Does God exist? (William Lane Craig vs Peter Atkins debate) (13 Viewers)

Well, did...

  • Man make God?

  • God make Man?


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Martin

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2000
56,913
She means that even in the case of God not existing and man being the one creating it. It was created out of man's necessity to feel that life is not hollow and that we actually serve a purpose in the universe, therefore making his "existence" necessary for some people.

At least that's what I think she means.


Btw, I don't really believe in God. I'd consider myself as an agnostic.
Good answer, G. But I would put a slightly different spin on what you said:

She means that even in the case of God not existing and man being the one creating it. It was created out of man's necessity to feel that life is not hollow and that we actually deserve a purpose in the universe, therefore making his "existence" necessary for some people.
 

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king Ale

Senior Member
Oct 28, 2004
21,689
I follow you right until this one. What does this mean?
Everything man creates is a response to a need. That's why I said even if there was not a God I'd still believe there is one. I would have created the term as a response to what I feel I need. So it's fine to me if man created God.

Yeah that one's strange. Everything is pure chance, nothing is necessary.
What we try to create are only our natural response to what we need. Chance might have a role in the process of creation but I'm talking about the intentions.
 

Martin

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2000
56,913
Everything man creates is a response to a need. That's why I said even if there was not a God I'd still believe there is one. I would have created the term as a response to what I feel I need. So it's fine to me if man created God.
Do you agree with what I said to Gabriel? That you feel this way because humans feel they deserve a purpose?
 

Hængebøffer

Senior Member
Jun 4, 2009
25,185
Do you agree with what I said to Gabriel? That you feel this way because humans feel they deserve a purpose?
I think what Gabriel wrote is spot on. I don't know if our brain is "designed" this way, but humans try to find a purpose even if there is none.
I saw an interesting programe once about why people believe in god, and they showed some sort of test where some squares moved around. People who saw it, had the perception that one of squares tried to keep the other square out and they sympathized with it. But in reality it was random and there was no meaning to it.
Don't know if it makes sense? :)
 

Tak!

Senior Member
Jun 23, 2011
4,177
I don't believe there is a God. IF there is a God I don't believe he or she has anything to do with whatever ideas mankind has made up. No religion is more accurate than the other. I do however feel that religion, the made up by man kind, serves a purpose and helps people day by day. I will never criticize a believer unless he or she tries to "manipulate" another one or if someone uses religion as an excuse to do things. I firmly believe that most things conducted in the name of God is just jibbrish. Religion has and will always be a tool for people in power and people who want power and this is NOT religions fault. Even if we removed religion something else would step up. We would conduct things in the name "of this theory" or whatever that suited us. I'm a scientist and argue and ridicule theories daily and really don't see the difference. We're doing the exact same thing but instead of using "our God" we're using "our theory", if you catch my drift. If anyone is feeling offended, which I really don't, I send my sincerest apologies and that was never my intention, I think you've misunderstood me since this is a sensitive subject. I respect religion and visit the church once every year and then. Not because of religion but because I find the place soothing. I leave the science debate about religion and God up to the rest of you which you'll all already depicted on. All I can say is that every part of all books has already been denied through various sciences. This is however uninteresting to me and doesn't change anything.
 

Tak!

Senior Member
Jun 23, 2011
4,177
I was referring to the last sentences which I felt everyone here had already discussed thoroughly and I had nothing left to add to that part of the discussion. It's an interesting debate but I had nothing else to add. If anything I think the bible has some historical references that are interesting to note on how things were back then. If one takes the stories with a pinch of salt and accept that they are written down hearsay, looking at it from a scientific point of view. But yeah, I could have chosen my words a bit more properly. I had a bit too much to drink and was on a buss ride who were at its end so I had to hurry up my last words. Might as well add an editing while I'm at it. "If anyone is feeling offended, which I really don't think anyone is,"
 

Tak!

Senior Member
Jun 23, 2011
4,177
I think what Gabriel wrote is spot on. I don't know if our brain is "designed" this way, but humans try to find a purpose even if there is none.
I saw an interesting programe once about why people believe in god, and they showed some sort of test where some squares moved around. People who saw it, had the perception that one of squares tried to keep the other square out and they sympathized with it. But in reality it was random and there was no meaning to it.
Don't know if it makes sense? :)
One last comment from me. There actually is a gene that is more or less active in each and everyone in us. This gene makes us more or less susceptible to some form of spirituality. Usually those with strong belief have a gene that is active and those who are non-believers have a passive set of this gene. Some has argued that this is a proof that there is no good and it's just a need for some that we've made up things for to fulfill. Others have argued that this is a strong proof that there is a God since it's proof the he or she is already within us and how else could that gene be explained.

Up to anyone to make up their mind. Perhaps it does explain though why some animals are rather "spiritual", like elephants for example.
 

Linebreak

Senior Member
Sep 18, 2009
16,022
Who here believes that Mt Rushmore was created over millions of years of erosion and just happened to end up perfectly resembling, what would have been at the time, four future US presidents?

Does anyone here think that it would be crazy to believe such a theory?
 

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