Can science ever prove the existance of God?

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  1. Obscure_Treasures profile image57
    Obscure_Treasuresposted 13 years ago

    In this advanced era Science has been able to invent new things....bt a above mentioned  question still remains on back of my mind...

    1. wayseeker profile image87
      wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      As a christian believer, I would agree with Stump Parrish in the fact that God cannot be proved by science, but for obviously different reasons.  This world is composed of the physical and the spiritual.  God is a part of our spiritual world, and, while God has influence over the physical world, He is not a direct part of it.  By definition, science deals with the physical world.  It is not interested in God.

      That said, science is discovering new wonders of His creation all the time, and there is plenty of evidence there that supports His existence.  Faith, however, is a key component, of course, so I have no doubt that Stump Parish will simply think I'm deluding myself, which is fair.  I spent many years there myself.  God works in His time.

      wayseeker

      1. Dave Mathews profile image60
        Dave Mathewsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Science can prove the existance of God. Science simply wants to take the acknowledgements for everything for itself. Where did the scientist get his thought or idea from to begin with, if not from God?

      2. profile image50
        zhangxiaoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        dear sir,This is Zhang from China,I totally agree the opinion of Holly Bible and the words.but whatever I cant let me believe the wonder in it that Jesus fed 5000 people and walk on the wave and so on.Is it really?

        1. recommend1 profile image60
          recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Ni hao little Zhang !   You should not let yourself get taken in by a story that was only created to control people when you have far better ways to live life, the Tao for instance is far superior in many ways, and does not require belief in a load of la Ji.

          1. profile image50
            zhangxiaoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            呵呵,很多东西讲的是有道理的。说他控制老百姓未免太偏激。毕竟这也是一种世界观。同时,现在的人好像信仰缺失,没有精神的生活

            1. recommend1 profile image60
              recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Spitituality is little to do with religion, religion is just how others would like you to see your own spirituality.  I can agree that in China there is a need for more of it in the face of commodification - but christianity would seem to be just another layer of control that is not needed - and it goes with a hierarchical structure of society, it keeps you looking upward while our leaders stand in the imagined light pretending they have spiritual backing for their actions.

              Please reply in English, this is an English language forum and whould be open to everyone to read what is said.

              1. profile image50
                zhangxiaoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                yes,sir.but sorry I am poor at English.Much I cant express by English. I think the human is a reactor---educated,surroundings.....most of people will be always controlled by few.FREE and INDEPENDENT soul is very hard for a man.you say?

                1. recommend1 profile image60
                  recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I think you are right - and the closest we may come to freedom is to be able to see the controls that rule us.

                  Good luck here - I must go and find good food in Nanning that does not cost a weeks wages big_smile

                2. earnestshub profile image74
                  earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  You make a good point. smile

                  People born in some countries will be muslim, some born in other countries will be hindi, others christians etc.

                  Most people simply follow their own culture with religion or have the same belief as their parents and do not want to know anything else. smile

                  1. profile image50
                    zhangxiaoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                    thank you,sir.I want to translate an old Chinese sayings by Li Si--an powerful officer in Qin dynasty.That is "国无敌国,民无四方" means there is no enemy countries in the world and the people under the sun with no difference.I hope it is the correct meaning, people under the sun should know the thing of people for we are all human being.

    2. Cagsil profile image71
      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Can Science Ever Prove The Existence of God?

      What god?

      There is only assumption of the existence of a god. Science is about determining things based on and in reality. With that said, all available knowable knowledge already proves no god exists in reality.

      1. wayseeker profile image87
        wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Cagsil,

        Fair enough.  I certainly agree with you that science is about determining reality based on observable fact--at least, using facts that are as objective as possible given human limitations.  That said, what exactly are the ways in which science has proven that God does not exist?  I have never seen such evidence, and I need to know what it is if it's out there.

        wayseeker

        1. Cagsil profile image71
          Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Hey Wayseeker,

          I've said this before on the forums and I'll gladly repeat it for you.

          Life doesn't require any knowledge of a god, to be understood.
          Life doesn't require any knowledge of a god, to be lived.

          The highest authority any individual can have is self. No other authority is actually required for understanding one's own life, nor is it require to live one's life.

          Therefore, no god.

          Every single person has to the power to be their own individual authority. A conscience that should have been shaped by individual parents and accumulated knowledge of humankind, which is how each person learns about morals(our conscience).

          When a person truly understands discerned wisdom, it brings about a universal truth they are able to recognize, when they put their ego aside. The subjective nature of humankind's individual perspective/perception is mostly based on the ego.

          Science IS the accumulation of all knowable knowledge available. Every aspect of anything you can learn and discern wisdom from is in fact, all any individual needs.

          Again, no god required.

          You can create your own purpose. Thus, you give meaning to your life. No god required to obtain either.

