Angel
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In a sense, yes, personal experiences. The experience of the person I am in the world. I'm talking about my consciousness, my life, and the physical world in which my conscious life appears to be set. These phenomena comprise a stupendous given. There's no getting around them and no getting outside them, and yet they point to something beyond themselves, for there is no accounting for them from within the phenomena themselves. From within the phenomena themselves such accounting has promoted science, art and religion and the whole cultural adventure we call "civilization" -- the long struggle for purchase on the "stupendous given," or shall we say the Stupendous Given. But the only account of the Stupendous Given, the only account of conscious life in the world that does not beg the question is the account that infers to a Stupendous Giver, so to say, or at least to a Stupendous Sustainer, or to avoid personification, to a Stupendous Sustaining at work behind the phenomena.
In simple terms, from the existence of consciousness, the existence of life, and the existence of the physical universe, the inference to the best explanation is God.
the best explanation is God
Well, you think it is the best. And the best for you.
OK.
Good luck with that.
Life and death are not much more than unknowns to leftist atheists who must gamble on what might or might not be reality beyond what they can personally physically touch, feel or taste.
...OP...
Life and death are not much more than unknowns to leftist atheists who must gamble on what might or might not be reality beyond what they can personally physically touch, feel or taste.
I had some hard lessons in my life. Each time I could have decided that the universe doesn't care about me, doesn't care about anyone, is not alive. Or I could have decided that the Universe might be alive, but if it is, it hates me.
However, I resisted that kind of negative thinking because it leads nowhere and is destructive. As a result, each time bad things happened I learned something valuable. The harder the lesson, the more valuable the thing I learned.
I didn't come into this world knowing the best ways to live, and I wasn't taught that. I doubt anyone is, because the best way to live is different for each of us. Our parents and teachers and other experts are of limited help.
Who can teach us then? If you are the materialist kind of atheist who thinks the universe is dead and mindless (because it has no neurons!), then you would be on your own I guess. Or maybe your subconscious would guide you, and the subconscious mind is connected to the Universe, even if you deny it.
In my case, there was a hand reaching back every time I reached out mine. In miraculous indescribable ways.
But I had a sense of something divine going on behind the scenes ever since I was born. I have often run away from it and walled it off. But I always know it's there.
When life is going along smoothly, it's easy to forget to reach out. It's easy to think we have everything under control and don't need any help. Then you trip and fall into another black hole. And then you remember there is a way out.
What is the Universe? And why do you need it to care about you? Why does the Universe sit back and watch people suffer and die?
If you're happy without feeling connected to something that cares about you, you should just continue the way you are.
The Universe has watched me suffer, as I pretended to be in charge and didn't ask for help. When I finally asked for understanding, I got it.
Why does the Universe let people die? Well life is supposed to be temporary, we aren't meant to stay here forever. And if no one died, imagine how over-crowded it would get.
Speaking of that, Google is now investing zillions of dollars in research trying to cure death. Did ANYONE EVER THINK about the consequences of no one dying?
But don't worry, they will never cure death. Silly humans.
If you're happy without feeling connected to something that cares about you, you should just continue the way you are.
The Universe has watched me suffer, as I pretended to be in charge and didn't ask for help. When I finally asked for understanding, I got it.
Why does the Universe let people die? Well life is supposed to be temporary, we aren't meant to stay here forever. And if no one died, imagine how over-crowded it would get.
Speaking of that, Google is now investing zillions of dollars in research trying to cure death. Did ANYONE EVER THINK about the consequences of no one dying?
But don't worry, they will never cure death. Silly humans.
Not quite.
"Our relationship with AbbVie is a pivotal event for Calico, whose mission is to develop life-enhancing therapies for people with age-related diseases. It will greatly accelerate our efforts to understand the science of aging, advance our clinical work, and help bring important therapies to patients everywhere," said Art Levinson, CEO and founder of Calico, and the former chairman and CEO of Genentech.
https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/3/6102377/google-calico-cure-death-1-5-billion-research-abbvie
The universe does not "let people die".
What about pain and suffering?
What reasons do you have to believe there is a God?
I made the following reply to what has become the OP Question in this thread, made the following reply to Good4Nothing, a newcomer who brings to DP a fresh and exciting vision of reality, made the following reply to the question whether my reasons to believe are based on personal experiences:
I invite believers to share with us in this thread their reason or reasons to believe -- if they're not too personal and private, that is.
I invite non-believers to think.
I encourage believers and non-believers alike to adopt two cats in the New Year 2019.
Life and death are not much more than unknowns to leftist atheists who must gamble on what might or might not be reality beyond what they can personally physically touch, feel or taste.
What reasons do you have to believe there is a God?
I made the following reply to what has become the OP Question in this thread, made the following reply to Good4Nothing, a newcomer who brings to DP a fresh and exciting vision of reality, made the following reply to the question whether my reasons to believe are based on personal experiences:
I invite believers to share with us in this thread their reason or reasons to believe -- if they're not too personal and private, that is.
I invite non-believers to think.
I encourage believers and non-believers alike to adopt two cats in the New Year 2019.
Life and death are not much more than unknowns to leftist atheists who must gamble on what might or might not be reality beyond what they can personally physically touch, feel or taste.
Oh yes, of course, any day now. They will do all they say, just give it time. And money, more money, more money, they will cure everything. They will understand everything. The great THEY, the rulers of nature, the conquerors of matter. HAVE FAITH.
I know what you mean. The Universe let me stub my toe and boy did that ever hurt! Now, what kind of Universe would allow such a thing to happen to me. Not fair. I will tell the Universe that it's dead and mindless. Otherwise it would never allow me to get hurt, never.
The OP invited non-believers to think, not throw up.Your obsession is not healthy.
The OP invited non-believers to think, not throw up.
What about rightist atheists? You are gambling too. Hinduism could be the true religion. Or Islam.
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