There is no Hope without Jesus

[RickD]

Objective.

K

So no such thing as "your truth" or "their truth", right?

Right.

K

But our opinion of the truth or what we believe to be truth, can change,yes?

Objective truth based on fact doesn't change, but Subjective truth, or what we believe to be true can and often does change.

Is that your subjective opinion?

[PaulSacramento]

Objective.

K

So no such thing as "your truth" or "their truth", right?

Right.

K

But our opinion of the truth or what we believe to be truth, can change,yes?

Objective truth based on fact doesn't change, but Subjective truth, or what we believe to be true can and often does change.

Early you said that truth is objective but now it is objective AND/OR subjective?

[RickD]

So no such thing as "your truth" or "their truth", right?

Right.

K

But our opinion of the truth or what we believe to be truth, can change,yes?

Objective truth based on fact doesn't change, but Subjective truth, or what we believe to be true can and often does change.

Early you said that truth is objective but now it is objective AND/OR subjective?

Truth is objective, unless it's subjective. In that case, if we believe objective truth to be subjective, then objectively, that's subjectively true!

[Kenny]

Opps!

[Kenny]

Kenny wrote:
To not believe in God:
Whatever claims you make about whatever it is you choose to call God, I don’t believe those claims
To not believe God exist:
Whatever it is you call God, I don’t believe it exist

I don't think that Kenny understands the issue with the above.

Perhaps you can explain it to me.

K

[Kenny]

So no such thing as "your truth" or "their truth", right?

Right.

K

But our opinion of the truth or what we believe to be truth, can change,yes?

Objective truth based on fact doesn't change, but Subjective truth, or what we believe to be true can and often does change.

Early you said that truth is objective but now it is objective AND/OR subjective?

Subjective is what is believed to be true; objective is what can be demonstrated as true.

[Kenny]

Right.

K

But our opinion of the truth or what we believe to be truth, can change,yes?

Objective truth based on fact doesn't change, but Subjective truth, or what we believe to be true can and often does change.

Early you said that truth is objective but now it is objective AND/OR subjective?

Truth is objective, unless it's subjective. In that case, if we believe objective truth to be subjective, then objectively, that's subjectively true!

Well..... That's easy for YOU to say! (LOL)

K

[Kenny]

So in theory; if the singularity that expanded in what is known as the “Big Bang” was that something that always existed which everything sprouted from, you would consider that God? Fair enough. If it’s non intelligent, conscious, or capable of thought, I may recognize its existence, but I definitely would not call it God.

And what would you call 'it', which is existence (it doesn't have existence, it just is).

I would call it the first rock, singularity, material, whatever it is called, but definitely not God.

To not believe in God:
Whatever claims you make about whatever it is you choose to call God, I don’t believe those claims
To not believe God exist:
Whatever it is you call God, I don’t believe it exist.

I'm not sure what you're trying to show here? Atheists believe God doesn't exist, I think we both know that. What distinction are you trying to make and why?

No; the idea that Atheists believe God doesn’t exist is what theists believe about atheists. If you really wanna know what atheists believe, talk to an actual atheist. And you’re in luck today my friend! I’m an atheist; so just listen to me. Forget about all that stuff (propaganda) they have been telling you about us; just take my word for it. Okay???
The point I was trying to make was that there is a big difference between not believing what people say about “X” vs the claim that “X” doesn’t exist. Now can you see the difference in that? Or do I need to explain further.

Which God? Only YOUR God? Atheists don’t believe in any God. To limit atheism to a belief that what is called God doesn’t exist would mean that because there are those who worship the Sun, an atheist would have to deny the Sun exist because someone chooses to call it God. That would be a foolish and impossible position to hold. The reality is; if you don’t believe in God, people will label you atheist.

My God? What are you talking about now?! How do you not understand that there either is God or is no God? Stop getting caught up in the identity.

Well I understand there is NO God, but there are plenty of people who will swear up and down that there is. Ya see; when a theists ask me about God they usually want to know my opinion on not just what THEY call God, but what others may call God as well. This is what I was addressing, because you weren't very clear with your questions and claims. But hence fourth; for the sake of this conversation I will assume you mean the God of the Bible. Okay?

IF there is a God, it is a God of EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. Atheist denying the sun exists? What nonsense is this? Is the Sun God Kenny? No.

Well there were an awful lot of Japanese who used to think it was! Shouldn’t surprise you; after all a few responses back you seemed willing to accept a rock/singularity/matter etc. as God as long as it is what lead to the existence of everything else. Perhaps they were taking your logic and applying it to the Sun instead of a rock; I dunno but that was before we agreed God in this conversation means the God of the Bible.

Those people who worship the sun are wrong. They aren't worshiping God, but the sun (as we both know). So what game are you playing here?

Moving on.....

