Follow-up Question to "Curious about Something?"?

Question

Okay, I asked agnostics and atheists if you believed in life on other planets, and the overwhelming answer was yes.

Yet we have no proof of it. I am eliminating one answer which questions whether they're living in "another dimension"....but all the others seemed to indicate that the sheer SIZE of the universe led them to believe that we were probably not alone.

Now follow me here....being a Christian I wonder why the sheer complexity of that same universe does not lead you to think that God might exist, too.

It appears that you are willing to accept the possibility of aliens without ANY scientific proof that they exist, but for God you require some "proof". Doesn't that seem hypocritical?

I am NOT saying you are all hypocritical. If anything, agnostics and atheists are less so than Christians because they believe what they believe and don't say one thing and do another, which some people calling themselves "Christians" do.

To: Marooned on Earth:

You say you won't say there ARE aliens until you see one. Fair enough. But you still think they MAY exist....

So why not God?

To: darwinsfriend:
You say "I believe there is some evidence albeit as yet unsubstantiated which is why I believe the posibility that alin life exists.
As yet there is not even any evidence let alone proof that a god might exist.
If any such evidence were to come to light then I would adjust my thinking accordingly."

1. What is the unsubstantiated proof of aliens?

2. You don't consider the testimony of millions of human beings even "unsubstantiated proof"?

To: REBORN:

Yes, possibility and probability are different, but that doesn't answer the question. If you are willing to accept the POSSIBILITY of one, why not the other?

To: puckheaded:

You say "There is more evidence that there could be alien life than that Jesus was the son of god." and then you refer to "NASA...and what they've found in comet dust, on one of Saturn's moons, on Mars. All of these have shown more to prove that the possibility of life on another planet is possibile."

But the bottom line is, you are willing to believe it WITHOUT PROOF. If you are willing to take possibility as proof, then why aliens and not God??

Lots of great answers and discussion; thanks.....but NO ONE has answered my question about the COMPLEXITY of the universe pointing to the possibility of God.

Answer 1

You know what? You make a great point. But I think we all know the answer. They'll believe in anything just as long as it's not a God who will hold them personally accountable for their sin. It's all about pride and the almighty human ego.

Answer 2

There is more evidence that there could be alien life than that Jesus was the son of god. I didn't answer your first question, but this one shows your ignorance. Read about what exploration NASA alone has done, and what they've found in comet dust, on one of Saturn's moons, on Mars. All of these have shown more to prove that the possibility of life on another planet is possibile. What has Christianity done to prove there is the possibility of your god? Was it that Saint who banished the lochness monster back into the sea? Maybe, Paul, the former murderous Saul? Get a clue.

Show your evidence of God. Not your bible. But the evidence thta it is a proven scientific possiblility..

Answer 3

The fact that we are alive is evidence of the possibility of life existing on another planet, keeping in mind there are an estimated billion billion planets. I do not believe alien beings exist, only that mathematically speaking they *could* exist, as I am proof that there are living things (I being one of them). I am inclined to believe there are aliens, as it seems likely, but I can not say definitively that they do exist, only that there is a good chance. If proof were offered that strongly suggested aliens exist, I would believe in their existence.

I do not believe in your god, as there is no reason to. There is no evidence for any god to have ever existed, therefore I should reasonably conclude that one does not exist. I am open to the possibility of a god existing to the point that I am open to the possibility of the FSM being real. That is, neither is likely, however proof of their existence would be enough for me to believe.

Edit: You seem to be stuck on telling people if they are able to accept that something that hasn't been proven may exist then they have no basis for not accepting that your version of god exists. Where, exactly, do you draw the line in the "possibility" of something's existence? Are you simply open to the possibility of any and everything existing? Why do you stop at your god? Do you think you are open-minded because you allow for anything to be possible and true? What is your point? Why do you equate possibility with undeniable truth? When someone says the jury is still out on the possibility of alien life, current research and evidence suggesting it does exist, why do you make the leap that they are now unequivocally certain that it is does exist? You make the leap of faith, not them. They are simply saying, based on scientific evidence, life probably exists on other planets. The same can be said of your god.....scientific evidence points to its non-existence. Can you really see no difference?

Complexity is no reason for me to grasp at the supernatural. It is what drives science and understanding forward. You and I can both stand in awe of the universe. You can say it is so complex that something (see God) might have played a part in it. I say it is amazing and I would love to know how it all happened. I would then study science and promote the further research currently being done, all the while god would not come into play for me, as saying goddidit makes for more questions than answers and is incredibly unsatisfying. The circular logic of "well, god exists outside of time and space, therefore needs no creator" is not stimulating nor fulfilling. It is an end-all to actual learning.