          1. wayseeker profile image87
            wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Cagsil,

            Thank you for taking the time to explain.  This clearly lays out your perspective and I understand and respect why you believe what you believe.

            wayseeker

            1. Cagsil profile image71
              Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              It's not something I believe. Please do not attempt to bring up my beliefs. I do not discuss my beliefs with people on a forum, if at all possible. However, if you would like to know one of my beliefs- it would be that the Boston Redsox will Win a World Series Title.

              That is something I believe. I hold very few beliefs, btw.

              What I explained to you, isn't a belief. It's actually what I have discerned from the wisdom I have gained over the course of living and learning.

    3. getitrite profile image72
      getitriteposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      A better question is:  can science ever prove the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

      This question still remains perplexing.

    4. Dave Mathews profile image60
      Dave Mathewsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Excuse me! BUT, every step every advancement,that man and science takes, is proof positive of God. Mankind could not possibly do any of the things it claims to have accomplished, if it were not for God. The knowledge is His every invention is His creation. Mankind simply wants to think that it is man who did it all when infact it was God.

      1. wilderness profile image90
        wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Excuse me!  BUT, every step every advancement that man and science takes, is proof positive of Mans abilities.  God could not possibly do any of the things believers claim He accomplished if it were not for Man.  The knowledge is theirs every invention is their creation.  Believers simply want to think it is God who did it all when in fact it was Man.

        Sound familiar?  It makes about as much sense, too.

      2. Cagsil profile image71
        Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        roll

      3. profile image0
        Sherlock221bposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        I'm glad that it was God who invented everything, because my telly is on the blink, and I cannot afford a TV repairman.  Hopefully God could pop around and have a quick look at it.

        1. wayseeker profile image87
          wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Hah!  I love light humor in places where folks seem to feel the need to take it all so seriously.  Nice.

          wayseeker

    5. Obscure_Treasures profile image57
      Obscure_Treasuresposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks evryne fr sharing such useful informations....Bt wht I really want to knw that If god was only assumption and non existant then y do we beleive in him sepcially when we r crestfallen?

      1. Cagsil profile image71
        Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Please do try to accurately type your words. Your above post is horrendous to read.

        As for why people believe? It's a need for them.

        As for "crestfallen"? That word is actually meaningless and has no true baring on living life or understanding of one's own life.

    6. mathsciguy profile image60
      mathsciguyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I used to hate the philosophies of Karl Popper.  I thought he was a cliched, anti-establishment, post-modern, intentionally-controversial, regurgitating hack.  Until I realized that, from a certain perspective, he was absolutely right.  Well, that is, as right as one can be when looking at things through Popper-vision. 
      The idea is basically that the inductive approach to science is not really the way to do things.  Now, as a mathematician, I strongly disagree.  STRONGLY.  DISAGREE.  After all, the Principle of Mathematical Induction is one of the most powerful tools a mathematician has when trying to prove something.  However, the inductive method requires a beginning point - a thing which is demonstrably true, and from which the theorem will be extrapolated, so to speak, to more general cases.

      This is a problem, since there are precious few things which can be assertive with non-relative certainty.  Therefore, it is more economical, more accurate, more honest to instead say of a theory, "this theory is substantiated by evidence and withstands falsification, but is not an absolute certainty."  In this way, it is not a contradiction when the scientific community must accept an alternative description of the universe from the status quo.  It is foolish to think that a theory is so sure that it will never be changed or (help us!) be proven entirely incorrect.  After all, what we thought before was only good until something came along and showed it wrong.  And that is science.

    7. TMMason profile image59
      TMMasonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      No.

      And it isn't because He isn't there.

      It is because He is so much further advanced then us. I think even if he were to show up right now, His tech would still look like magic to us.

    8. profile image0
      klarawieckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The real question is...

      If Science proved the existence of God, would the atheists believe it?

  2. Stump Parrish profile image60
    Stump Parrishposted 13 years ago

    In the entire history of mankind no god has been proven to exist for a very good reason. These beings exist only in the minds of believers. Science can do a lot of things but proving that the non-existent, exists isn't one of them.

    1. Obscure_Treasures profile image57
      Obscure_Treasuresposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Stump Parrish-Do u mean to say that God is non existent.....So science cant prove it??

      1. tamron profile image67
        tamronposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        My mom use to make me go to church and I hated it as a kid plus I went to a private school which was baptist.  I resented that school because they would come with a bus on sundays to pick me up for sunday school.  That was the last thing I wanted to do is go to school on sundays.

        One of my moms favorite preachers came to town for a revival.  Mom dragged me to the revival.

        All these people where falling on the floor.  Mumbling and some where crying laughing the preach prayed for people then they claimed to be healed.

        I thought these people were crazy.  I was scared!  I also thought these people were getting paid specially the ones who claimed they were healed.

        I felt stupid being the only one siting so I stood up raised my hands.  Nobody could hear me but I sayed God if this is real and your real heal my teeth.

        Nothing happened!  I was getting ready for school the next day so I had to brush my teeth.  I noticed I had no cavities.  My mouth was full of cavities I was always getting fillings.

