Here's a blog post I relate to...
http://www.writingtoreachyou.com/2008/12/08/the-boundary-between-christianity-and-agnosticism/
Tuesday 9 December 2008
Effects of God
I can see that a lot of what the Bible says works out as true... like living with an attitude of service (I interpret that as trying to give more than you receive - to make the world a better place).
But that doesn't mean that God exists... it just means that some things that people said in the context of him existing made sense and/or were true.
So what is there in the Bible that requires God to exist.
Or more pertinently to me - what exists today that requires God to exist?
People getting a buzz from singing - No.
People enjoying belonging to something - No.
People serving others - No.
Miracles - Probably.
Prophecy - Maybe a little.
Anything else?
So if miracles happen then does it mean God exists? Or is there still another explanation?
Maybe something spiritual / other-worldy other than God?
I don't know - do you?
But that doesn't mean that God exists... it just means that some things that people said in the context of him existing made sense and/or were true.
So what is there in the Bible that requires God to exist.
Or more pertinently to me - what exists today that requires God to exist?
People getting a buzz from singing - No.
People enjoying belonging to something - No.
People serving others - No.
Miracles - Probably.
Prophecy - Maybe a little.
Anything else?
So if miracles happen then does it mean God exists? Or is there still another explanation?
Maybe something spiritual / other-worldy other than God?
I don't know - do you?
Thinking, assuming & knowing
Just because something is beyond our comprehension doesn't mean it is impossible.
For instance, as I understand it, no-one knows why aspirin works, but it does.
I don't understand quantum physics, but that doesn't mean quantum physics doesn't exist.
Just because I can't get my head around the concept of God existing, doesn't mean that he is not real.
Of course, just because I can't fully understand it doesn't mean it is true... otherwise all kinds of crazy stuff would exist.
So how do we tell the difference between something you can't understand that is true and something you can't understand that is false. If you can't understand either, how do you evaluate them?
I guess a first step is to evaluate whether the conclusions formed by assuming it is true actually hold in reality. If they don't hold then it means your assumption was wrong - either in it's basic assumption or in it's expression... or I guess in the logic you built on top of it.
So how does this apply to God? I think I'll write another on that...
For instance, as I understand it, no-one knows why aspirin works, but it does.
I don't understand quantum physics, but that doesn't mean quantum physics doesn't exist.
Just because I can't get my head around the concept of God existing, doesn't mean that he is not real.
Of course, just because I can't fully understand it doesn't mean it is true... otherwise all kinds of crazy stuff would exist.
So how do we tell the difference between something you can't understand that is true and something you can't understand that is false. If you can't understand either, how do you evaluate them?
I guess a first step is to evaluate whether the conclusions formed by assuming it is true actually hold in reality. If they don't hold then it means your assumption was wrong - either in it's basic assumption or in it's expression... or I guess in the logic you built on top of it.
So how does this apply to God? I think I'll write another on that...
Wednesday 3 December 2008
Timely cartoon
This is a little how I feel at the moment too... (from http://miscellanea.wellingtongrey.net/2008/12/01/prayer-vs-hard-work/)
Monday 1 December 2008
Pretending
There's a lot of pretending that goes on isn't there?
Well, maybe not pretending, but hiding.
"How are you?" produces answers like "Fine" or "Not too bad".
Do people mean that?
How would you know if someone was on the verge of a breakdown at your work? in your home?
Do we know each other or do we just see what others pretend to be, showing them just a pretence of our real selves?
Do we do the same with the big questions in life?
Like "Is there a God?"
"Can I find meaning?"
Do we just pretend that a simple answer is enough?
Do we say "yes" without entertaining the possibility it's not true... or the real implications of it if it IS true?
Well, maybe not pretending, but hiding.
"How are you?" produces answers like "Fine" or "Not too bad".
Do people mean that?
How would you know if someone was on the verge of a breakdown at your work? in your home?
Do we know each other or do we just see what others pretend to be, showing them just a pretence of our real selves?
Do we do the same with the big questions in life?
Like "Is there a God?"
"Can I find meaning?"
Do we just pretend that a simple answer is enough?
Do we say "yes" without entertaining the possibility it's not true... or the real implications of it if it IS true?
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