A good friend of mine and I spend 3 hours debating religion after a good few months of laying off such an interesting topic.
I've always been told that God cannot be dis-proven, which I believed until recently. God in the most general terms cannot be dis-proven, but if you define God with certain attributes and those attributes contradict each other, then dis-proving god really becomes as easy as pointing out those contradictions.
In discussing all this with my friend I searched the web for what Epicurus wrote sometime in the 3rd century BCE.
Incredible stuff, this Epicurus. My friend must of invoked the MWC (mysterious ways clause) a dozen times. I didn't know to call it MWC. LOL.
What did I learn? First, that God's omniscience is incompatible with the concept of free will. God is the creator of all, evil exists, therefore god created evil (suffering). Something a Christian will readily deny.
Finally, I re-enforced the idea within me that I don't believe in god because the concept cannot exist rationally. The same way I don't believe in flying pigs because it isn't possible :).
I found this article that describes many of the arguments I made to my friend. Great stuff!
I've always been told that God cannot be dis-proven, which I believed until recently. God in the most general terms cannot be dis-proven, but if you define God with certain attributes and those attributes contradict each other, then dis-proving god really becomes as easy as pointing out those contradictions.
In discussing all this with my friend I searched the web for what Epicurus wrote sometime in the 3rd century BCE.
Is god willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is god both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?
Incredible stuff, this Epicurus. My friend must of invoked the MWC (mysterious ways clause) a dozen times. I didn't know to call it MWC. LOL.
What did I learn? First, that God's omniscience is incompatible with the concept of free will. God is the creator of all, evil exists, therefore god created evil (suffering). Something a Christian will readily deny.
Finally, I re-enforced the idea within me that I don't believe in god because the concept cannot exist rationally. The same way I don't believe in flying pigs because it isn't possible :).
I found this article that describes many of the arguments I made to my friend. Great stuff!
– posted by Leandro at 12:45 AM | Permalink |
