Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Discussions on a ranges of philosophical issues including the nature of truth and reality, personal identity, mind-body theories, epistemology, justification of beliefs, argumentation and logic, philosophy of religion, free will and determinism, etc.
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by RickD »

Kenny wrote:
You know how that law of thermodynamics that says energy and matter cannot be created nor destroyed? That it cannot be created from nothing nor reduced to nothing; that it only changes form? If that's true, that would mean nothing was ever created.
Just an FYI, it's the law of conservation of energy, not one of the 4 laws of thermodynamics.
And further, the law of conservation of energy only applies in an isolated system. Which further means that the law of conservation of energy was meaningless before the universe, which is an isolated system, came into existence.
John 5:24
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.


“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”
-Edward R Murrow




St. Richard the Sarcastic--The Patron Saint of Irony
User avatar
Philip
Site Owner
Posts: 9405
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:45 pm
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Betwixt the Sea and the Mountains

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Philip »

Ken's logic is irrational and lacking objectivity because it's currently subordinate to his entrenched determination to not believe at all costs, no matter how powerful the evidences! What he thinks matter and blind things can orchestrate is absolutely mind-boggling, as even being eternal does not explain the complexity and design apparent throughout the universe and earth's systems.
Kenny
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3744
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:17 pm
Christian: No
Sex: Male
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Kenny »

RickD wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:36 pm
Kenny wrote:
You know how that law of thermodynamics that says energy and matter cannot be created nor destroyed? That it cannot be created from nothing nor reduced to nothing; that it only changes form? If that's true, that would mean nothing was ever created.
Just an FYI, it's the law of conservation of energy, not one of the 4 laws of thermodynamics.
And further, the law of conservation of energy only applies in an isolated system. Which further means that the law of conservation of energy was meaningless before the universe, which is an isolated system, came into existence.
First of all, the 1st law of Thermodynamics and the law of conservation of energy are one and the same
https://study.com/academy/lesson/first- ... nergy.html

Second; the speculation I provided assumes the Universe (Universe defied as “all that exists”) has always existed; that there was never a point in history when absolutely nothing existed. This means there has, always been an isolated system which would mean the 1st law of Thermodynamics/Conservation of Energy has always been in place
RickD wrote
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence".
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by RickD »

Kenny wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:42 pm
RickD wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:36 pm
Kenny wrote:
You know how that law of thermodynamics that says energy and matter cannot be created nor destroyed? That it cannot be created from nothing nor reduced to nothing; that it only changes form? If that's true, that would mean nothing was ever created.
Just an FYI, it's the law of conservation of energy, not one of the 4 laws of thermodynamics.
And further, the law of conservation of energy only applies in an isolated system. Which further means that the law of conservation of energy was meaningless before the universe, which is an isolated system, came into existence.
First of all, the 1st law of Thermodynamics and the law of conservation of energy are one and the same
https://study.com/academy/lesson/first- ... nergy.html

Second; the speculation I provided assumes the Universe (Universe defied as “all that exists”) has always existed; that there was never a point in history when absolutely nothing existed. This means there has, always been an isolated system which would mean the 1st law of Thermodynamics/Conservation of Energy has always been in place
Technically Kenny, no. The first law of thermodynamics is an adaptation of the law of conservation of energy. The first law is developed using a closed system. The universe is an isolated system.

Second,
It's beyond consistent logic, why you'd assume that the universe has always existed. You have consistently argued from science being the rationale behind what you believe. There is absolutely no scientific evidence that points to an eternal universe. Science is limited, at this point, to going back to the Big Bang. What happened before the Big Bang, is currently beyond the scope of science.

One day, I hope you will acknowledge how inconsistent your belief system really is. You have absolutely refused to acknowledge the possibility of an eternal God, yet you believe matter could be eternal, but you're not sure. You refuse to acknowledge the actual proof of an eternal God, because metaphysics is not science. Yet you yourself go outside the realm of science, when you assume the universe has always been.
John 5:24
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.


“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”
-Edward R Murrow




St. Richard the Sarcastic--The Patron Saint of Irony
Kenny
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3744
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:17 pm
Christian: No
Sex: Male
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Kenny »

Kenny wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:42 pm
RickD wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:36 pm
Kenny wrote:
You know how that law of thermodynamics that says energy and matter cannot be created nor destroyed? That it cannot be created from nothing nor reduced to nothing; that it only changes form? If that's true, that would mean nothing was ever created.
Just an FYI, it's the law of conservation of energy, not one of the 4 laws of thermodynamics.
And further, the law of conservation of energy only applies in an isolated system. Which further means that the law of conservation of energy was meaningless before the universe, which is an isolated system, came into existence.
First of all, the 1st law of Thermodynamics and the law of conservation of energy are one and the same
https://study.com/academy/lesson/first- ... nergy.html