Atheists don’t believe something came from nothing, that’s just theistic propaganda. Think about it; if I asked you where did God come from; would you claim he came from nothing? Whatever rules, or laws of nature, reality, etc. that you can break in order to proclaim God didn’t come from nothing; the atheist can break and apply to something that is not God.

Oh so there is an atheist philosophy now? And it requires faith? Tell me about it! (*hint* more theistic propaganda)

Propaganda? Where are you getting that from? There's a philosophy with everything, that shouldn't be news.. Are you going to say atheism has no philosophy!?

Yes. If you think there is, please explain.

Are you going to propose it doesn't take faith to believe in anything?

Some things require faith, others things don’t. From my experience; where there is adequate evidence no one speaks of faith. Nobody speaks of faith when it comes to math, or if the Sun will rise; they only speak of faith when there is a lack of evidence.

And I don't break anything as the existence of God is self evident, as evident as something comes from something and not nothing. But that's propaganda, right?

If you believe that, then you should understand why the belief that something comes from nothing is not an atheist position.

Atheism isn't an impossible camp and as I said in our earlier conversations, I've talked to people with that belief. It's just an unreasonable camp.

Perhaps you’ve been talking to the wrong people. You’re talking to me now. If you feel Atheism is an unreasonable camp, explain why; perhaps I can dispel some of the propaganda Opps!! I mean misconceptions you’ve been taught about us.

And I don't think many people fit into it. But I also see most people as hypocrites in their own world view and don't think past their day to day activities.

I can’t speak for the people you associate with, but most of the people I know don’t fit into that category.

You keep throwing the term God around as if it is a changing definition. It's not. That's part of the point. You don't get to say who God is, I don't, nor anything that came from Existence.

Are you sure about that? Because for someone who doesn’t get to say who God is, just a few posts ago; you sure spent an awful lot of time saying who God is, what God is, and what he is not! Might wanna rethink that one my friend!

Maybe i'll run you through the nothing=atheism conclusion by necessity, but I'm not really encouraged to do so.

C’mon let’s do it! Perhaps we can both learn something.

[Philip]

Ken: No; the idea that Atheists believe God doesn’t exist is what theists believe about atheists. If you really wanna know what atheists believe, talk to an actual atheist.

Ken, I don't care what else you believe, but YOU don't get to redefine the dictionary definition of "atheist."

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods : one who subscribes to or advocates atheism."

Ken says he knows little of the Big Bang, but hopefully he realizes that SOME eternal intelligence of great power had to begin the Big Bang. He might not think that is God, but surely he realizes that it had to be some entity with those God-like attributes.

[Kenny]

Ken: No; the idea that Atheists believe God doesn’t exist is what theists believe about atheists. If you really wanna know what atheists believe, talk to an actual atheist.

Ken, I don't care what else you believe, but YOU don't get to redefine the dictionary definition of "atheist."

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods : one who subscribes to or advocates atheism."

“A person who does not believe in the existence of a God or any Gods.”
(BTW Other dictionaries say "a person who disbelieves in, or lacks belief in God or Gods.)

What does that mean? Exactly what is this God that Atheists do not believe in the existence of? The reason I ask is because there are countless things people call God. Do you think Atheists deny the existence of all of them?

Ken says he knows little of the Big Bang, but hopefully he realizes that SOME eternal intelligence of great power had to begin the Big Bang. He might not think that is God, but surely he realizes that it had to be some entity with those God-like attributes.

How do you know this to be true?

[Mallz]

No; the idea that Atheists believe God doesn’t exist is what theists believe about atheists. If you really wanna know what atheists believe, talk to an actual atheist. And you’re in luck today my friend! I’m an atheist; so just listen to me. Forget about all that stuff (propaganda) they have been telling you about us; just take my word for it. Okay???
The point I was trying to make was that there is a big difference between not believing what people say about “X” vs the claim that “X” doesn’t exist. Now can you see the difference in that? Or do I need to explain further.

Jan says the sun is God. Jim says Jan is a liar and the sun isn't God. Jim also says God doesn't exist. This is what I see you putting forward, yeah?

Yeah, I talk with atheists and used to be one. The whole point has been it doesn't matter what peoples opinions are, only what is real (not peoples claims). Believing in the non-existence of God is the same as believing God doesn't exist. Both takes belief, which takes your rational consent, which takes personal faith to come to a conclusion (or you don't and your agnostic :-p). We are still talking past each other here; trying to figure out how to bring us both to the table. I see that you put theistic claims into the 'what people say about X' category and you see that atheism is instead dealing with 'X doesn't exist' category. Is this right to say? I hold saying anything further here for a response.

Well I understand there is NO God, but there are plenty of people who will swear up and down that there is. Ya see; when a theists ask me about God they usually want to know my opinion on not just what THEY call God, but what others may call God as well. This is what I was addressing, because you weren't very clear with your questions and claims. But hence fourth; for the sake of this conversation I will assume you mean the God of the Bible. Okay?

