What we can see in the universe, and what reason tells us, is that intelligence is something that develops very slowly - On the wider scale, 4 billion years or so of evolution and on the personal scale, years of growth and development and learning to get from a single cell to a fully mature and functional adult.
How, then, can anyone believe that intelligence can exist fully formed from nothing? We wouldn't give any credence to the idea that a fully formed human being could just exist for no reason, with no history, no development, no learning, so how can anyone believe that something infinitely more amazing - an intelligent entity capable of designing and creating an entire universe - can just exist for no reason?
We don't know why the universe exists, and may never know, but it takes far more faith than I could ever have to believe that intelligence existed without a universe for it to evolve and develop in.
Which seems more reasonable to you?
2006-08-21 01:43:42 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Carol M: I notice you didn't answer the question.
2006-08-21 01:54:37 · update #1
purple_kathryn: You're so right. Reality is so much more fascinating than the banal religious non-explanation, which just amounts to "God Did It".
2006-08-21 01:55:44 · update #2
CatholicMOM: Logic and human intelligence are indeed fallible - to err is human - but they are all we have. Faith gets us nowhere.
2006-08-21 02:01:19 · update #3
Paul S: Excellent answer.
2006-08-21 02:08:01 · update #4
Yup, you nailed it. The creationists' "how can something come from nothing?" argument is the ultimate log in their own eyes. They make a huge deal out of the fact that we don't have an explanation for that, but manage to excuse the fact that they don't have an explanation for it either PLUS they've added an additional entity to be explained.
My favorite creationist folly is when they point out how difficult it is to design intricate things, point out that no-one has ever made life from inanimate matter...and then say that's evidence FOR the intelligent design of life. Yesterday some guy here who works in construction did that, making a big deal about how hard it is for people to coordinate a major project, and then claiming that mean that the development of life must have been done by intelligent beings. About a week ago someone posted a "question" challenging scientists to create life in a lab, and claiming that our inability to do so means that life must have been created. Phew.
Life is simply far too complex to have been intelligently designed, and it is the ultimate arrogance to believe otherwise.
[ And no, adding "God can do anything" doesn't save the argument. Once again, if you're allowed to pull things like that out of thin air then it's still a better explanation to say "evolution also has magic". ]
2006-08-21 01:48:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
What about the default position? Science has not yet figured out how the universe came to exist, or if it has always existed. Science is an ongoing process to discover the truth, so we shouldn't expect that we can immediately answer every possible question.
I, for one, am not bothered in the least to say, "I don't know how or why the universe exists, and anyone who claims otherwise is just guessing."
2006-08-21 01:52:31 · answer #2 · answered by Steven S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Believing in an uncreated creator because the argument is that "everything is created" apart from the creator for some reason.
I don't mind that there's no creator of the universe, i find it far more fascinating that we're ultimately here by chance than design.
2006-08-21 01:52:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Supposedly we know (from Intelligent Design) that a being such as God ... one with intelligence and creativity ... a designed instrument for certain ... MUST have a designer.
Thus Omni-God exists (Omni-God is God's designer).
And since Omni-God needs a designer too, we have Super-Cool-Ultra-Mega-God (Omni-God's designer). He is "Ultra" and "Mega" because he comes with a special power suit and his hands shoot off when you press a button on his back.
Now if one of those three could get off the sofa and design me some more adjectives ... I need to name more designers.
Oh ... the question ... uhm, (b) "god exists uncreated" requires more faith.
Cheers!
2006-08-21 02:18:08 · answer #4 · answered by Arkangyle 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good logic I suppose, but logic and human intellegence are so inferior to the forces which govern the world. For this reason I believe that there is a God and that He revealed Himself to us in His Word--the Bible and Jesus His Son and our Savior. His revelation of His great love in creating us, His people is all the "proof" that I need. If you need more-pray for God to enlighten you--know mere human is going to be able to (according to your calculations) for many millions of years!
2006-08-21 01:55:58 · answer #5 · answered by CatholicMOM 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A childs ability to learn is amazing!
Intelligence is inbuilt. Knowledge and wisdom accumulates over time (for humans)
Your question is flawed, as is your logic.
Check out www.creationontheweb.com.au for sound arguments and apologetics
2006-08-21 02:15:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
only one flaw with this argument - intelligence doesn't develop as we grow so much as knowledge
otherwise, very good question
guess I have my personal reasons in believing in the Creator, but I don't even pretend to be able to answer where the Creator came from - it is beyond my ability to answer, as is the origin of the universe.
2006-08-21 01:53:40 · answer #7 · answered by bregweidd 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If human wisdom was the measure for truth, then you might be correct to assume that. However, if you accept the possibility of God, then you must also consider the possibility that he could be right in what he says even if it doesn't seem reasonable to you.
2006-08-21 01:54:05 · answer #8 · answered by jewel_flower 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
God does exist and nothing anyone can say or do will ever change that.
2006-08-21 01:50:02 · answer #9 · answered by Carol M 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