God of the gaps?

Question

Sometimes i ask questions like this one,
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvrDk29hHo8jAIkC5RmvpUjsy6IX?qid=20061228145133AAuuPM1
That seem to cut right to the heart of an issue. Usually this issue hinges around a certain belief that people have about the nature of god or the things that god is said to have done. In these cases where it seems that i have presented a very good case for the atheist viewpoint that believers tend to ignore the issue completely or retreat to a "safety zone," applying god to something that is thougth to have an effect on the issue but is not directly addressed in the question.

Is it so difficult to abandon a belief that obviously isn't compatable with reality? Or even simply to say "you've got a point?" or even better "i guess i don't know the answer." What is it about mystery and inquiry that frightens those who have a tendancy towards religious belief and superstition?

And how far can one effectively retreat with their god until there's nowhere left to go with it?

Answer 1

Those who are properly educated are taught that what they believe is not the same as fact. Those people will avoid most flawed arguments, avoid generalizations, and refrain using the phrase "I know" unless they know. I think that this kind of subtlety in language is often not used, and this leads to confusion. A Christian will say, "I know God exists". An atheist will say, "There is no God." This will annoy people like you, who realize that it is more intellectually preferable to say "I believe", "I think", "In my opinion," or simply, as you've said, "I don't know."

I think that people sometimes avoid admitting that there is no way they could possibly know that what they claim to be factual is or is not true, because they feel that it weakens their position. It does not do so in reality, but perhaps the more emphatic wording of a statement such as "I know that..." feels more vehement, and less likely to be challenged.

Or I could be wrong. ;-)

Answer 2

I see such a misrepresentation of religion going on. I just read the answer you chose as best. Never in the Bible does it say that the earth is flat. That was a human concept. Also it does not say that disease is cause by demons. Some claim that the demons that were "cast out", was mental illness that was mistook for being supernatural due to their ignorance. But even today there are documented cases of demonic possession. They mostly occur in third world countries because Satan has a greater influence on those who are ignorant.
Also, regarding your original post, I would say that you have a point. But it comes down to choosing. Do I choose to believe that lifeless matter has the capability to ignore physical laws and form into something infinitely more complex? Even with no direction and more poignantly, no real purpose?
Or do I believe that an ever existing all knowing perfect God decided to form life and even had me in mind? (I'm not trying to paint mine better, I am simply stating the claim)
Both are untestable. Both are simply speculation scientifically speaking, so why is your speculation more valid than mine?
I'm sorry you have found the truth to be such an unworthy adversary.

Answer 3

ah.........I am wondering why it is so important for you to be an atheist? So, willing to say there is no God aka Higher Power.

Science compliments the Creator and the Creator compliments evolution. There are many who are in the Faith who live by faith and not able to argue or deal with atheists.

I do believe that Religion has messed up the Creators plans, but HE has a good sense of humor and He is patient with humans who don't have a clue of the power of the universe & so we deal with it in songs, and worship and studies........nothing wrong with those things, but the universe is so far beyond our comprehension that we have to trust that Higher Power or feel totally empty, useless and makes life pointless.

Consider this........ Take a 747 jet plane- crush it into pieces so small that they can only be seen by a powerful microscope. Then put it in a wind tunnel. Blow them around for a hunderd years or so.....or even a thousand years or 10 million years.....What are the chances that a 747 or anything remotly usedul would be made by those small particles? Sllim to none

God confirms evolution and evolution confirms a higher power.

Some conservatives get scared by the word evolution. Or Big Bang. Actually God & Science walk hand in hand. It is the humans that create new religious routiens that placate our restless spirits that are in constant search of personal peace and understanding.

Faith is a powerful word. You might want to try it some time.

Answer 4

If an Atheist could prove to me that he does not believe in God then I will listen to what he has to say ,but seeing how he/she cant prove it then I must assume by their on logic that they do not exist

Answer 5

Did someone say ginger snaps?