Don't assume! knowing the existence vs non existence of God is not the same as the identity of God. In our discussion, I'm pretty sure I've been clear (?) we are addressing the existence of God.

Well there were an awful lot of Japanese who used to think it was! Shouldn’t surprise you; after all a few responses back you seemed willing to accept a rock/singularity/matter etc. as God as long as it is what lead to the existence of everything else. Perhaps they were taking your logic and applying it to the Sun instead of a rock; I dunno but that was before we agreed God in this conversation means the God of the Bible.

Nope, I said that if you believe an infinite regress was possible then the multiverse very well could be God. I was glad you knew that to be unreasonable. But what you took from it was apparently different.. And I"ll still say it, God is what 'lead to the existence of everything else', even if God is a rock (and the logic is very different from concluding God is the sun). Attributes in our anthropomorphization (it's a word ) of God doesn't= God's identity.

Propaganda? Where are you getting that from? There's a philosophy with everything, that shouldn't be news.. Are you going to say atheism has no philosophy!?

Yes. If you think there is, please explain.

It's impossible to separate philosophy from.. anything.. If you think there's no philosophy to atheism then you're claiming atheism isn't a branch of knowledge or an experience. So I'm not quit sure why you're suggesting that?

Some things require faith, others things don’t. From my experience; where there is adequate evidence no one speaks of faith. Nobody speaks of faith when it comes to math, or if the Sun will rise; they only speak of faith when there is a lack of evidence.

Everything requires faith. We're not using the same term and I don't know where you're getting your definition from. Faith is synonymous with trust/confidence. You have complete faith that 1+1=2. Evidence backs up faith, there's no negative correlation. We both have faith the sun will rise the next day, but that faith isn't as strong as 1+1=2 as a solar system catastrophe potentially could happen resulting in the 'sun not rising' in our perspective. But even if the sun were destroyed, 1+1=2.

And I don't break anything as the existence of God is self evident, as evident as something comes from something and not nothing. But that's propaganda, right?

If you believe that, then you should understand why the belief that something comes from nothing is not an atheist position.

Yes, I understand your view of atheism is that it is self-evident and a 'natural' worldview state (I obviously think you're delusional, here. And don't worry, I know you think I'm delusional too, and one of us is ).

Are you sure about that? Because for someone who doesn’t get to say who God is, just a few posts ago; you sure spent an awful lot of time saying who God is, what God is, and what he is not! Might wanna rethink that one my friend!

Have I? I'm pretty sure I've been trying to avoid the discussion of the identity of God because we need to figure out the existence of God, first. Which we do through our reasoning. If God exists, God will be revealed as God exists. What God is and not is part of reasoning the existence of God. Remember, I never got into 'Who' God is, or as I've been saying, His Identity (oops just did it) beyond grudgingly giving you a response out of courtesy to questions that really shouldn't be a part of this topic (until we get there).

Or does anyone else see me moving the goal posts in this thread?

Maybe i'll run you through the nothing=atheism conclusion by necessity, but I'm not really encouraged to do so.

C’mon let’s do it! Perhaps we can both learn something.

Maybe, I'd like our conversation to progress further, first. I don't think it's helpful until we can be sitting at the same table and I don't think we're there yet.

[PaulSacramento]

Right.

K

But our opinion of the truth or what we believe to be truth, can change,yes?

Objective truth based on fact doesn't change, but Subjective truth, or what we believe to be true can and often does change.

Early you said that truth is objective but now it is objective AND/OR subjective?

Subjective is what is believed to be true; objective is what can be demonstrated as true.

So, what is truth Kenny?

[RickD]

But our opinion of the truth or what we believe to be truth, can change,yes?

Objective truth based on fact doesn't change, but Subjective truth, or what we believe to be true can and often does change.

Early you said that truth is objective but now it is objective AND/OR subjective?

Subjective is what is believed to be true; objective is what can be demonstrated as true.

So, what is truth Kenny?

It seems Kenny is still conflating ontology and epistemology.

Kenny said earlier that truth is:

Fact; Reality; the opposite of false.

By Kenny's own definition, there cannot be subjective truth. Where the "subjective" comes in, is where we interpret objective truth. It's our subjective opinion that such and such is truth. But that doesn't make truth itself subjective.

[Byblos]

By Kenny's own definition, there cannot be subjective truth. Where the "subjective" comes in, is where we interpret objective truth. It's our subjective opinion that such and such is truth. But that doesn't make truth itself subjective.

So the ultimate question becomes: is truth knowable? That's what Kenny needs to answer.

[PaulSacramento]

By Kenny's own definition, there cannot be subjective truth. Where the "subjective" comes in, is where we interpret objective truth. It's our subjective opinion that such and such is truth. But that doesn't make truth itself subjective.

So the ultimate question becomes: is truth knowable? That's what Kenny needs to answer.

Indeed because from there most questions ( like is there free will for example) are answered.