The 'best' arguments for atheism and Christianity

[Doug Shaver]

But my point was about the Gospels being written four decades after the events.

Why should I believe they were written then?

[Tassman]

Jim you are claiming that it is a fairy tale, but there is no evidence that it is a fairy tale or that the writers intended to spin a yarn.

The narratives were written long after the events by non-eyewitnesses, who were passing on stories in circulation about Jesus and which probably grew more fanciful in the telling.

But my point was about the Gospels being written four decades after the events. Which is not a problem since many original followers of Christ could still around.

[seer]

Why should I believe they were written then?

I don't know ask Jim, that is what he claimed.

[Roy]

God is not physical. At least not in the sense that we understand physical.

Prove it!

[seer]

In case this is all going over your head Homer, the ONLY reason I ask atheists/materialists to PROVE anything is because that is what they are are always asking us to do. Thereby highlighting their double standard.

[crepuscule]

Science is "the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment."* Or "systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. "**

Thus you can test any part of the material universe, but you can not go outside and test the origin of the universe.

And I never said that you could, though I fail to see what this has to do with the point I made.

[Jedidiah]

And I never said that you could, though I fail to see what this has to do with the point I made.

This:

If the universe is self-existent, can it not be scientifically tested then?

Appeared to me to be such a suggestion. The answer is no.

[shunyadragon]

Science is "the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment."* Or "systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. "**

Thus you can test any part of the material universe, but you can not go outside and test the origin of the universe.


* According to Google
** According to Dictionary.com

I believe the origins of the universe may be to tested to certain extent, but that extent has not been determined yet. As far as the origin of our physical existence science cannot test for the origins.

[Tassman]

In case this is all going over your head Homer, the ONLY reason I ask atheists/materialists to PROVE anything is because that is what they are are always asking us to do. Thereby highlighting their double standard.

[Jedidiah]

I believe the origins of the universe may be to tested to certain extent, but that extent has not been determined yet. As far as the origin of our physical existence science cannot test for the origins.

Any examples of possibilities?

[seer]

No Tass, you guys are constantly making claims in our discussions here that you can not prove. Like Jim's claim in this thread that the Gospel were fairy tales, you do the same thing.

[Tassman]

No Tass, you guys are constantly making claims in our discussions here that you can not prove. Like Jim's claim in this thread that the Gospel were fairy tales, you do the same thing.

[seer]

I was not speaking of science, but of your faith claims, like this fairy tale thing. There is zero evidence that the writers of the New Testament intended to write fairy tales or thought they were writing fairy tales. And if you make the claim it is on you to justify it.

[tabibito]

Science can test for falsifiable evidence where events follow a natural, predictable, and normal course. It can't test for events that are the result of volition - those are wholly unpredictable.

[crepuscule]

This:

Appeared to me to be such a suggestion. The answer is no.

I'm still thinking you're talking about the origin or cause of the universe that can not be a subject of science. The universe itself can be tested: we can measure its size, mass, age, etc.