: : I don't understand the question, nor do you, nor can either of us be made to understand it because it is simply not understandable. So I'll politely pass and offer, instead, a previous post that proves that it is impossible for you to be an atheist. Please see post titled "Of course you don't, its impossible" by Deep Daddio Nine in this room. : Come on Daddio.
: His question is completely coherent. If it stikes a "discord" in you....Too bad. Can you offer proof? No.
: The fact of the matter is that this is an argument that has been going on since recorded history.
: I havent read your post about atheists but I'm sure its just as subjective as this one.
: Go take a philosphy course and see for yourself that this question will never be answered to living men. Ever. You must traverse the Bardos to fully understand.
What will never be proven is whether a 'god' exists. However i think there is a plethora of evidence to suggest that christianity is the biggest bunch of bullshit ever served. Just look at history for the evidence:
1) The 12 testaments written by a pharisee in 100 BC that basically contain the substance of the gospels. Guess this makes the 'son of god' a plagiarist.
2) There are in fact around 50 gospels. The fact that 4 were chosen is based upon the whims of the founding fathers. A true historical anaylsis cannot deny a treatment of these texts also.
3) The old and new testaments contain FUNDAMENTAL INCONSISTENCIES
4) It was often said to me in days gone by that there was 'more proof for jesus as son of god than there was for julius caesar'. What a preposterous lie. There is a gobsmacking pile of evidence for caesar...one needs only look at the historical records of roman law.
5) Besides this there is also the FACT that early christians loved to BURN BOOKS that did not accord with their beliefs. Thus the only remaining evidence of a treatise by celsus that systematically set out to show jesus was not the messiah exists only in the form of an unconvincing refutation written by a christian 'scholar'.
6) The romans had a noted love for legend, many of the stories about their foundations are accepted to be myths created by writers...why should christianity be any different.
7) There are many different religions in the world. These religions have developed in differing cultural contexts. This suggests that religion is contingent upon culture and is not in fact some sort of truth. If the christian god were real, then i would expect him to have manifested himself all over the world, not just to a select bunch.
8) Christians are often fond of appealing to subjective experience: ie 'i know god is real because i felt him...'. This knowledge claim would be just as valid for any other 'super entity' as it would be for christianity. So if a christian weants to claim 'knowledge by revelation', then jews, buddists, muslims, etc are just as justified in claiming it. (Not that i would even consider it knowledge).
9) There are clear errors in the new testament. eg Paul's implied blessing of slavery.
I could probably go on until the new year, but the sad thing is, there is no point. Christians are not interested in rational debate, they are interested in quoting dogmas ad nauseum.
As a matter of fact i had the pleasure of running into a missionary yeasterday, and being the kind soul i am decided to stop and have a chat. Naturally he was quite disturbed to hear that my path was not lit by the divine light.
So he tried to convert me. He used all the old arguments...He said: 'Well what if I am right and you are wrong, isn't it better to take the chance that i am right rather than suffer eternal damnation?' 'Well', i said 'if i was to take that point of view i would have to adopt every religion in the world'...'But no!' he said, 'i know that christianity is true'...so i said, 'in the same way that buddists know buddha and muslims know allah to be real?' He didn't have an answer for that. Then i mentioned that Paul had given his blessing to slavery and he became agitated...'PAUL WAS A PROPHET OF GOD he exclaimed GOD can say anything yhe likes'...So i said it was ok to approve slavery then...'GOD CAN SAY WHAT HE LIKES'...etc etc etc etc
HMMMM, not much rational debate there, cos christians, are incapable of it. That little 'you can't be an athiest' argument that Daddio pointed out is just another example of blind christian arrogance and dogma.
*Sigh*, if only Nero were still around...
