It seems as if we all agree that thousands of people can be entirely mistaken about what they sincerely believe they saw. Anyone disagree with this?
Good stuff, Indy. I agree that there are lots of much more probable explanations, both physical and psychological, for the event than something so improbable as it's being caused by a being or beings that we don't even know with high probability exist.
Quote tuk22
No Dick you are assuming God and the universe as separate entities. Seriously there is no theory, experimental or theoretical that conflicts with Theology.
You've said this before and it's still trivial. There are many, many fictitious concepts and beings which are perfectly consistent with all physical law. This, however, is not the slightest evidence that those concepts are true or that those beings exist.
This is the reason that coherency is necessary but not sufficient for truth.
You misunderstand what this equation implies. It implies that the universe itself is foundational. It is in no need of a foundation because it stands alone. If a god of some kind were to exist, that God would be just another thing IN the universe. She would not stand apart from it.
No it suggests a hypothetical reality that is named a graviton is an elementary particle. IOW an undetectable eternal being (ontological being people) is the foundation of the universe.
What did I say was the simplest metaphysical explanation to account for all reality?
Good question. You make a metaphysical claim every time you say that it's improbable that God exists. That statement implies you know how the world actually is and further implies a different atheistic metaphysical concept. You are far from just stating "you are without belief in God". You assume to hold special knowledge of the foundation of the universe.
It can be tricky if you have a very particular God concept stuck in your head that you can't shake.
What is God at it's basic understanding? An eternal foundational being that accounts for the universe. A higher power. An unspecified 'something' that is foundational to law, both logical and physical, and material reality.
What is the difference between something that can have no qualities which make it detectable and something that does not exist? No diff. The godthing has no qualities which make it detectable, therefore, it probably does not exist. In fact, it is impossible for it to exist because existent things by definition have detectable qualities.
Nobody cares about theology except believers who need to find a way to justify their belief in improbable/impossible beings.
Aliens, dark matter and gravitons, ohmy! Some may not have been detected yet, true, but they still have qualities that are detectable and the probabilities for their existence is much higher than zero if you can follow the math. Name one quality of godthing that might be detectable. Warm fuzzy feelings when you're on your knees beside your bed don't count.
Since you didn't address what I posted, I'm guessing it is you who is bitter and flustered, lol. I bet you talk to the godthing, don't you? Don't lie. hehe
Re: "What is God at it's basic understanding? An eternal foundational being that accounts for the universe. A higher power. An unspecified 'something' that is foundational to law, both logical and physical, and material reality."
Why should anyone EVER believe this godthing even POSSIBLY exists?
Ugh you can't even see when you contradict yourself. It's like you are googling random atheist responses from the internet and copy/pasting whatever you think is relevant...