The existence - or lack of - a God is one of humanity's fundamental questions. Since the first birth, the first sunrise, the first death, humans have sought to explain the world around them. The whole of human existence, in the end, comes down to this: Is there a God?
Please select the category that most closely reflects your concern about this content,
so that we can review it and determine whether it violates Civility 101 or isn't
appropriate for some other reason.
Abusing this feature is also a violation of Civility 101.
Explanation:
Biweekly updates on new debates and experts
Please check your email to confirm your subscription.
© 2008 Opposing Views, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Opposing Views, Inc. is not responsible for the content posted on this website. Please view full disclaimer under Terms
Belief vs Knowledge; Faith vs Proof
- From Rabbi Jeret
By Rabbi Jeret - Spiritual Leader, Congregation Ner Tamid
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Faith Is Established on One or More Presuppositions...
Faith IS truly required to believe (i.e. KNOW in one's heart) that God exists. Yet, Faith in faith alone gives little comfort that Faith will one Day be proven to be fact. Faith THAT God exists is based on the presuppositions that God can exist, and that His existence is beneficial to me.
However, by the same token Faith is required to believe that God does NOT exist! The Faith that God does NOT exist is based on the presuppositions that the Universe can exist even if God does not, and that the lack of God is in some way or ways beneficial to me.
Though I will probably add another comment later, I will close this one with an investment-return analysis!
Belief: God exists! Investment: This Life with all its problems & blessings...on average 100 years or less. Return: Eternity of significant existence minus problems plus additional favor for believers.
Belief: God does not exist! Investment: Time & Effort getting to the top of your field, and the staggering task of proving your own omniscience of all things in order to be able to prove that God does not exist! Return: A Life of pleasures that lasts for 100 years or less, and the possibility of being immortalized in the hearts of those who adore you, even though YOU yourself cease to exist.
Cost-Benefits Analysis shows heavier value on the side of Belief in God and His certain existence! (Hebrews 11:1, KJV) It's not even close! :)
- WinBro777JOT
October 20, 2008 7:34PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
cost analysis faith
Faith cost nothing it is the GIFT of GOD,you do nothing but get out of it's way & allow yourself to be used for a purpose..You are salvaged from a life of eternal torment but you live to a life of eternal reward.YOU are salvaged for the purpose of becomming GOD like in character & IMAGE, RESTORED to how GOD made man originally...YOU will do as HE would do ..REPRESENTATION is your purpose in eternity & in the here & now..
- nobody December 1, 2008 3:00PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
faith vs facts
For FAITH to exist GOD must exist...The human heart, as we all know, is despirately wicked & totally without a means of control, outside of fear from law & retribution from the law...Mankind would not make up an outside influence to dominate the human mind..FAITH brought to fruition ,yields un-human capabillities & anyone who is truthfull in the matter can see by this evidence, (that man would not go against himself to his own demise or subjection),in essence self-representation & self-preservation..True "faith" comes only from GOD by way of a change in a man's heart because of an outside force acting on that heart, heart being a person's inner makeup that has to manifest outwardly,that change..FAITH in GOD is the very evidence that GOD exists..IT goes against ALL human nature & behavior to submit to a higher authority..GOD is love,not a man-made mind control option, LOVE, being HIS character shown to mankind in CHRIST's manifestation..IT is this IMAGE from which mankind originally fell ..WE were created in GOD's IMAGE..NOT physically but in HIS CHARACTER image..Since the fall we must be restored to that IMAGE as this is neccessary for GOD to remain GOD..SATAN is trying his best to defeat GOD in this purpose in-order to discredit GOD in HIS eternal realm..YOU are either helping SATAN or helping GOD in this eternal struggle...Though GOD does not need your help, HE has appointed a purpose & portion for those who receive HIM & want to accept HIS IMAGE, "LOVE"..The anti-christ will force anyone else to worship his image,"SELF" in that day of decission..There will be NO escape from CHOICE that day & ALL fates will be sealed for eternity...IT is purposed that EVERY knee shall bow & EVERY tongue confess that CHRIST is LORD over ALL, through eternity..After all he created it all...
- nobody December 1, 2008 2:50PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
A Matter of Evidence
The major question is why is this even a question? It because if there is a God, faith must have a purpose that nothing else could accomplish--and indeed it does. Faith is the ultimate value upon which all relationships prosper or fail. I have faith in my bank that they can be trusted with my money ; and they trust me with a check book. Our relationship continues on the basis of that mutual trust. That trust is it own reward. If we want God's benefits, it's only consistent with all other things in life that he should ask us to accept him by faith. He has offered himself as the reward of the one who will seek to know him by faith. It's a fair deal, and a very good one. No one is forced in. And he isn't trying to fill heaven by coercion. It's for the willing.
Lately, the thing which has me awestruck is God's love of paradox (apparent contradictions that seem impossible, yet with a change of viewpoint, they resolve). The resurrection accounts (Mt. 28, Mk. 16, Lk. 24, Jn. 20,21, Acts 1:1-12, and 1 Cor. 15:3-8 appear contradictory when merely compared side-by-side, but when the events described by each of the five writers are broken into pieces they can all be brought together to form one complete story, without contradiction. Who but God could conceive such a grand puzzle? Find out more at www.easteranswer.com
- s307kingsley
March 27, 2009 9:59PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
"... in scientific terms..."