        To this day I do not have any cavities.

        1. getitrite profile image72
          getitriteposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          This is the exact kind of "science" that proves, irrefutibly, that God exists! smile

    2. Dave Mathews profile image60
      Dave Mathewsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Excuse me BUT if God is only a figment of some man's over active thought process only a figment of our imagination, then why is there so much discussion over God. Look around at all the beauty created in this world. Look and see all of the technology. Take a look at the intricacy of the Human Body how all of the parts and organs work together look at how bones and other parts miraculously heal themselves, how man's immune system manages to keep us going day in and day out.  You are probably an atheist but even you cannot deny God's hand or the hand of some supernatural being in all of this.

      1. Evolution Guy profile image60
        Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        There is so much discussion because religious nuts such as you insist in sticking it in everyone's face. If you shut up about it - there would be no discussion. I can deny all the nonsense you like.

        1. getitrite profile image72
          getitriteposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          True dat!  Clearly a severe and rigid mental sickness.

      2. Cagsil profile image71
        Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Because, over 2/3 of the population has the similar or same belief that a god exists and each of them makes the claim based on their faith. The irrationality of it is what is discussed.
        It's not proof a god exists.
        Also isn't proof a god exists.
        Again, not proof.
        Sure, it can be denied, considering the availability of knowable knowledge already tells humankind all of which you described. Supernatural being? Pure conjecture and assumption.

        1. wayseeker profile image87
          wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Cagsil,

          I am not sure that describing the arguments for God as "pure conjecture" and "assumption" is really fair.  The work of thousands of theologians across the millennia, while I'll grant you are only incidentally based in historical and scientific fact, can hardly be reduced to simple assumption.  There is a great deal of sound reasoning and logic behind what they are suggesting, however much you may disagree with the foundations of the ideas.

          wayseeker

    3. wayseeker profile image87
      wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Stump Parish,

      You are right.  No one can prove that God exists.  No one can prove that He does not, either.  So that leaves us here discussing theoretical ideas that no side will be able to "prove".  Great fun, but I expect we should not plan on arriving at a definitive answer.  You will believe what you will believe, and I will believe what I believe.  We might give one another some food for thought, however.  smile

      wayseeker

      1. Evolution Guy profile image60
        Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        You are certainly convincing me that you are incapable of rational thinking. I guess this "food for thought," is one of the reasons I reject your impossible god.

        Prove the tooth fairy does not exist. Because if you cannot - I assume you "choose" to believe in it. And this is exactly as rational as me not believing in it. Right?

        This is one of the reasons your religion causes so many conflicts. Your inability to use rational thought. sad

  3. thooghun profile image92
    thooghunposted 13 years ago

    There are several ways of addressing this question. Two common for-and-against arguments are as follows:

    1) You cannot prove or disprove that which does not exist. (a common atheist postulation)

    2) Many theists and deists belief science IS proof of the existence of God, namely intelligent design and irreducible complexity. They argue that some organisms (including examples of tissues, animals, organs e.t.c) are far too complex to have simply evolved.(a common faith-based argument)

    There are many reasons why I feel the second reasoning is wrong, but we'll leave that for another day smile

    1. wayseeker profile image87
      wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thooghun,

      You make some interesting points.  I actually had a discussion about your second point with someone just a few days ago that piqued my curiosity.  I'd be very interested in hearing about why you disagree. 

      When you find that day where you have time to discuss it, let me know!

      wayseeker

      1. thooghun profile image92
        thooghunposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Anytime you like Wayseeker, we could setup some sort of structured debate, I adore formal socratic debates *wink*.

        In any case, my reasoning stems from the examples I have been given, for instance I'm commonly presented with the human eye as an example of irreducible complexity.

        Our eyes are anything but miraculous in their design, in essence they are wired "backwards", with light having to pass through the nerves first. The vagus nerve, or the tube (I forget the name) that connects the testes to the phallus are prime examples. Why must travel all the way past the kidneys?

        All these inconsistencies are easily explained by evolution (the eye because we were underwater, the tube because our testes were previously inside our body, the vagus nerve (especially in giraffes) because of how our nerves are formed to begin with).

        The point is, I have yet to find a single thing that IS in fact divinely intelligent in it's design. Our bodies are a perfect demonstration of how flawed we actually are.

        If you can chalk me up something you deem an example of irreducible complexity I'd love to have a bash at it smile

        1. wayseeker profile image87
          wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Thooghun,

          While I'd love to go there with you, I'm quite certain I'm not qualified.  I'm fairly new to all of this, so I don't have a lot of "facts" to bring with me.  Still, it might be worth trying.  Where would we do such a thing?

          Also, here's the basic outline of what I discussed with someone earlier this week (it will be extremely general):

          An engineer friend of mine, who is also a christian, talked about the concept of entropy.  I'd heard the word, but didn't really know what it meant.  Apparently it is a concept in science that everything tends towards a state of disorder and simplicity--that is--it moves towards the state of lowest complexity.  If this is so, then how is it that evolution is consistently moving towards a state of higher complexity?

