Or anything supernatural, for that matter?
"There must be something more, something bigger than us out there. Saying that you're an atheist and that you don't believe in anything supernatural is very arrogant, since there HAS to be something else. How do you explain all the claims of ghost sightings and demon possetions?"
A friend of mine recently told me this when we had a discussion on religion. What say you?
2007-11-25 12:15:44 · 12 answers · asked by Alex H 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just because a person wishes for something to be so, does not mean that it is. And, even though you would think that there should be more, we have no reason to assume that there is, and have no way of knowing WHAT that "something else" can be.
For all we know, the full extent of the "something else" that has to be is a ball of sentient pink sludge that arranges all the atoms of the universe, which he Himself is not only the origin of, but also composed of. Pray to the Sentient Pink Sludge...lest ye be consumed...
2007-11-25 12:22:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
The flaw is on the assumption. You probably should not start the discussion with the assumption that there HAS to be anything else.
A better philisphical argument would start with the positive statement, "there is no god", and then procede to show that the false of negative statement, "there is a god" to be true. The logical fallacy of this is that is always impossible to prove a negative as a positive hypothesis. The problem here is in the scope of the investigation. No one has ever experienced anything beyond this universe.
So, how do you show that something beyond this universe exists? The nature, fine tuning, and understandable organization of the universe indicates that something outside of the universe may be involved. Many other astronomical and physical indicators are more consistent with Bible comments than modern investigators.
Prophecy and 100% fulfillment of prophecy in history and archeology may be another proof of whatever text you are calling holy writ as holy writ. The present existence of Israel may be used here and more.
Actually, an atheist or agnostic has more faith than any pagan or Christian. A life liven and driven by natural events is one with little hope beyond the grave.
Paranormal or supernatural experience is at least an empircal for of data. And these may lead to the acknoledgement of something beyond natural processes regardless of source. The events at least show that things may happen by means beyond our present level of understanding.
The calendar designations BC and AD is an acknoledgement by all that history was different in BC before Christ than AD year of our LORD. Modern attempts to remove God from civilization resulted in the terms BCE and CE, common era terms.
The continuous and ubiquitous presence of religion in all human history and cultures may be used as an indication that man needs and seeks communication and peace with something or someone supernatural and supreme. From here the definition and differences between faith, religion and works may be discussed.
More lines of reasoning do exist.
2007-11-25 12:45:01 · answer #2 · answered by idiot 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No way. Two fallacies in the argument. First, as one poster noted above, the fallacy of incredulity (or the fallacy of "it's incredible, therefore there must be something incredible to explain it..."). The other fallacy is the false alternative: if X cannot explain Y, then "of course" Z is the explanation (even if Z is more ridiculous than any other possibility!).
And you can also add this: extraordinary claims (like for the existence of god) require extraordinary evidence. The responsibility is upon the advocate of the claim "for" something to prove it; otherwise, the claim must remain unproven.
2007-11-25 12:36:15 · answer #3 · answered by kwxilvr 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nope. That's just the Argument from Incredulity.
"I can't explain ghost sightings/demonic possession without invoking God, so therefore, goddidit."
2007-11-25 12:21:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Nonsense. "Ghosts" and "possessions" turn out to be nothing more than wild anecdotes, mental illness, and tales for the gullible. There has not been any verifiable case of a "haunting" or a "possession"...just vague stories with nothing but air to back them up.
2007-11-25 16:14:04 · answer #5 · answered by Scott M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, your friend is indulging in wishful thinking. There doesn't HAVE to be anything supernatural (meaning: outside nature).
Just what we CAN comprehend is quite weird and wonderful enough without introducing magic into things. (Richard Dawkins and others, paraphrased)
2007-11-25 12:25:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I don't. and it's not a valid argument. Just because you don't know the answer, doesn't mean the answer is god.
2007-11-25 12:21:12 · answer #7 · answered by punch 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Nope, not valid. Lazy thinking and superstitious.
2007-11-25 12:21:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
None that I'm currently aware of. If you find out let me know.
2007-11-25 12:19:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i say God doesn't require anyone to argue for His existence, anymore than air does...He is
2007-11-25 12:26:46 · answer #10 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