"It seems to me that we get into trouble when we posit God as being anything other than what individuals and communities experience God to be.
Saying/writing that God IS this, that or the other thing involves the same logical fallacy as the Cartesian "Cogito ergo sum." That is, the argument is circular.
I write as someone who believes in God and who is part of a community (Christian denomination) that professes belief in God. However, belief is not proof in the scientific sense. We always only "act as if" God is real; God loves us; God wants us to love one another; etc.
An argument often used by religious people is that they have nothing to lose by believing in God and that Atheists are risking eternity in Hell for no gain.
On the face of it, it is quite convincing but it falls apart once you seriously examine it.
- A thread
The argument basically is you have 2 choices.
Either believe in God or don’t.
There are only 2 results.
Either God exists or he/she/it doesn’t.
If you believe and God exists, you gain eternal reward.
If you don’t believe and God does exist, you face eternal torment.
What's the easiest way to make an atheist believe in God?
Extremely easy. Just provide objective evidence for God existing and leave the atheist alone. He will figure it out.🤞🏽
But before you get too excited, the following things do not qualify as objective evidence:
-A thread
ANYTHING FROM A HOLY TEXT.
The only reason why holy texts are to be taken seriously is that they are allegedly inspired by a deity. Therefore it cannot be used as evidence for the deity’s existence because this would create a circular argument.
THEISTS’ PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
Theists having the feeling there has to be a god or having a personal relationship to said god is entirely subjective and therefore is not objective evidence.
Religious beliefs thrive when they are sequestered and unquestioned. Living in a small homogeneous community works best. Religions can claim anything they like, such as “you get your morality from religion.”
What happens when you look around and see other people who believe something different than you, and are also living good lives.
You may well realize that some of what you’ve been taught isn’t true, and that what you’re taught conflicts with what those other people are taught.
You might think about why they believe that, & why you believe what you do.
You may even realize that culture is the biggest factor in what religion you are, & that if you were brought up in a different country, it’s quite likely that you’d be a different religion than you are.
"O Prophet, We have made lawful to you those of your wives, whose dowers you have paid, and those women who come into your possession out of the slave girls granted by Allah, and the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts,...
and of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have migrated with you, and the believing woman who gives herself to the Prophet if the Prophet may desire to marry her. This privilege is for you only, not for the other believers.
Dear Christians, is there anything else to do in Heaven besides worship & praise God for all of eternity?
At least, Islam assures me of sex in paradise with virgins, and wine that won't get me intoxicated. Allah will grant all your desires in paradise. Even if you want Rihanna.
"Indeed, the people of Paradise will be busy enjoying themselves. They and their spouses shall be reclining on their couches in shady groves; therein there will be all kinds of fruits to eat, and they shall have all that they desire."
Quran 36:55-57
"We are your supporters in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. There you will have whatever your souls desire, and there you will have whatever you ask for: A hospitable gift from one Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."