          You mentioned eyes:  the human eye, while perhaps not all that complex, is certainly more so than that of a dog, and far more complex that anything a single cell organism would have. 

          If entropy is a generally accepted and universal scientific concept, as I understand it to be, then what's up with this? 

          I'm curious to hear your response.

          Thanks!

          wayseeker

          1. thooghun profile image92
            thooghunposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I'm not entirely sure I understand what you're getting at regarding entropy, and how it discords with evolution. Perhaps you could elaborate on that?

            Regarding complexity, I don't find this line of reasoning to be true -- this idea of a "great chain of being" with Humans on top. An eagle's eye is more complex than man's because it needs to be. A dog relies on far better hearing and smell than we do, thus its eye is less efficient. Nature provides limited resources (food and energy) and evolution accounts for these discrepancies by calling them trade-offs.

            Evolution is about survival. Some single-cell beings live longer than mammals, does this mean they are less successful? Evolution is not a race for complexity, it is a means of survival.  Humans developed larger brains because it gave us a survivalistic comparative advantage. 

            Take a Cheetah for instance, it is the fastest land animal because it has to catch another fast animal in order to survive. Because it has a limited supply of food, it can't develop stamina as well as strength, so its plan is to catch its prey in a burst of speed in the 30 seconds it has before it wears out.

            You can't have it all! Dogs and wolves on the other hand are built to outlast, and not outrun. These strategies of survival happen because only fast cheetahs and fit wolves will survive, thus only these genes carry-on through the gene pool.

            Let me ask you this though, if complexity is an indication of divine intervention, why create so many flaws? There's a reason half the human race wears glasses tongue

            1. wayseeker profile image87
              wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              A pat religious answer to this question would simply be that the flaws are part of the results of the fall of man--consequences so to speak--but I'm not convinced it's anywhere near that simple. 

              A more interesting response might be that we need to clearly define flaws.  Who is to say that the need to wear glasses is necessarily a flaw.  Certainly it interferes with the traditional uses of sight, but how does this flaw influence the greater character--or other aspects--of the person.  Is a blind person flawed, or merely different?  Is their experience of the world any more or less complex?

              I follow what you are saying about the progress of evolution as changes that result from necessity and natural selection.  That all made sense to me long ago, and still does.  I am simply beginning to explore the reasoning behind other possibilities with more serious attention.  With that in mind, I would point out that I think it's fair to suggest that humans are vastly more complex in at least one sense--our intelligence--over any other animals.  If this is a result of natural selection, why are we the only ones to have achieved it?  Should there not be lizard men, or some such thing, around as well?

              Thanks for the discussion--these are all very interesting ideas to consider.

              wayseeker

              1. Evolution Guy profile image60
                Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                Sounds to me like you already know all the answers and are using nonsense to defend an irrational belief system.

                I have never heard a religionist claim that not being able to see properly is not a flaw and that lack of lizard men proves that evolution is a lie.

                This is why your religion causes so many conflicts. Lies. It is a pity your religion does not teach ethics. What a shame it teaches you to lie instead. wayseeker? lol Sure. lol

                1. wayseeker profile image87
                  wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Evolution Guy,

                  I have decided what I believe, that is true.  Clearly you have as well.  My question to you is this:  you say much, but you explain little.  Can you clarify exactly how what I have said is a lie? 

                  Thanks,

                  wayseeker

                  1. Evolution Guy profile image60
                    Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                    You are lying when you make arguments that your beliefs and no more or less rational than some one not believing the nonsense you believe. This lie comes from lying to yourself in the first instance because you need to believe.

                    Your chosen user name is a lie. You are not seeking a way. You already have all the answers.

                    This self deception then causes you to argue with pother people and insult them by telling them that they are not capable of making a rational decision based on logical thought. This need to have to bring every one down to your level of "blind belief," is an insult.

                    I accept that you need blind belief. Why the need to bring me down to your level? I think if you take a look inside you will find that you are simply defending what your rational mind is telling you is a wholly irrational, nonsensical belief.

                    This is why your religion has caused so many conflicts - and continues to do so. sad

          2. mathsciguy profile image60
            mathsciguyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            If I may interject?  Please feel entirely free to ignore me completely.

            Entropy refers to the energy lost in a system due to various causes (for instance when friction causes kinetic energy to be transferred into heat, which is another form of energy, but isn't typically as useful as the motion of kinetic energy), but has also taken on a sort of unofficial definition as well.  This popular connotation of entropy refers to the idea that a series of random "steps" taken by a system will result in disorder in the system.  An example of this is to imagine a very carefully arranged pattern of stones which will be slightly moved around at random over time.  The pattern will descend into "disorder".

