is descriptive, and not prescriptive. Is that not so?
so whats the problem? if something doesnt exist, it doesnt have the ability to effect anything. yet here i am firmly stuck to the planet.
If you think Newton’s equations have some effect on the behavior of matter, then I must voice my disagreement.
who could possibly think that? didnt i already point that out?
 
so whats the problem? if something doesnt exist, it doesnt have the ability to effect anything. yet here i am firmly stuck to the planet.

who could possibly think that? didnt i already point that out?
Right, so to what “it” are you referring when you say that “it doesn’t have the ability to [affect] anything”? Is it that mysterious stuff you think governs the behavior of matter, and which you strangely call “gravity”? Well, sure, I agree that it has no effect, because I do not believe it exists.
 
Reason doesn’t even make sense without God…what does??? Nothing. There is no other reason to be on this earth, except to live for God. Open your eyes!
Aren’t you searching for something…more?
I am probably far more aware of that than you, so I certainly don’t disagree.
 
that mysterious stuff you think governs the behavior of matter,
what do you mean by “stuff”? i dont think any mysterious “stuff” governs the behavior of matter, i know that there is a mechanism that does so from empirical observation. as to it being “stuff” thats a good question. obviouly though a mechanism exists, stuck to the ground i am.
I do not believe it exists.
and yet i assume you havent been flung off the earth yet. how strange, gravity doesnt exist, yet youre still earthbound, why is that do you suppose?
 
what do you mean by “stuff”? i dont think any mysterious “stuff” governs the behavior of matter, i know that there is a mechanism that does so from empirical observation. as to it being “stuff” thats a good question. obviouly though a mechanism exists, stuck to the ground i am.

and yet i assume you havent been flung off the earth yet. how strange, gravity doesnt exist, yet youre still earthbound, why is that do you suppose?
I do not know why matter behaves the way it does. Perhaps one day we will explain it in terms of a more basic phenomenon, but until then, I will refrain from postulating an unknown “mechanism,” whatever you mean by that.

And so I shall repeat my original point: not everyone believes in a particular “mechanism” which determines the behavior of matter. Some of us are just fine admitting ignorance.
 
I do not know why matter behaves the way it does. Perhaps one day we will explain it in terms of a more basic phenomenon, but until then, I will refrain from postulating an unknown “mechanism,” whatever you mean by that.
its hardly an unknown mechanism. we know its relation to mass and distance, etc. the only thing we dont seem to know of importance is the carrier. its not an unknown phenonmenon at all.
And so I shall repeat my original point: not everyone believes in a particular “mechanism” which determines the behavior of matter. Some of us are just fine admitting ignorance.
regardless of their belief, one obviously exists, we call it gravity. the only ignorance to admit too is the carrier. when they find the carrier for sure, what then? will you suddenly know that gravity exists? if so why? what would you really know that you do not now? you wouldnt be able to see the carrier anymore than you can now, so the situation wouldnt have changed in any great way.

i believe that you are drawing an entirely artificial line here.
 
its hardly an unknown mechanism. we know its relation to mass and distance, etc. the only thing we dont seem to know of importance is the carrier. its not an unknown phenonmenon at all.
If you know what this “mechanism” is, and what is its relationship to the behavior of matter, then by all means let me know! I do not think such an explanation is possible, however.
regardless of their belief, one obviously exists, we call it gravity. the only ignorance to admit too is the carrier. when they find the carrier for sure, what then? will you suddenly know that gravity exists? if so why? what would you really know that you do not now? you wouldnt be able to see the carrier anymore than you can now, so the situation wouldnt have changed in any great way.
i believe that you are drawing an entirely artificial line here.
You can assert that it is “obvious]” that a “mechanism” exists, but I am not remotely inclined to take your word for it. Moreover, your insistence on calling this mysterious mechanism “gravity” has me wondering if perhaps you’re conflating Newton’s equations with Thomistic philosophy. For it is no mere opinion that classical mechanics does not support your claims here.
 
If you know what this “mechanism” is, and what is its relationship to the behavior of matter, then by all means let me know! I do not think such an explanation is possible, however.
we know most of the importance. gravity is relative to mass, its inverse to distance, it can be described, with a high degree of accuracy by various equations. we even use that high degree of accuracy in the space program, throwing vehicles to other planets, other solar systems, etc. everything we need to know for our current state of technology, we do.
You can assert that it is “obvious]” that a “mechanism” exists, but I am not remotely inclined to take your word for it.
nor am i asking you to take my word for it, you need only trust your senses. its obvious that some mechanism exists, we can describe said mechanism to a high degree of accuracy. what new information could you possibly need to admit that gravity exists? as i just said, you seem to be drawing artificial lines here.
Moreover, your insistence on calling this mysterious mechanism “gravity” has me wondering …
that is the common name for it isnt it?
For it is no mere opinion that classical mechanics does not support your claims here.
appeal to authority. :rolleyes:
 
St Augustine:

“To those who believe, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.”
 
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