Question for atheists - Page 3

knowledgeORbust · #21 08-30-2007, 07:25 PM

I'd be inclined to think trickster humans of some kind before anything else.
After that, it would depend on the circumstances, but with no other info it's basically 50/50. I tend to agree with tpir that we wouldn't be able to perceive a difference.

bunny · #22 08-30-2007, 07:28 PM

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If some form of the miracles similar to the ones listed in the Bible started frequently today, and you had to set a betting line, what odds would you make that the source of the miracles were Trickster Aliens vs Universe Creator?

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I'd lean towards aliens and I'm a theist. I cant see how an atheist should be persuaded by such occurences - the number and qualities of observed phenomena has just increased, so what if science hasnt yet caught up?

soon2bepro · #23 08-30-2007, 08:41 PM

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any observed phenomenon is almost certainly caused by something which is part of our universe.

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Actually, if our universe ever has or has had contact with anything "external", including in the very beginning (define "beginning" yourself, at your own risk); EVERYTHING in this universe would be caused by something external.

The way we understand our universe, pretty much everything in the present is caused by everything in the past. So if anything was caused by an external influence, everything from that point on was also "caused" by that influence.

We need to start thinking of our universe as a whole, rather than individual parts, separated by arbitrary boundaries set by ourselves to help us in understanding.

I mean, the latter is useful for many things, but sometimes we need to be real rather than practical.

Lestat · #24 09-02-2007, 06:22 PM

If Osama Bin Laden and his men were found in Sudan, and cornered by US troops at shores of the Red Sea, and he made his escape when the sea all of a sudden parted...

I would probably start worshipping Allah soon thereafter.

wtfsvi · #25 09-02-2007, 06:32 PM

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I would probably start worshipping Allah soon thereafter.

[/ QUOTE ] If I had the power to end your life with a snap of my fingers, would you start worshipping me? What kind of power is needed for you to start worshipping? If you found yourself in nazi germany when you woke up tomorrow, would you start worshipping Hitler?

Lestat · #26 09-02-2007, 07:14 PM

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I would probably start worshipping Allah soon thereafter.

[/ QUOTE ] If I had the power to end your life with a snap of my fingers, would you start worshipping me? What kind of power is needed for you to start worshipping? If you found yourself in nazi germany when you woke up tomorrow, would you start worshipping Hitler?

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I'm not sure what your question is, or what you're getting at.

Power to kill and control someone is not divine. Therefore, no... Captors and people with guns are not worthy of worship.

wtfsvi · #27 09-02-2007, 07:20 PM

So what makes something divine? That you don't understand how it works?

Kaj · #28 09-02-2007, 07:24 PM

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So what makes something divine? That you don't understand how it works?

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Part the Red Sea first, quibble later.

valenzuela · #29 09-02-2007, 07:50 PM

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If some form of the miracles similar to the ones listed in the Bible started frequently today, and you had to set a betting line, what odds would you make that the source of the miracles were Trickster Aliens vs Universe Creator?

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If we suppose that the universe creator loves us and is perfect then Im going to have to go with the trickster alines being over 50 to 1 favourites or something.

luckyme · #30 09-02-2007, 08:35 PM

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So what makes something divine? That you don't understand how it works?

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The OP asked about entities that create universes and/or entities just goofing around. Nothing divine in either action. And since the OP wasn't suggesting a universe was witnessed being created, then there is no reason to think some fancy footwork in this one is somehow connected to one.

luckyme