I'd also like to thank the gentleman who was claiming to be *fair* to atheists by setting up silly straw men and claiming to know what I MUST believe. Thanks for your fairness.

Answer 4

I love your analogy, especially as a Christian!

However, in all *fairness* to the atheist I thought more about this from their perspective...

Since they do not believe God exists, they are FORCED to "believe" in evolution. And IF evolution did occur to bring about life on this little speck in the universe, I would say that it is also likely that life also "evolved" in other parts of the universe...

However, science has proven that earth is extremely unique, even though it was once thought to be "just an average planet with an average star". And it turns out, from a scientific point of view, that the probability of there being life on another plant is extremely small...

But given the vast expanse and size of this universe...IF life "evolved" on its own "against all odds", then there is the possibility that it "evolved" somewhere else, too...
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But, I still love your analogy.

There is certainly a TON more "proof" that God exists then there is "proof" of life on other planets! And EVEN if there was found to be life on other planets, it would (by no means) prove or disprove the existance of God!

...and nearly all scientific discoveries in the past 10 years have seemed to negate the possibility of macroevolution...

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Thanks for the thoughts!

God bless!
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Answer 5

There's a difference between accepting the probability that there exists life on other planets, and accepting the existence of an invisible, magical supernatural-being.
The universe is SO vast, with billions of galaxies, and each galaxy containing it's own sun, stars, and planets. The likelihood of our planet being the ONLY planet in the ENTIRE universe with life on it is so slim as to be completely improbable.
We're not saying that we believe in flying saucers, and little green men. We're just saying that we already have evidence that life exists (Earth), so why would we think that out of the billions upon billions of other planets throughout the universe, there aren't other planets out there that are capable of supporting life?
Yes, you do need to have an open mind, but you also need to use a little bit of REASON, too. The idea of life on other planets is reasonable. The supernatural is not reasonable.

Answer 6

we have seen a planet with life , extrapolation makes me believe there might most likely be other planets with life. This is not the case with gods.

I do not need an even more compelx thing that 'explains' the complexity of the universe. it doesnt, it replaces one thing with another thing but

t h e q u e s t i o n r e m a i n s

It is for me incredible that this doesnt popup in some brains.

Answer 7

For me I believe there is some evidence albeit as yet unsubstantiated which is why I believe the posibility that alin life exists.
As yet there is not even any evidence let alone proof that a god might exist.
If any such evidence were to come to light then I would adjust my thinking accordingly.

Answer 8

In my opinion, believing in extra-terrestrial life and believing in god are mutually exclusive.

If you believe that there is a god and that humans are his "special little creatures", then it seems kind of silly to think that there are other life-forms in the universe, considering the book of genesis says that Adam was given dominion over all the creatures. And man can't have dominion over something he'll never reach.

However, if you accept the theory of evolution, then you must also (probably) accept that life could have developed on other worlds with the proper conditions. Since we don't view earth as being "divinely favored", why should we insist that life could ONLY have developed and flourished here?

**edit: No, the complexity of the universe doesn't prove the existence of a god to me. Sorry.

Answer 9

That is why fighting with others about their beliefs is so feudal. Every person believes things exist that they can't see or prove. Can anyone prove that Love exists? If I put my belief in God in the same category that I put all my other emotions then how can you prove to me God, Love, Hate, and fear don't exists? How can I prove to you that God, Love, Hate, and fear does exists? No one can Prove or Disprove what they feel in their heart so why all the fighting? Maybe it is just the nature of man. Wars and fighting just to prove an unprovable point!

Answer 10

I don't find it hypocritical.
Religions make claims about this god. That it wants to interact with us, that it directs our lives and answers prayers. If this is true, I would expect to see some proof that this is so. All of the gods we know about make claims, but until I see these claims backed up, I have no reason to think they exist.

However, we know that the universe can sustain life. We are here, after all, so we know that a planet can maintain an ecosystem. Being that the universe is so vast, most people are inclined to think that the odds are in life's favor, that's all.

Now, if people claim that aliens visit us, want to interact with us, etc. I will ask them to prove that claim, same as with God.

Answer 11

What may be relaxing is that if each and all the Republicans joined the Democratic occasion and delivered all their recommendations and applicants with them. Combining the conservative Democrats with the Republicans might substitute the complexion of the Democratic occasion drastically. it would be plenty extra complicated for intense "liberals" to push their schedule.