For people who don't believe God exists...Can you agree to this?

Question

This was a quote by one of my evolutionist friends when asked about life existing on elsewhere in the universe....:

"There are few absolutes, simple answers, clear conclusions in life, and this is certainly not one of them. Since we don't know what is out there, it would be unreasonable to state declaratively that something isn't there."

Please tell me your thoughts.....

My reason behind asking is....
If you don't ACTUALLY KNOW who God is.....
and you haven't ACTUALLY seen Him...technically.....how can you say He's not there? And I'm not referring to a "man-made God" I'm talking about the real thing.

Most people don't believe in Him because they don't see Him.....but does that honestly mean He isn't there? People who don't literally see the air they breathe never stop intentionally breathing because they don't "see" it as they breathe. Life is something to be experienced and Love is something to be felt as well as to be seen. But if you don't feel something (in your heart of hearts) you can't Truly and genuinely see it. For what it actually is.
God Loves you all. I hope you can receive this.

Answer 1

I would agree, but my feeling is there isn't anything after this.

Answer 2

While this statement works perfectly well for the belief that life exists elsewhere in the universe, it does not do so for proving that god exists. I'll explain.

First of all, the statement really works because of statistical probability. Since we know that life exists on our planet, considering how many planets exist, the odds that life does not exist elsewhere is very small. This is based on the confirmed knowledge that there is life in the universe, namely here on Earth. However, this is not the same as saying declaratively that there is life somewhere else out there. Until we encounter it, all we can do is not say it is or isn't there.

However, we have no evidence whatsoever of god existing anywhere in the universe. Thus, we have no reason to say that we need to keep an open mind that god exists. While we cannot say with 100% ccertainty that god does not exist, the lack of evidence would certainly keep anyone from declaring not only that god does exist, but that we should even reasonably assume that it does.

Answer 3

There is a difference between stating "declaratively that something isn't there" and stating a lack of belief that something IS there. Using your extraterrestrial life example: I can't reasonably "believe" life exists elsewhere in the universe until I see some compelling evidence to that effect. However, given the unimaginable enormity of the universe, there is a very strong statistical likelihood that this is not the only planet that sustains life. So I must acknowledge and remain open to that probability. And this is where the life on other worlds example parts ways with the idea of God. There is no such statistical probability to support the existence of a god. Let alone the specific god described by the bible.

Answer 4

Apparently, your comparison is that since we don't know what is out there, it is a valid reason to believe that there likely is other life in space; and that same logic should be used to assume that there is a God as well.

I disagree, but do so respectfully..

The materialistic way of looking at the question of life on other planets is that life will develop wherever conditions are right for it. There are billions of stars in our galaxy alone, and there are billions of galaxies in the universe. It is a safe bet and a reasonable assumption to believe that there are other planets that inhabit the "Goldilocks Zone" of other, distant stars. Science knows that natural biochemical processes can create all of the organic matter necessary for life to form as we know it. The early earth was full of this organic material and the first life on it would have been far simpler and smaller than even the simplest and smallest bacteria. In short, science can afford the luxury of assuming extraterrestrial life exists because if it exists here, and if it exists here, why not elsewhere? We have empirical evidence that life formed on earth naturally. Whether God had to be involved or not is a personal belief.

However, there is no materialistic or empirical reason to believe in God. For those, like myself, who tend to view things empirically and materialistically, the only conclusion is to believe that God doesn't exist, simply because there is no empirical evidence to believe that He does.

Bertrand Russel, a famous early philosopher, once proposed that there was a small teapot circling the Sun between Earth and Mars, and that it could not be detected in the vastness of our Solar System because of its small size and great velocity. Nobody can prove that it isn't there, but is that a good reason to believe that it must be?

El Chistoso

Answer 5

First of all there is no such thing as an 'evolutionist'. Evolution is based on scientific proof and fact. Yes, it is a theory, but one steeped in absolutes and reality. God, however, is an entity based upon faith, fiction and antiquity. There are no facts leading to any proof of a God. I believe that when humans begin to question themselves and their surroundings and don't receive answers they automatically assume that 'someone' is responsible for creating their world. I do not believe in a god or gods because the notion makes about as much sense to me as does Snow White, the Tooth Fairy, Rumplestiltskin and Uncle Sam. The latter most of all because both were reminders of the consequences of lawlessness as well as ideals to 'live up to'.

Your friend may have needed to add just a few words to make himself clearer - the fact is, we do know some of what's out there. We know that other planets are perfectly capable of viable living. We know that there are galaxies far beyond the reaches of our scientific and mathematical instruments. How do we know? Because we've found so many of them - our technology has improved over the centuries because some humans would prefer to answer the questions of life by actually utilizing reason, logic and evidence. These are the people who have found cures for seemingly incurable diseases, the ones who have spent their time and energy on helping humankind to survive and knowledge to prosper rather than waiting for something better to come.

