h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'This is your spider on drugs...'

OK, m1/2...

So this Jaysus fella was lovely.

Given, then, that the Big G plainly *does* allow innocent kiddies to die painfully in mudslides, etc. etc...might this not lead you to question his parentage?

And what other sort of evidence would there be?

>> what other sort of evidence would there be? <<

I hope you find out one day, that there is a lot to learn from travel,
having children sprung from your own loins, how men and women behave differently according to belief ...

Books and test-tubes aren't the only things to promote wisdom and understanding.

Most evidence comes through our senses. Touch, smell, hearing, sight,
pain, pleasure ... If we lose any of these ...

We all live in a yellow submarine

'I hope you find out one day, that there is a lot to learn from travel,
having children sprung from your own loins, how men and women behave differently according to belief ...'

done all that and more. I've even milked goats.

but I've still not seen this evidence of which you write.

anhaga,

There's still time to find the evidence.

There's so many inner conflicts which prevent us from finding it, imo.
Often, we come closer to it when tragedy occurs in our lives.

'Often, we come closer to it when tragedy occurs in our lives.'


done my share of that, too, as some about here might attest. Ironic you should mention tragedy right after I mentioned goats. One of the possible etymologies for 'tragedy' is from the Greek words 'tragos', meaning 'goat' and 'ode', meaning song. So, the tragedy in our lives is perhaps nothing more than the song of goats (something I've also experienced).

Sorry, I still haven't found a reason to follow this god of which you speak, and frankly, I'm not sure how much time I have left, between the End being Near, and my own advancing age.


I've done all you mention and I've also read your holy book many times in a number of languages. I have studied the world's Wisdom Literature in depth and I've wanted to believe. I have prayed humbly and sincerely, but, you know what? there is no indication that there is anything to it.

>

And these things are non-material in what way, exactly?

Can you perhaps give an example of a piece of non-material evidence, and perhaps say what you think it is evidence for?

anhaga,

You believe the scriptures are 'fiction' and/or have little significance.
I believe in an Almighty Creator who sends down guidance to his creation.

It's your informed opinion and choice.

'anhaga,

You believe the scriptures are 'fiction' and/or have little significance.'


please don't presume to tell me what I 'believe'. I 'believe' the Scriptures (I'll provide the capital you left off) are neither simply 'fiction' nor of little significance.

You believe in an Almighty Creator who sends down guidance to his creation.

I don't believe you have offered any evidence to support your belief. and I don't believe that the Scriptures provide such evidence.

anhaga,

, I should have said "Do you believe the Scriptures ..."

The word 'evidence' is being used here to mean 'scientific evidence', as in statistical analysis etc. ? Yes ?

Why aren't other forms of evidence acceptable!

Such as the number of people in the world who believe in 'God'.
Do they all lack intelligence?
The fact people have different WAYS of believing is worth studying,
but doesn't change the fact that they believe.

'The word 'evidence' is being used here to mean 'scientific evidence', as in statistical analysis etc. ? Yes ?'

You say, and then:

'Why aren't other forms of evidence acceptable!'


Which leads me to expect a different form of evidence, but you offer:



Such as the number of people in the world who believe in 'God'.'


Which, of course, is simply statistics (without analysis) not a new form of evidence.

but I will respond:




Do you accept the evidence of the millions of people who believe that Mohammed was the final prophet of God? Do you accept the evidence of the millions of people who believe they've been abducted by aliens? Do you accept the evidence of the millions of Catholics who believe in Papal Infallibility? Do you accept the evidence of the millions of who believe that Star Wars is both good cinema and a reasonable basis for a religion? What about the evidence of the millions of people who *don't* believe in your particular version of God? I guarantee you that there are far more people on this planet who disagree with your conception of God, whatever it might be, than there are who agree.

Didn't your mother ever say to you 'if everyone thought it was a good idea to jump of a bridge, would you do it?'

Reality is not determined by a democratic vote. That is why this particular example of 'evidence' is not acceptable.

I must take issue with this, anhaga.

<>

The Empire Strikes Back was really good. Really.

anhaga,

Mmm, your right.
Excuse me.

I'll go away and think about it.
Of course, if you can help me with suitable evidence, I would be very pleased.
Ah, no. Not from the Scriptures, anyway.

* Thinking for a while *

Careful with that thinking stuff. You never know where it may lead..

Suitable evidence? You mean evidence that would help convince me?

How about you help *me* out. Tonight I'm going to sincerely pray for a very simple miracle. I ask you to pray as well. I know a young lady who, among more severe medical problems, has a congenital deformity of a number of her fingers. I would like us both to ask that a single one of her pinkies be straight and normal when she wakes up tomorrow. Nothing too difficult. I'm not asking for a cure of any of her major medical problems. I'll check on it and let you all know how it turns out. (it's evening here now)


Surely if He can cure leprosy, raise the dead. . . surely if He promises us that He will cure all our ills if only we pray . . .

It's not like I'm asking for a Flood, or an angel to visit me for dinner, or any of the hundreds of other concrete interventions into the physical world and its processes that are described in the Bible.

Just a little finger. To help convince all these skeptics and unbelievers.

I'd be satisfied with something like that, or any of the unmistakeable proofs listed here: http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/theistguide.html

Such as, "Just think: What if Jesus had said something like this?

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee that thine energy is as thine mass times the speed of light multiplied unto itself."

Nice link, Tal.

Given I'm still interested in what non-material evidence there could be. None of the appended suggestions (<there is a lot to learn from travel,
having children sprung from your own loins, how men and women behave differently according to belief ...&gt seems to be non-material, nor is it clear what they are thought to be evidence *of*.

And, of course, we are still waiting for someone to tell us what "non-material" means, and how non-material things interact with material ones.

Noggin

>> how non-material things interact with material ones. <<

I hope somebody with knowledge and scientific evidence can tell me:

What is energy ? Is it material or non-material?

Certainly Einstein has shown the relationship between mass (material)
and energy (non-material?).