Second; the speculation I provided assumes the Universe (Universe defied as “all that exists”) has always existed; that there was never a point in history when absolutely nothing existed. This means there has, always been an isolated system which would mean the 1st law of Thermodynamics/Conservation of Energy has always been in place
RickD wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:29 amIt's beyond consistent logic, why you'd assume that the universe has always existed. You have consistently argued from science being the rationale behind what you believe.
I disagree! I’ve never said that or even implied that. I think I’ve been very clear; I would be as skeptical of scientific claims as I am of religious claims or anything else if it doesn’t make sense to me. I have not disagreed with science to the extent of religious claims, but that’s because 99% of what science puts out makes total sense to me; and the majority of what religions put out does not. As I’ve said many times before; don’t assume that because science says it, I blindly accept it. Science has gotten it wrong countless times, they are constantly dispelling theories they thought were true when new information shows them it was not; as I said before, I believe science gives us the best information they have at the time; and that is all I ask of them; but I do not accept scientific claims the way you guys accept religious claims.
RickD wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:29 amThere is absolutely no scientific evidence that points to an eternal universe. Science is limited, at this point, to going back to the Big Bang. What happened before the Big Bang, is currently beyond the scope of science.
I agree! Science does not claim the Universe is eternal, and they also cannot claim that it is not; (assuming Universe is defined as all that exists.)
RickD wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:29 amOne day, I hope you will acknowledge how inconsistent your belief system really is. You have absolutely refused to acknowledge the possibility of an eternal God, yet you believe matter could be eternal, but you're not sure. You refuse to acknowledge the actual proof of an eternal God, because metaphysics is not science. Yet you yourself go outside the realm of science, when you assume the universe has always been.
I have been very clear; I don’t have answers to the questions you guys are asking me; all I can do is speculate. Again; I have never claimed the Universe has always been, I can only speculate it has because this is what makes sense to me.
RickD wrote
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence".
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by RickD »

RickD wrote: ↑It's beyond consistent logic, why you'd assume that the universe has always existed. You have consistently argued from science being the rationale behind what you believe.
Kenny wrote: I disagree! I’ve never said that or even implied that. I think I’ve been very clear; I would be as skeptical of scientific claims as I am of religious claims or anything else if it doesn’t make sense to me. I have not disagreed with science to the extent of religious claims, but that’s because 99% of what science puts out makes total sense to me; and the majority of what religions put out does not. As I’ve said many times before; don’t assume that because science says it, I blindly accept it. Science has gotten it wrong countless times, they are constantly dispelling theories they thought were true when new information shows them it was not; as I said before, I believe science gives us the best information they have at the time; and that is all I ask of them; but I do not accept scientific claims the way you guys accept religious claims.
You just said that the speculation you provided assumes the universe has always existed. You said it right here:
Second; the speculation I provided assumes the Universe (Universe defied as “all that exists”) has always existed; that there was never a point in history when absolutely nothing existed. This means there has, always been an isolated system which would mean the 1st law of Thermodynamics/Conservation of Energy has always been in place
You have nothing left to be the basis of your argument. You must have matter that's eternal and non-contingent. Basically, you deny an eternal God, as an uncaused cause, an unmoved mover. And think that maybe matter is eternal.

You deny the very tool(metaphysics) which proves you are wrong.

And by the way, religious claims and metaphysics are not the same thing. These are religious claims:
1) Allah is The one true God, and Muhammad is his messenger
2) Only by God's grace, through faith in Christ, can one have everlasting life
3) one must obey the 10 commandments

Those claims aren't proven by metaphysics.

It seems you're conflating claims of faith, with metaphysics.
John 5:24
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.


“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”
-Edward R Murrow




St. Richard the Sarcastic--The Patron Saint of Irony
User avatar
1over137
Technical Admin
Posts: 5329
Joined: Tue May 10, 2011 6:05 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Female
Creation Position: Undecided
Location: Slovakia
Contact:

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by 1over137 »

Kenny,
it helped me in my search
it contributed to my recognized there is God

and how?
you know, there are physical laws - why are there laws?
they are quite organized - what is behind that organization?
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:21

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 1:6

#foreverinmyheart
Kenny
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3744
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:17 pm
Christian: No
Sex: Male
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Kenny »

RickD wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 9:32 amYou have nothing left to be the basis of your argument. You must have matter that's eternal and non-contingent. Basically, you deny an eternal God, as an uncaused cause, an unmoved mover. And think that maybe matter is eternal.
I was just trying to make the point that I accept what makes sense to me. I don’t blindly accept claims that don’t whether they be religious/Christian, or secular/science.
RickD wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 9:32 amYou deny the very tool(metaphysics) which proves you are wrong.

