@Dave Allen,
Dave Allen wrote:I don't know if it would convince me, exactly, but any arguement that defined what God was and explained without resort to fiat, analogy or browbeating why that particular definition of God was better than all the alternatives then I would certainly respect it.
The argument would have to (for me personally) stay away from chestnuts such as how morality can't exist without God; why there must be a first cause and why that first cause must be God; and wouldn't everything just be a lot nicer if we were part of a divine plan incorporating such things as heaven and eternal life.
The proposer of the arguement would then be able to defend his points against any objections raised.
This would not be "proof" exactly, but it would greatly impress me.
fair point so I will answer it. This is
not a proof, but I hope it impresses you.
The universe is made up of that which cannot be seen. In a material sense this means tiny organisms, atoms and invisbile proccesses. However the most significant things are beyond any physical observation- they must be discovered using the mind, using reason. The things that we hold most important, most dear are ideas. Love, Hope, Kindness, Charity, Justice- invisible. Yet they are not touchable, not within our grasp, not physically there. Do you think that Love isn't real? No. Infact in terms of importance love is held to be more important than the material. The realm of thoughts, of ideaologies, of ideas, of dreams is more important than the material. It is founded on and requires the material, as it's framework, but all the most significant of human interactions and events are mostly invisible existing in our hearts, minds and souls. That we live in a world of invisible non-physical entities is more true than saying we live in the material world. In this argument God is not a proven fact, but he is as justifiable a belief as a belief in love, or in a politcal system or any other belief. The conceptual world is based in the physical world, and god is the highest possible, greatest possible thing that the human mind can conceive- he is that which justifies the world of the conceptual and the material.
I have alot more justifications to make, but as you haven't really answered the premise of the thread, I can only really offer a prelimianry explanation.
Not being evasive here, but I need some basis for the kind of proof that would satisfy you before I can give it you.