I think it’s a bit of a strawman to assume that churches are just political people looking to be tax exempt.
And I wouldn’t say there isn’t any evidence either. There was clearly a guy around called Jesus who was crucified and people testified to seeing him after he died, many in groups. And many of those people who testified about it died on that fact.
There are also many solid arguments as to why a higher power exists. After researching this subject, I came to the conclusion that those arguments for God are more compelling than the ones against, and Christianity carries the most solid and watertight explanation to who God is. I got baptised a few months ago, and the transformation this has made to my life is beyond words.
I’d love to hear those arguments. Are they just words or has someone presented evidence that God exists? I’m very happy for you if Christianity makes you happy. I hope you’ll be one of the Christians who actually lives the way Jesus taught people they should live, and not one of the ones who thinks they can live however they want and then say the magic words to go to heaven after a life of being a shitty person.
ones who thinks they can live however they want and then say the magic words to go to heaven after a life of being a shitty person.
I would actually argue that’s not Christianity, because the Bible never talks about it. Yes, repentance exists, but if you were actually truly repentant, then you would try not to be a disgusting person. There aren’t any specific magic words either, you can say what you want to others, but God knows your heart.
I think the origin of this comes from Luther’s idea of Sola Fide - justification by faith alone. However, this was moreso made as a response to the Roman Catholic idea of venial sins, mortal sins, works based salvation and legalism in general. He didn’t mean literally faith alone, but he meant that if you had faith and followed Jesus’ commandments with a true and repentant heart, you would have assurance of heaven, and not need to worry about accidental unconfessed sins or purgatory. As St James writes in his epistle:
James 1:26-27 ESV
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 2:18-19 ESV
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
As for arguments for God (not counting the whole Jesus thing as well)
Infinite numbers exist, infinity exists. For example, pi has an infinite amount of numbers following it that are preset in the laws of the universe. But the universe is finite, so such concepts can only exist in the mind of an infinite, ie, God.
Morality - We know the difference between right and wrong. For some reason, we think stealing from someone else is wrong even though it would make us better our survival. Or torturing a puppy. People who become ruthless have to override a moral instinct first to do that. If there is no God, then morality is subjective and what we say or do isn’t right or wrong. I am not saying that atheists aren’t moral, because they are as morality is naturally implanted in us by God.
Fine tuning - The chances of the universe existing as it is was so indescribably small, that I find it hard to believe this all came across by chance. I do believe in evolution, I’m not a young earth creationist. But I believe the whole process was designed to play out as it did.
Depravity - The Bible constantly talks about people falling into depravity and sin, and this is a pattern we see in the real world. We have people destroying the planet for profit and wars going on in Palestine where civilians are just murdered. Also past atrocities like the holocaust. I can see why God is angry at us and will judge us.
There are also many solid arguments as to why a higher power exists.
Bullshit. You can’t provide any, because they do not exist.
After researching this subject, I came to the conclusion that those arguments for God are more compelling than the ones against, and Christianity carries the most solid and watertight explanation to who God is.
What you call “research” I call cherry-picking until you find that which confirms what you already want it to.
I wish you’d looked for therapy instead of a religious pablum to find your peace.
Let me ask you an equally absurd question: Can you prove an invisible, intangible, pink elephant doesn’t exist? If not then it must right? Does that sound like reasonable logic to you?
But did this invisible intangible pink elephant come from a virgin, committed no wrong, performed miracles, was executed, then rose again from the dead and later on ascended into heaven?
Sure did. He also has three heads, controls your dreams, and lives in your underwear drawer when you’re not looking. I saw him. There, I’ve given just as much proof that the pink elephant exists as you have that your God exists. Also FYI the concept of infinity is not evidence that the specific book you choose to follow that was written by humans, not even that long ago on the scale of earth history, was in any way influenced by a higher power.
Do you have 500 people to attest to it and are you willing to be executed for your attestation?
Also FYI the concept of infinity is not evidence that the specific book you choose to follow that was written by humans, not even that long ago on the scale of earth history, was in any way influenced by a higher power.
This is not how the burden of proof works. “God exists” is an assertion that requires evidence to prove. That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. It is not up to us to disprove something that doesn’t have evidence to support it in the first place, just like you don’t have to disprove that there’s an invisible purple dragon living in my garage
when I claim there is. The claim never had any merit in the first place, so it should be dismissed.