And by the way, religious claims and metaphysics are not the same thing. These are religious claims:
1) Allah is The one true God, and Muhammad is his messenger
2) Only by God's grace, through faith in Christ, can one have everlasting life
3) one must obey the 10 commandments

Those claims aren't proven by metaphysics.

It seems you're conflating claims of faith, with metaphysics.
I didn’t address metaphysics. You lost me on that one bro!
RickD wrote
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence".
Kenny
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3744
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:17 pm
Christian: No
Sex: Male
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Kenny »

1over137 wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:02 am Kenny,
it helped me in my search
it contributed to my recognized there is God

and how?
you know, there are physical laws - why are there laws?
they are quite organized - what is behind that organization?
What are we talking about?
RickD wrote
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence".
User avatar
1over137
Technical Admin
Posts: 5329
Joined: Tue May 10, 2011 6:05 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Female
Creation Position: Undecided
Location: Slovakia
Contact:

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by 1over137 »

Kenny wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:17 am
1over137 wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:02 am Kenny,
it helped me in my search
it contributed to my recognized there is God

and how?
you know, there are physical laws - why are there laws?
they are quite organized - what is behind that organization?
What are we talking about?
You gave me this question: "So how did the study of the physical world cause you to believe or recognize God?"
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:21

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 1:6

#foreverinmyheart
Kenny
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3744
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:17 pm
Christian: No
Sex: Male
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Kenny »

1over137 wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:22 am
Kenny wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:17 am
1over137 wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:02 am Kenny,
it helped me in my search
it contributed to my recognized there is God

and how?
you know, there are physical laws - why are there laws?
they are quite organized - what is behind that organization?
What are we talking about?
You gave me this question: "So how did the study of the physical world cause you to believe or recognize God?"
Oh yeah; back on page 7. Got it. As far as the physical laws...... what we call physical laws are just conclusions people have reached about our physical world, after repeated experimental and observation.
RickD wrote
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence".
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by RickD »

Kenny wrote:
I didn’t address metaphysics. You lost me on that one bro!
My point is that metaphysics proves the points that you are brushing aside. Either you don't understand metaphysics, or you refuse to understand, because you may find out something you're trying to avoid.
John 5:24
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.


“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”
-Edward R Murrow




St. Richard the Sarcastic--The Patron Saint of Irony
User avatar
Philip
Site Owner
Posts: 9405
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:45 pm
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Betwixt the Sea and the Mountains

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Philip »

Again, it is not that something or things could be eternal that is Ken’s obvious problem. It’s that what exists - even at the Big Bang - was immediately massively complex in designs, functions and interactivity that a massive burst of unfathomable energy didn’t result in mass chaos of random things, but instead, the exact and crucial things that immediately (in MINUTES) brilliantly began organizing and coordinating things of incredible designs working in unison with stunning, synchronized precision! To think blind things could do this simply isn’t rational, AND it is only based upon self-motivated feelings. Notice that science presumes all things have physical causes, but the universe reveals the inexplicable, the miraculous - as it’s the only descriptions that come close to describing it!

Ken would have more credibility if he asserted the first thing or things were both eternal AND intelligent - but intelligence is only an attribute of living creatures. And astoundingly brilliant, complex designs require an intelligence. To believe otherwise is to irrationally and emotionally believe in inexplicable magic (as apparently does Ken).
Kenny
Ultimate Member
Posts: 3744
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:17 pm
Christian: No
Sex: Male
Creation Position: I don't believe in creation

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by Kenny »

RickD wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:16 am
Kenny wrote:
I didn’t address metaphysics. You lost me on that one bro!
My point is that metaphysics proves the points that you are brushing aside. Either you don't understand metaphysics, or you refuse to understand, because you may find out something you're trying to avoid.
How are you defining "metaphysics" and how does it prove a point I brushed aside?
RickD wrote
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence".
User avatar
RickD
Make me a Sammich Member
Posts: 22063
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:59 am
Christian: Yes
Sex: Male
Creation Position: Day-Age
Location: Kitchen

Re: Is Christianity and Belief in God RATIONAL?

Post by RickD »

Kenny wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:01 pm
RickD wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:16 am
Kenny wrote:
I didn’t address metaphysics. You lost me on that one bro!
My point is that metaphysics proves the points that you are brushing aside. Either you don't understand metaphysics, or you refuse to understand, because you may find out something you're trying to avoid.
How are you defining "metaphysics" and how does it prove a point I brushed aside?
The 5 ways of Thomas Aquinas.
John 5:24
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.


“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”
-Edward R Murrow




St. Richard the Sarcastic--The Patron Saint of Irony
Post Reply