            The problem with this definition is that, in this sense, "disorder" is not defined in any quantitative sense.  Consider that if you did not know that the stones had been moved randomly, you could just as easily assume that the random "disorderly" result of "entropy" was the actual beginning pattern which was later to be disorganized!  Phew!  I hope that made some sense.  Your engineer friend (though he may be a highly intelligent and capable individual) is misusing the concept of entropy.  It doesn't really apply to evolution in that way (ie, entropy is not a counter-argument to evolution).

            1. wayseeker profile image87
              wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Thanks for intervening, mathsciguy!  This gives me a much clearer understanding of the concept.  As you explain it here, I can see how it does not really serve as a counter-argument to evolution.  This will give me some questions to bring back to my friend.

              For my part--at the moment--I am simply trying to explore all angles on the topic, remaining open to all viewpoints both "scientific" and "spiritual" so as to gather information for making a better-informed determination myself.  This certainly gives me more to chew on.  Thanks!

              wayseeker

  4. Stump Parrish profile image60
    Stump Parrishposted 13 years ago

    Obscure. yes in my opinion that is the reality of the situation. I do believe wayseeker expressed my thoughts on it a little better than I did.

    That was a fair assessment wayseeker. Thank you for keeping it civil. I went the other way in my life, I sort of believed early, tried to strengthen my beliefs after that and finally ended up not believing. I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs as long as those beliefs don't harm another. I would rarely use terms like delusional in a civil conversation. Unfortunately I don't get to have many of those. I am an atheist living in the bible belt. Not a hot bed of tolerance, lol.

    1. wayseeker profile image87
      wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      What a wonderful response.  I appreciate your civility as well, Stump Parrish!  I am unsure as to why, but this topic tends to get people very riled up.  In the end, the only way to further our thinking is by making an honest attempt to understand where other people are coming from.  In order to do that--believer or atheist--it has to start with respect.

      Thanks for your thoughts,

      wayseeker

      P.S.  My apologies for the lack of tolerance among some of my fellow believers.  Apparently they have not read that part of the Bible yet.  smile

      1. IntimatEvolution profile image73
        IntimatEvolutionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Kudos!

  5. profile image0
    Sherlock221bposted 13 years ago

    It is not the job of science to prove that God exists.  Science has as its objective the understanding of how the universe and everything in it works and how it came into being.  The early scientists were believers in God, however, it just happens that the discoveries of science have pushed God out of the picture, because whilst there is a great deal of evidence from geology, physics, chemistry and biology to prove how things came into existence, there is none to support the belief in God.  It should be evident by studying the physical if there is a designer behind it.  Yet there is only evidence of the development of the universe and the evolution of species upon our planet.  The need for God as an explanation is no longer necessary, and therefore can only ever be a matter of faith.  There is nothing that can be examined by physical means to find the answer to the question of whether God exists or not. 

    Religion understands this, and that is why Christian fundamentalists invented the notion of Intelligent Design.  Knowing that simply saying 'God done it' is no longer good enough in the face of scientific evidence, this pseudoscience was created as an attempt to give the impression that religion was meeting science on its own ground, although in reality it does nothing of the kind, even though those who have no understanding of science believe that it does.

  6. wilderness profile image90
    wildernessposted 13 years ago

    Yes.  No.  Maybe.

    There are several assumptions that must be made, however.

    God must exist for science to find Him.  If He does not then obviously He won't be found.

    God must be detectable to be found.  As believers say that they can "feel" Him this should not be a problem if those claims are true.  Science has produced detectors that will find anything the human body can detect and hundreds of others as well - there is no reason to think that it can't build a detector that can duplicate this "feeling" unless that feeling is simply imagination.

    God must be defined.  Not necessarily as a physical definition of what He consists of (energy, mass, plasma, something else we haven't found yet?) but what His attributes are.  As an example of my meaning, assume science finds another universe with an intelligence that claims it created our universe.  That intelligence even takes six days and builds a third universe, complete with new intelligent beings, as a gift for us.  But it then says that it doesn't answer prayers and isn't omnipotent.  Is it God?  We must know what God is before science can claim to have found Him and there are currently about as many definitions as there are believers.

    Wayseeker says God exists in the spirit world and therefore is not of interest to science, but I would disagree.  Call Gods home the "spirit world" or "another dimension" or "a different universe" - name it whatever you will - but everything that exists is the world of science.  Science already discusses and considers the existence of "other universes" and even "other dimensions" and there is some small evidence that they exist.  They will be searched for and, just perhaps, we will find in them the intelligence that built our universe.  Whether that hypothetical intelligence will then declared to be God remains to be seen.

    1. wayseeker profile image87
      wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      wilderness,

      I sincerely appreciate the comprehensiveness and thoughtfulness of your response here.  You do not merely say things, you explain them, which contributes a great deal to my understanding and the movement of the discussion.  Thanks.

      I can see how you disagree with my statement about the spiritual.  I have two responses to this:

      1)  I would argue that the spiritual world is not another physical "dimension", it is something all together different from our physical reality.  It is something that is, in fact, beyond the human capacity to know.