I think it’s a bit of a strawman to assume that churches are just political people looking to be tax exempt.
And I wouldn’t say there isn’t any evidence either. There was clearly a guy around called Jesus who was crucified and people testified to seeing him after he died, many in groups. And many of those people who testified about it died on that fact.
There are also many solid arguments as to why a higher power exists. After researching this subject, I came to the conclusion that those arguments for God are more compelling than the ones against, and Christianity carries the most solid and watertight explanation to who God is. I got baptised a few months ago, and the transformation this has made to my life is beyond words.
I’d love to hear those arguments. Are they just words or has someone presented evidence that God exists? I’m very happy for you if Christianity makes you happy. I hope you’ll be one of the Christians who actually lives the way Jesus taught people they should live, and not one of the ones who thinks they can live however they want and then say the magic words to go to heaven after a life of being a shitty person.
I would actually argue that’s not Christianity, because the Bible never talks about it. Yes, repentance exists, but if you were actually truly repentant, then you would try not to be a disgusting person. There aren’t any specific magic words either, you can say what you want to others, but God knows your heart.
I think the origin of this comes from Luther’s idea of Sola Fide - justification by faith alone. However, this was moreso made as a response to the Roman Catholic idea of venial sins, mortal sins, works based salvation and legalism in general. He didn’t mean literally faith alone, but he meant that if you had faith and followed Jesus’ commandments with a true and repentant heart, you would have assurance of heaven, and not need to worry about accidental unconfessed sins or purgatory. As St James writes in his epistle:
James 1:26-27 ESV
James 2:18-19 ESV
As for arguments for God (not counting the whole Jesus thing as well)
Infinite numbers exist, infinity exists. For example, pi has an infinite amount of numbers following it that are preset in the laws of the universe. But the universe is finite, so such concepts can only exist in the mind of an infinite, ie, God.
Morality - We know the difference between right and wrong. For some reason, we think stealing from someone else is wrong even though it would make us better our survival. Or torturing a puppy. People who become ruthless have to override a moral instinct first to do that. If there is no God, then morality is subjective and what we say or do isn’t right or wrong. I am not saying that atheists aren’t moral, because they are as morality is naturally implanted in us by God.
Fine tuning - The chances of the universe existing as it is was so indescribably small, that I find it hard to believe this all came across by chance. I do believe in evolution, I’m not a young earth creationist. But I believe the whole process was designed to play out as it did.
Depravity - The Bible constantly talks about people falling into depravity and sin, and this is a pattern we see in the real world. We have people destroying the planet for profit and wars going on in Palestine where civilians are just murdered. Also past atrocities like the holocaust. I can see why God is angry at us and will judge us.
I disagree with your “evidence”, but it seems like you’re aiming to be one of the good ones, so cheers to you!
The chance of the universe exiting as it is is 1. Proof: the universe exists as it is.
Bullshit. You can’t provide any, because they do not exist.
What you call “research” I call cherry-picking until you find that which confirms what you already want it to.
I wish you’d looked for therapy instead of a religious pablum to find your peace.
Can you prove that God doesn’t exist?
Also I have had therapy. It was moderately effective. Christianity isn’t a replacement for therapy.
Let me ask you an equally absurd question: Can you prove an invisible, intangible, pink elephant doesn’t exist? If not then it must right? Does that sound like reasonable logic to you?
But did this invisible intangible pink elephant come from a virgin, committed no wrong, performed miracles, was executed, then rose again from the dead and later on ascended into heaven?
Sure did. He also has three heads, controls your dreams, and lives in your underwear drawer when you’re not looking. I saw him. There, I’ve given just as much proof that the pink elephant exists as you have that your God exists. Also FYI the concept of infinity is not evidence that the specific book you choose to follow that was written by humans, not even that long ago on the scale of earth history, was in any way influenced by a higher power.
Do you have 500 people to attest to it and are you willing to be executed for your attestation?
I literally said this in my comment
This is not how the burden of proof works. “God exists” is an assertion that requires evidence to prove. That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. It is not up to us to disprove something that doesn’t have evidence to support it in the first place, just like you don’t have to disprove that there’s an invisible purple dragon living in my garage when I claim there is. The claim never had any merit in the first place, so it should be dismissed.
see my other comment