Continuing Intellectual Growth

[Lil Red]

What does this mean?

 

too long; didn't read.

[Fidei Defensor]

Ultimately, the issue of God's existence is not a scientific issue, but philosophical.  Science can explain how things work in nature / the physical world, but can't explain why the universe and the natural laws and forces which government exist in the first place, much less can it explain the ultimate issue of being or existence itself - why there is something, rather than nothing.  Philosophically, we believe that God is pure limitless unconditioned Being, dependent on nothing else for His being/existence.  Any material or physical thing is by nature dependent on other things or conditions for existence, and cannot be the cause of existence itself.  Also, the chances of a universe existing by pure chance having the physical laws and conditions in which rational intelligent beings such as humans can even exist are infinitesimal.

 

Trying to appeal to nature or natural laws/causes to explain the existence of the material universe is circular logic.  To me, it's a bit analogous to trying to explain the existence of an incredible, functional computer program by describing the code which governs its functions, without dealing with the issue of how the code came to be, and denying the existence of a programmer for that code.

 

I've mentioned it on here before, but for dealing with the existence of God from the standpoint of modern physics and philosophy, I'd again strongly recommend Robert Spitzer's New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy.  You might also want to check out the works of the late priest and physicist Stanley Jaki.

 

 

The truth of the Christian Faith (which is based on revelation, rather than pure reason) is a separate issue from that of God's existence, but if God exists (which I think can be known by reason), it would make sense that He would reveal Himself to humans, and I believe the Catholic Faith is the most reasonable religion.

 

And if you're unsure of whether or not the Christian Faith is true or not, it might be worth considering Pascal's Wager.  Just a thought.

Philosophy is ultimately illuminated by science, and I haven't been convinced that any of the arguments for the existence of God are strong enough to warrant religious belief.

[Socrates]

Philosophy is ultimately illuminated by science, and I haven't been convinced that any of the arguments for the existence of God are strong enough to warrant religious belief.

 

Have you read the books I recommended (which have some darn good arguments, which I cannot adequately cover in this forum)? Or do you dismiss them before hand simply because the authors are not atheists?

 

The first section of Fr. Spitzer's book is entirely based in science (specifically physics), and actually goes pretty deep into that topic. I'd even venture that the authors (it includes a chapter by a professional physicist) are more learned on the topic than yourself).  I'd suggest at least giving it a serious open-minded read before you dismiss belief in God as un-scientific or un-intellectual.

[Fidei Defensor]

Have you read the books I recommended (which have some darn good arguments, which I cannot adequately cover in this forum)? Or do you dismiss them before hand simply because the authors are not atheists?

 

The first section of Fr. Spitzer's book is entirely based in science (specifically physics), and actually goes pretty deep into that topic. I'd even venture that the authors (it includes a chapter by a professional physicist) are more learned on the topic than yourself).  I'd suggest at least giving it a serious open-minded read before you dismiss belief in God as un-scientific or un-intellectual.

I'm not dismissing them. I may read them eventually, I already have a huge list of books to read.

 

And I don't think God is un-scientific, per se. I just haven't found the need for God in science.