      2)  This leads to my second response.  Assuming that God does in fact exist in the way that Christians believe he does (I recognize that this is a HUGE assumption for those who do not believe, but--for the sake of following my line of reasoning--allow it for the moment), then he is, in fact, omnipotent and all knowing.  It is, to my mind, illogical to believe that we, with our limited understanding, are capable of understanding anything about him other than what he chooses to make comprehensible to us.  Quite simply, our minds cannot contain the consciousness of God, so how could we possibly fully understand him?

      Furthermore, I have recently (via this discussion) come to a belief that he has purposefully arranged it so that we cannot "prove" his existence.  Why would he do this?  Because if he were to "prove" his existence, then our relationship with him would no longer be one built on love and faith and choice.  By proving his existence, then everyone would end up following him because they had no real choice, not because they chose him. 

      Jesus came to us to tell us about his Father, and he asks us to choose him out of love.  Because god is fundamentally relational and just, he respects the freedom of will he has given us to reject him.  This is simply another piece of that puzzle.

      What do you think?

      wayseeker

      1. Evolution Guy profile image60
        Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        See the contradiction here? You claim not to be able to understand this Invisible Super Being - then you tell us what it fundamentally is. lol

        1. wayseeker profile image87
          wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          I only claim to understand what I believe He has chosen to make clear to me.  There is no contradiction.

          wayseeker

          1. Evolution Guy profile image60
            Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            You claim to not be able to understand - then claim to know what this god thing fundamentally is. See how you are lying to yourself - and me - again? sad

  7. IntimatEvolution profile image73
    IntimatEvolutionposted 13 years ago

    I feel it is only a matter of time b before sciences find proof of God.  Be it an ET of some sort.  The older I get the more I am inclined to think that nothing just happens by chance.  But I have no basis for this opinion.

    1. profile image0
      Sherlock221bposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If an ET was discovered, this would only prove that there was life on another planet, not that that life was created by God.  I understand why getting older makes people believe that nothing happens by chance.  I too once tried to force myself to believe in the most illogical ideas, because getting closer every day to the inevitable, made be rather desperate.  However, I unfortunately was unable to throw rationality out of the window, and I came to realise I was being dishonest with myself by dragging myself around Spiritualist churches or reading pseudoscience books, or begging a God, who didn't answer my prayers.  Now, in those fearful moments, when I feel my mortality hanging around my neck like a millstone, I turn to another kind of spirit, one that comes with tonic and ice and a slice.

  8. Rock_nj profile image84
    Rock_njposted 13 years ago

    I doubt it, but if proof of God passes the scientific method, then it will be undeniable. 

    My personal feeling is that mankind has evolved to the point where they can contemplate that there could be a creator (God), so therefore we have spent thousands of years trying to fill in the blanks to prove God exists.  But there is no scientific proof as of yet that God exists.  Who knows what developments in science or technology could someday provide proof of the existence of God?  So, it is wrong to dismiss the existence God out of hand.

    1. wayseeker profile image87
      wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Here, here!  The tricky thing about spirituality is that you can't prove it, but you also can't disprove it.  We can argue all day, but we'll never get to a definitive, objective answer.  That's why it's called faith, and the bible actually has a lot to say about that

      Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)  "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." 

      God is not very concerned about the fact that science cannot prove He exists.  In fact, I think he prefers it that way.

      wayseeker

      1. Dave Mathews profile image60
        Dave Mathewsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        The very fact that HISTORY records what is written in the Bible and it is verified though other Historic documents proves it. The very existance of every plant and animal as well as man proves it. The fact that man could not make anything without some divine knowledge of how to make it is proof. The one thing for sure is that God can not be disproved.

        1. Evolution Guy profile image60
          Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Please stop lying. Or at least show the HISTORY that proves the garbage in the bible. What HISTORICAL documents show Jesus walking on WATER?

          THanks

        2. wilderness profile image90
          wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Absolutely!  The historian that witnessed and recorded the formation of plants, animals and Adam did a wonderful job.  What was his name again?

          And we surely know that it is only through Gods providing of knowledge that we understand anything.  After all, that's why it only took 50,000 years to understand the earth wasn't flat - God's a little slow on the uptake and therefore man is too.

  9. Peter Owen profile image61
    Peter Owenposted 13 years ago

    Hi Evolution - I'm with Wayseeker.
    You have been blustering on this thread how people are lying and dilusional and you have not offered one damn thought worth the keystrokes. So let these guys discuss and stay out of it unless you have something that at least took some thought.

    1. Evolution Guy profile image60
      Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I made a reasonable point and attempted to explain why these nonsensical religious beliefs cause so much conflict. And all you can say is that? Why not address the points I made instead?

      I think I made a reasonable, rational argument. I made no personal attacks. Instead of telling me to shut up - why not deal with the arguments I made?

  10. Peter Owen profile image61
    Peter Owenposted 13 years ago

    Accusing people of lying is not a personal attack?
    And as for the points you made, I just re-read your posts and still have no idea what rational explained points you are making. Maybe I'm not reading between the lines enough.

