This Remarkable Thing

Well? How would you know?

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[brainouty]

'Just because we can't see over the mountain, doesn't mean there's nothing there'. Precisely. So why is it so many atheists (not necessarily you) -- ASSume that Deity must not exist? Mind you, I'm not arguing for Christianity, and am certainly NOT arguing for religion, which I despise.

But the GOD question is distinct. Posit an Invisible Person who did or didn't create universe(s) via evolution or not, take your pick as to how -- then you'd not be able to know that Person by physical means.

[philhellenes]

We have crested countless conceptual "mountains" and we NEVER, not once, found "magic" on the other side. After MILLIONS of such conceptual assents it is NOT an unreasonable "assumption" that none will be found in the next valley.

It's not so much the assumption that a deity doesn't exist. It's the inability to believe in magic.

Atheism is a temporary position, taken by those that take seriously the commandment to not worship false idols, OR bear false witness. ;)

[brainouty]

Deity would not BE magic, to Deity. The fact of an existence not grasped, might be deemed 'magic' by the ignorant. But to those cognizant, it's not magic.

God is not Magic. Just a Higher Person. Discerning that Higher Person is logically a matter of that Person's power enabling you to know; but such power itself is not magic, either. Now, as you rightly said, atheism is a sound temporary position -- UNTIL AND UNLESS one has his own proof.

So whether one WANTS that proof, is the issue.

[philhellenes]

Deistic action qualifies as magic. It's the leap from A to Z - from Deistic desire to manifest physical effect. The stage magician does the same with a rabbit and a hat. There are no "steps in the process". "Abracadabra" is a sound wave. There is no way (without just making stuff up) to explain how sound waves result in the spontaneous existence of a rabbit. Same with will, divine (deistic) or otherwise.

You're making stuff up. I can only hope you know it and are just amusing yourself. :)

[brainouty]

There's no magic to the fact we are humans but not gnats. So there's no magic to a Deity, either. I can say to my Windows 7 machine, 'start listening', and it does. That's human engineering making that work. So if a God, then God's ability to make something also, is not magic.

Speaking a thing into existence is a power we don't have, but that doesn't mean it's magic. At most, it means you don't know HOW that power works.

[philhellenes]

"Speaking a thing into existence is a power we don't have, but that doesn't mean it's magic..."

LOL. :)

[Jacob Myers]

philhellenes.... I have to say... You put my thoughts to voice and video! So many things "awe" me about reality and the universe we live in... For me, this is deeply meaningful and some might even say "spiritual". I just want to say, "Thank You". No one on youtube moves me so much, so often in their videos. Once again, Thank you.

[Eric Estes]

You got to more than just "let go" there is a lot to learn lol Sometimes I'm pretty sure people are religious in the face of science because it is easier. People can't prove you wrong.

[tommyAU0]

Can someone explain something to me. After he describes our universe (in a nutshell), the energy beings. etc etc. He asks "What makes you think your not living in that universe right now? How would you know?" What does he mean by that? Because It sounds like he's asking "What makes you think your not living in your universe right now?" Can anyone explain please?

[Paul L]

That was beautiful. I often think how extraordinary the human experience is and how little people with their little lives go through their whole life without ever even noticing. I hope that doesn't make me sound arrogant. I just mean I think you've got to stop and look around every once in awhile because if you're not careful, you can miss the whole thing.

[brainouty]

Actually, 'god' is not applicable to a person with a beginning, nor to one with limited powers. That Greeks and others gave such persons the name 'god' in the past, doesn't mean their definition is right. Just as you said, 'human-like characteristics' means not 'god'.

So either some 'God' really exists, or does not; but if yes, then NOT like the 'gods' in polytheism. Christian theology is in the playpen, so can't use it, either.

If 'God' exists, then you can ASK Him for proof He exists.

[adamlotman]

This is an interesting thread, but simply because a "god" may exist, does not mean it would have the qualities of omnipotent, all power etc (Maximum abilities at all natural levels that we can measure). It seems that you may be projecting or applying concepts to a god that were learned. A second way to look at it is if something did exist it could even be a balanced mix of good and evil, maybe have more fallible emotions. The majority of gods ever discussed had very "human like" characteristics.

[Assinoê Oliveira]

Subtitle in portuguese, please.

[irtehpwn09]

"If I assert something is a natural law, that doesn't make it true" lets say for arguement that a god is making all the planets and stars orbit, "god" is guiding them, now alternatively lets apply a universal law of gravitation instead, hmm it works, seems there is no need for the god hypothesis. "genetically, parents are always superior to kids." please provide evidence of this claim.. "Thought is immaterial" please provide evidence of this claim..

[irtehpwn09]

The whole problem is the easiest person to fool is yourself, and so if you beg and plead with yourself to have an experience with a "god" then you probably will, atleast subjectively. Seek and ye shall find is all too true, if you seek for a pattern in anything you will find 1 , even if its not a real pattern, then confirmation bias can protect perceived pattern above all evidence. Btw i have begged and pleaded to the ceiling in my youth, nothing....

[irtehpwn09]

I get the distinct impression you believe because you have had a personal experience of some sort that you could not explain but chose to accept an explanation for it. Either everything we know about our reality through physics is wrong or you are simply mistaken, our brain creates an interpretation of the world through our senses, sometimes its wrong. When you watch magicians the awe you feel is still real, the feelings are as real as if actual magic was performed before you.