I think your friend's point is also that this universe is infinite and it is impossible for anyone to make the declaration that nothing is going on in other galaxies. We have found plant growth on other planets we have visited. This makes the idea of more life elsewhere a statistical probability rather than some floundering possibility. We are not making any wild guesses. The idea of life on other planets is not only a possibility, it has already been proved. The evidence we have for God is in the pages of a 2,000 year-old epic novel, written and re-written by numerous men throughout the last few centuries. Creationists (and they are called that because of the -'ism' attached) purport that the earth is only 4 -6,000 years old, even when faced with absolute fact. I cannot bow down to such voluntary ignorance.

I used to believe I was an agnostic until I realized that atheism was solely defined as a non-belief in deities. I always figured I couldn't be spiritual if I was an atheist because it was always shoved down my throat that atheists believe in NOTHING - which is utter nonsense. I do not believe some omniscient, omnipotent sky-figure created the universe, I find it a tired and insultingly simple notion. I am, however, spiritual in that I believe it possible there is something more beyond science and mathematics, some immeasurable energy, but to allow it human traits and characteristics or even think of it in terms of any absolutes would be ridiculous and automatically negate any "spiritual" aspects ascribed to it.

Answer 6

Because people don't have believe in God it doesn't necessarily follow that they have a belief God does not exist.

Most rational reasonable people will admit there is no way to be 100% certain about something that cannot be tested or proven, but still the likelihood of a God, given the lack of evidence and what we do know of the physical universe makes the likelihood of a God ridiculously minimal, no more or less likely than the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Fairies. Lack of evidence is a kind of evidence in itself so the probability of a God existing is not a 50-50 thing, it's more like 99.99999999% against.

Answer 7

Yes. The question, "How did we get here?" is still a huge question. It also seems as if things are very intentional in this universe. Like the harmony that exists between nature and humans. Why do I get tired when it is night and wake up when the sun comes up in the morning? Now, on the other hand we can also adapt and train ourselves to work at night and sleep during the day. But still a harmony exists. Also, it seems like humans pretty much long for the same things: joy, love, etc. Is it possible these longings were placed in our heart? Or is something else happening?

Answer 8

I definitely agree with his statement. I think it also applies to the idea of gods in general. However, I don't think it applies to all specific beliefs regarding specific gods.

While we have no real information regarding possible extraterrestrial life forms, we supposedly have a whole book full of information regarding the Christian god. So, while we have practically nothing to base judgments on in regards to aliens, we should be able to get an idea of the likelihood of the possibility of the existence of the Christian god by examining his supposed characteristics as presented in the Bible.

Based on the Biblical description of the Christian god, I would have to say that there is practically no chance of his actual existence, and if he does exist, then he is either insane or evil.

However, this does not rule out the existence of other gods. Also, it does not totally rule out the existence of the Christian god. I feel that the Christian god could possibility exist, but that he would have to have characteristics, (and historical actions), that are much different than those described in the Bible.

If a version of the Christian god such as this existed, I would say that the Bible could really only be seen as containing possible clues to the nature of this being mixed in with a lot of really nasty misinformation and wrong ideas.

Answer 9

Of course nobody can prove that a god (neither the Christian concept, or another religion's, or a pantheon, or some more abstract "higher" power) does NOT exist...but as someone pointed out, the concept is just plain ILLOGICAL!

I'm sure you've heard this before, but if your definition of a god is some being who "made" the universe, then, by logic, SOMETHING must have "made" that being too, and back, until you get to complete absurdity.

I prefer to STOP the absurdity much sooner and just say that, as far as I an tell, there is not god (no I can't prove it, but I don't care to), nor does it bother me, whether or not there is one.

IMO: "Zap" summed it up the best: If a god is supposed to be outside the parameters of time and space, then no, it can't be said to exist: EXCELLENT! (Why didn't I think of that YEARS ago???)

Answer 10

I don't necessarily disbelieve the idea of God, heaven, hell, etc; it's just that I have not been informed enough to make an intelligent decision regarding the matter.
I agree with what your friend said about not being able to definitely say that something isn't "out there".. what it is, we probably will never know, if there IS anything.
I do (sort of?) believe that there is some sort of greater force working within the universe to make things happen or "push things along", as it is - I'm just not sure if we're even supposed to really know what that "force" is.

Answer 11

You can't declare that there is or isn't life out there simply because we have no proof one way or the other. We have evidence that life CAN survive somewhere out there. We're proof of that.

It's pretty much the same as believing in God. There is no proof that he exists nor proof that he doesn't. You can't declaratively state that he does or doesn't exist.

This is why we say, I believe. By using our own faculties of reason, we can more accurately predict what may or may not be true, but not as a fact.

I find it best to stay open to speculation in ANY area of uncertainty. Reason is my God. Faith is for fools and when you put faith in the uncertain, you embrace potential disaster.