    1. Evolution Guy profile image60
      Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Lying to self leads to:
      Lying to others.
      Arguing that the decision not to believe is as rational as the decision to believe is an insult to other's intelligence.
      This causes conflict.

      Address these points instead of telling me to shut up.

    2. wayseeker profile image87
      wayseekerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      My thanks, Peter, for your support.  As for Evolution Guy, I apologize if I have offended you, but my beliefs are what they are.  I will defend them just as you do.  That said, I'm afraid it's clear that this particular thread of discussion is no longer productive for either of us, so I will now move on. 

      My thanks for the spirited discussion.

      wayseeker

      1. Evolution Guy profile image60
        Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Awesome job on avoiding anything I said other than to reduce my statements to factless beliefs again. Just the same as yours are huh? lol No basis in fact or reality, therefore just as valid as yours.

        Odd - I thought I told you  that was offensive? Then you apologize and do it again. Any one would think you were insincere in your apology.

        Yes - your beliefs are what they are and you have no regard for other people. Oh well. I tried.

        Peter will be back to address my points I am certain. Good to know you have support from a fellow believer in fighting for Jesus. wink

  11. MelissaBarrett profile image60
    MelissaBarrettposted 13 years ago

    Science cannot prove the existence of anything that is not concrete.  That includes God.  It also includes love, honor, beauty, etc. 

    That is the limitation of science. 

    There is a whole world of things out there that a completely reasonable and rational person will never experience... and how sad that must be for them.

    On the flip side, a person who chooses to ignore the scientific/tangible world will spend their lives cowering and praying every time that lightning strikes.  They will also miss the thrill of discovering how things work and the millions of "miracles" that come only from knowing how things interact with each other.  And that must also be sad for them.

    All the arguing is just a bad joke that no one has gotten yet.

    1. Evolution Guy profile image60
      Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Science is "limited," because it only deals with reality? lol Crikey! lol

      1. MelissaBarrett profile image60
        MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Science is limited because it only deals with concrete.  Concrete is not the same as reality.  There are plenty of things that exist that are intangible.

        1. Evolution Guy profile image60
          Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          No. There are not. Subjective concepts do not exist in reality. You have invented a special invisible intangible realm in order to defend your ridiculous beliefs.

          Unless you are now agreeing that "god" is a concept that does not exist out side of your imagination?

          1. MelissaBarrett profile image60
            MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I am perfectly willing to admit that God may only exist within my mind.

            Now, are you saying that science can prove love, or that it doesn't exist?

            1. Evolution Guy profile image60
              Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              No - I am saying that love is a subjective concept that does not exist anywhere other than someone's mind. Just like your god. Science rarely deals with subjective concepts although we are learning that this is becoming possible. Sam Harris explains here:

              http://blog.ted.com/2010/03/22/science_can_ans/

              1. MelissaBarrett profile image60
                MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                Okay, well lets go from there while your video is buffering (he's kinda cute btw, looks like a young jeff goldblum)

                We'll assume, for the moment, that God is a concept rather than an actual being.  And belief in him/her/them is subjective and personal.  In that case would feelings of belief be as valid and inarguable as feelings of love?  Why or why not?

                1. Evolution Guy profile image60
                  Evolution Guyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  There is no denying these feelings. Belief is subjective and personal. That is why I argue that sharing it and insisting on defending it with nonsensical "logic," causes so many fights.

                  Keep it to yourself and we do not have a problem. Knock on my door to sell it at me, or argue with me (as most religionists do) that it is "Real," and "Logical" and "True," and you will cause a fight because this is nonsense.

                  Most religious people do not accept god as a concept. To them - it is a majikal being that exists outside of reality. This is impossible. Then they try and argue that their beliefs have some basis in reality. Which they do not. wink

                  Cognitive dissonance.

                  1. MelissaBarrett profile image60
                    MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                    Yes, but as these beliefs ARE completely subjective, you of course understand that attacking the validity of those beliefs is both insulting and pointless.

                    As it would be if you told me, for example, that my love for my children did not exist.  My reality includes that belief, whether it exists outside of my head or not. As I'm sure that your reality includes that non-rational non-scientifically provable emotion for someone or something.  So... If someone told you that you that love did not exist, would you defend it?

                    In many cases, EG,--and I'm just pointing this out--your actions may be seen as going to THEIR door to argue about their subjective beliefs.

                    Anyway, just remember that two separate realities really do exist.  The reality of the world and the reality of self.  Non-tangibles exist in at least one of those smile.

                    Anyway, I'll grab this later if I've missed anything or rambled... It's 6:02 a.m. on my side of the pond and I haven't been to sleep yet.

              2. MelissaBarrett profile image60
                MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                I'm replying to this again to keep two convos separate.