You wrote: "Given the lack of proof, in scientific terms, either way, those who do not believe in God may actually be faithful equally to those who do believe in God, only their faith is in the lack of a God."
Although I agree with what you're saying, why do we continue to run to science for validation of our beliefs? There are things that science cannot do. Scientific knowledge has proven to be false in many instances... by science itself. Science is limited to areas of naturalism-- it CAN'T prove or disprove the SUPERnatural. I say, let's run to the principles of jurisprudence, where probability is honored. I believe BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT that God exists.
- Cannie
April 15, 2009 3:28PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
almost.
This was beautifully written and phrased up until his final conclusion. Almost had my vote .
- userk
April 16, 2009 3:21AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Uncommitted
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Yes, I believe there is a God but...
He's definitly not the God of the bible . I have trouble believing that our earth just happened, along with all the rest of humanity. What I don't understand is how God created the human race and then destroyed the entire human race. Then allowed it to flourish again, and now all of us who don't accept Jesus into our hearts will go to hell. Wait a minute isn't he all knowing, didn't he know what was going to happen when he originally created me. He loves me so much he sent his son to die on the cross for me so my sins could be forgiven but... he made me this way and he knew it was going to turn out this way before I was born. If I don't believe in him he knows my heart and he'll judge me accordingly.
- Tony81
April 20, 2009 10:57PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Rabbi Jeret
I agree with you.
Have you ever considered that the delusion of Revelations is referring to the homosexual movement? Have you ever considered that we are in the end times?
I love God. Its obvious you do too. Peace to you. My story at WWW.HOPE7.HIGHPOWERSITES.COM
Everything in life is progressing just as it should. I have peace and trust in God, no matter. The bottom line question is not do you believe there is a God, God says all men/woman know it whether they wish to acknowledge is it another matter, but the real question is DO YOU LOVE HIM? I think you do!
- Hope7
May 26, 2009 11:19AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
The point of argument
Rabbi, I am not sure whether you're aware of the purpose of debate. Let me clue you in: to present arguments which make a case for your side. Aside from your rather strange attempt at claiming that popular belief in some kind of god gives the idea credibility, I've seen no such attempt by you. Most theists at least try to come up with a logical argument to make their pre-existing beliefs seem viable, but you seem to have given up before you've even started!
Instead, you've apparently come to the debate with the arrogant conclusion that you don't need to make any serious attempt at rationalizing belief in god. Why?
Your claims about faith seem a little odd as well, less of an argument and more of an excuse. Why, if you are so willing to believe and base your life off of faith in a god without any evidence, why not believe in anything without evidence? Don't believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster? Why not? Where is the difference?
I'm almost ashamed the atheist side (which, by the way, atheists generally do not believe there is no god, but instead simply have a lack of belief--shame on the way this debate was set up, as well) didn't have a remotely serious opponent.
- Blue Linchpin
June 3, 2009 7:06PM
Reply to this Recommend (1)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
How do you define God?
Since Unified Force Theory fits the basic definition of God. The question is, when people say they believe in God, what do they mean by God?
- mike1948
August 1, 2009 3:04PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
what GOD
God of what?
- countryboy
August 1, 2009 5:09PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
God?
There is only one God but what is God?
- mike1948
August 2, 2009 12:29AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
not so
There are many gods of this world.But one true GOD Yahweh!Jehovh GOD!
- countryboy
August 2, 2009 10:19AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
If we're going by the bible
Countryboy is right. G-d very clearly talks about other Gods, usually Baal. We don't like Ba'al. There are supposed to be other Gods out there who are very powerful supernatural beings--Zeus, Ra, Gozer, etc. But Yahweh, the Jewish G-d, is supposed to be the one who created the universe and sort of maintains it. Different levels. Like, other Gods are players on football teams, but Yahweh is the high commissioner who decides who plays, when and where.
- quantummechanik
August 2, 2009 10:51AM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Wantabes.
You are both ducking the question. Ok, one true God, Yahweh, and a lot of mythical wantabes. But what is God? When we say we believe in God, what is he.
- mike1948
August 2, 2009 5:41PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: Yes
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.
Cost Benefit Anal
OK, as a guy that spent many years wishing I could believe in god , the Cost/Benefit argument has to be one of the least inspiring reasons someone might believe in such a thing.
Is god such a tool that any schlep with a calculator in one and and crossed fingers in the other gets saved?
And is the point spread the Rabbi refers to on "faith" in no god(mischaracterizing skepticism anyway) supposed to scare the nonbeliever? We already we live in an inherently meaningless universe alone on a mote of dust with steadily declining viability for the future! What do we care what the odds are things might be different when we die?
This whole argument revolves around the definition of belief itself, which typically fails to acknowledge if one chooses what to believe and then organizes the facts of life, or if one is lead to beliefs based on the facts of life.
The last defense of theism typically resorts to the logical problem of proving something does not exist or highly covoluted discussions about how free-will and determinism are actually coexistant and how morally bankrupt the world would be without the relentless pandering, sycophancy, coercion, bribery, and extortion behind most faith and arguments therefor...
So just get there already if this is the best you got.
- Submariner June 10, 2009 11:46PM
Reply to this Recommend (0)
Side: No
Thank You for your Comment
We review all comments before they're posted. For more on our comment policy, please see our FAQ.