Positive proof?

[Hermit]

It is a truism that you cannot prove a negative. For this reason I cannot prove God does not exist.

However, there is a corollary to this truism. It is really easy to prove a positive. Proving God does exist falls into this category. All that is needed is for the Big Man himself to come down to Earth, shining his golden radiance, and perform a bunch of miracles. He has not done so.

Why?

He's been there. Done that.
He would come again, but he can't find a virgin.

Nor three wise men.

[laklak]

Or a numpty like Joseph.

[Animavore]

It's like I've always said. Religion is falsifiable.

[Seth]

Is it? Then why are they having so much trouble proving that life began through "naturalistic" (ie: without intelligent involvement) means?

The question you are asking is : "Can we prove that life did not begin with an intelligent agency?"

Wrong.

Note, Seth, that this is a negative proof, which supports my thesis.

Nope.

How do we know God has not been around showing himself some time in the last 5000 years? Obviously we do not.

Correct. Therefore the only rational statement you can make about it is "I don't know."

But we cannot trust writings that were intitally passed down as word of mouth information, and only written down later when a suitably educated person was available.

Why not? What critically robust scientific evidence do you have that the writings were not dictated by and edited by God himself?

Certainly we have seen nothing of the Big Man in the last cople centuries,

No, YOU haven't.

and if the Christians are correct, he is omnipotent, omniscient, and wants us all to know and worship him.

Indeed, that is what they claim. What if they are wrong? Does that affect the existence or non-existence of God?

If they are correct, then why is he hiding?

Perhaps he's not hiding. Perhaps you're just ignoring him.

[Blind groper]

Seth

I am totally open to suitable evidence. If the Big Man wants to come down and show himself, I will be open to that kind of persuasion, and I would become the most fervent believer you ever saw.

But to be asked to believe something without reasonable evidence is pure gullibility.

[Seth]

Seth

I am totally open to suitable evidence. If the Big Man wants to come down and show himself, I will be open to that kind of persuasion, and I would become the most fervent believer you ever saw.

But to be asked to believe something without reasonable evidence is pure gullibility.

You're not being asked to believe anything at all, you're being challenged on your failures of reasoning and logic and the false religious beliefs that flow from your irrationality.

[Animavore]

It is a truism that you cannot prove a negative. For this reason I cannot prove God does not exist.

However, there is a corollary to this truism. It is really easy to prove a positive. Proving God does exist falls into this category. All that is needed is for the Big Man himself to come down to Earth, shining his golden radiance, and perform a bunch of miracles. He has not done so.

Why?

According to the Bible he has done so. Jesus was supposedly God himself.

It should be easy enough to test God. Gideon did it by asking God to show himself by making a towel wet. I tried this myself, but nothing happened. I believe another character asked God to make an axe-head float.

[Seth]

It is a truism that you cannot prove a negative. For this reason I cannot prove God does not exist.

However, there is a corollary to this truism. It is really easy to prove a positive. Proving God does exist falls into this category. All that is needed is for the Big Man himself to come down to Earth, shining his golden radiance, and perform a bunch of miracles. He has not done so.

Why?

According to the Bible he has done so. Jesus was supposedly God himself.

It should be easy enough to test God. Gideon did it by asking God to show himself by making a towel wet. I tried this myself, but nothing happened. I believe another character asked God to make an axe-head float.

Testing God seems to be somewhat risky. After all, a sentient being is under no obligation to comply with such requests.

[Animavore]

It is a truism that you cannot prove a negative. For this reason I cannot prove God does not exist.

However, there is a corollary to this truism. It is really easy to prove a positive. Proving God does exist falls into this category. All that is needed is for the Big Man himself to come down to Earth, shining his golden radiance, and perform a bunch of miracles. He has not done so.

Why?

According to the Bible he has done so. Jesus was supposedly God himself.

It should be easy enough to test God. Gideon did it by asking God to show himself by making a towel wet. I tried this myself, but nothing happened. I believe another character asked God to make an axe-head float.

Testing God seems to be somewhat risky. After all, a sentient being is under no obligation to comply with such requests.

HE can do what he wants I guess. He just has no right to whine when people don't believe he exists.

[Blind groper]

Interesting that the most rapidly growing system of religious belief is atheism. I guess humanity is finally growing up.

[rainbow]

It is a truism that you cannot prove a negative.

Drivel.

[pErvinalia]

Interesting that the most rapidly growing system of religious belief is atheism. I guess humanity is finally growing up.

Atheism isn't a belief system, Seth.

[pErvinalia]

It is a truism that you cannot prove a negative.

Drivel.

It's not drivel, troll. It's perfectly logical in the context of what he is talking about.

[rainbow]

Interesting that the most rapidly growing system of religious belief is atheism. I guess humanity is finally growing up.

Atheism isn't a belief system, Seth.

Do you honestly believe that?
In your deepest soul?

[pErvinalia]

Yes, soul sister.