                I listened and I found it fascinating.  I agree with many things that he said.  What I disagree with is the assumption that certain viewpoints are inherently detrimental to human flourishing.  If you want to start a thread, I will argue point by point (after 8 hours of sleep) but basically, I feel that--by coming from an obvious western viewpoint--his objectivity is compromised.  I also feel that each individuals interpretation of morality is as valid as any others.  As I start with that viewpoint, you will understand how my  opinion diverges from his smile

  12. profile image0
    Sherlock221bposted 13 years ago

    I think maybe God should be the one to prove the existence of God.  Instead of human beings fighting and killing each other in the name of their faith, this whole problem could be solved, if God were to appear to humanity.  He could appear to the whole planet at once, and show us all that he really exists.  It would save the deaths of so many people.

    1. wilderness profile image90
      wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      God is on record as declaring that anyone that believes in him shall go to heaven.  Should He provide proof of His existence I daresay that you would find a lot more people believing and therefore going to heaven.

      This would mean that God could not then send the little ants He created to Hell to be tormented forever.  It would also mean that heaven could fill up in a hurry and He doesn't want to expand it.  Take your choice.

  13. Stump Parrish profile image60
    Stump Parrishposted 13 years ago

    I found a solution to spelling problems. I downloaded google chrome and I now have spell check in my comments. It;s also a lot faster than IE9

  14. profile image0
    Sherlock221bposted 13 years ago

    Science cannot prove the existence of God.  However, the more science discovers, the less God is needed as an explanation, because everything can be explained in a natural way, rather than a supernatural one.  It is for this reason that most scientists are atheists, even though most people who know little or nothing of science are believers in one deity or another.  And it is up to them to fight between themselves about whose god is the best.

    http://richarddawkins.net/videos/642336 … -about-god

  15. Sneha Sunny profile image88
    Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years ago

    I don't think science would ever prove the existence of god. In fact science don't believe in god. Science is based on logic and evidences. But god and religious views are just what you believe but cannot give the explanation. For example, science give the complete account of evolution of humans but religious views says that god created this world and humans. He created Adam and Eve.  But there is no proper logic or explanation. It's just like "magic" that god created humans. So, I think god and science are the two opposite sides of a river which will never meet.

    1. profile image0
      jomineposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Out of curiosity-
      How do you prove the existence of your chair?
      Or can you prove your chair exist?

      1. Sneha Sunny profile image88
        Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        of course. It is a matter and it occupies spaces. That proves it exist.

        1. profile image0
          jomineposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          How does that prove the existence of your chair?
          You only said matter exists.
          By the way does heat, cold, time and energy exist? They are not matter.

      2. A Troubled Man profile image59
        A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Well, we could get all Descartean or try to figure out what it is we're sitting on if not a chair.

        1. profile image0
          jomineposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          How does that "prove" it?
          What is the evidence that it is a chair? Which is the experiment/equation that prove that her chair exists?

          1. A Troubled Man profile image59
            A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            A-B=C

            A = Your butt.
            B = Chair
            C = Landing on the Floor

            1. profile image0
              jomineposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              How does A=B=C proves the existence of the chair?

              1. wilderness profile image90
                wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                You misread.  Your butt MINUS the chair = landing on the floor.

                1. profile image0
                  jomineposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  So what ever I'm sitting on is a chair?
                  How does that prove the existence of Sneha Sunny's chair?

                  1. A Troubled Man profile image59
                    A Troubled Manposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                    No idea, maybe you're already sitting on the floor because you can't prove your chair exists.

  16. alancaster149 profile image78
    alancaster149posted 13 years ago

    The problem with science is it cam't actually DISPROVE the existence of ANY gods, Christian, Muslim, Hindu or whatever. Science CAN go a long way to explaining the origin of species - although it took Darwin a number of years before he published his findings as they conflicted with his Christian beliefs - and it can crunch the numbers, but what it can't do is tackle the metaphysical. That's for US to do. In the current climate of the political versus religious dialogue - pushed along by religious fundamentalism - there is little chance of God/Allah/Buddha fading away, forgotten, into oblivion. There are scientists who have gone so far in their research that they have come out facing the opposite direction! Even when man went to the moon powered by scientific engineering as much as rocket fuel, he still stood on the lunar surface, kicking up dust and ruminating on 'God's great works'. Makes you think, don't it?

  17. melpor profile image91
    melporposted 13 years ago

    Not until there is evidence of God, for now this thinking people continue to carry since the beginning of humanity. This way of thinking about the world still exist because there are many people who still to this day refer to a super being to  explain things that they do not understand even when there is an overwelming set of facts to explain it. Remember people once believe the Earth was the center of the universe because this was their way of thinking. We know better now. This is how the belief in God and other organized religions got started in the beginning because early civilizations did not understand much about the world back then. Stephen Hawking tried to explain this to the TV audience on a recent episode of the TV show "Curiosity". As he said, there is simply no evidence to support the existence of a God or some other super being. Just enjoy this life you have and the wonders of the universe while you are here.

  18. andur92 profile image59
    andur92posted 13 years ago

    Man I love it when people debate on "science and god"...! Keep it coming!

 
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