THBT: The God of the Christian bible likely does not exist.
The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.
After 1 vote and with 3 points ahead, the winner is...
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Standard
- Number of rounds
- 4
- Time for argument
- One week
- Max argument characters
- 30,000
- Voting period
- One month
- Point system
- Multiple criterions
- Voting system
- Open
INTERPRETED RESOLUTION: The God of the Christian bible does not exist.
DEFINITIONS:
God - The omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient and omnibenevolent being described in the Christian Bible.
Likely - to have a high probability of occurring/being true.
Exist - have objective reality or being
RULES:
1. No Kritiks.
2. No new arguments are to be made in the final round.
3. The Burden of Proof is shared.
4. Definitions are agreed upon and are not to be contested.
5. Rules are agreed upon and are not to be contested.
6. Sources can be hyperlinked or provided in the comment section.
7. A breach in the rules should result in a conduct point deduction for the offender.
Somewhere in the world a man has abducted a little girl. Soon he will rape, torture, and kill her. If an atrocity of this kind not occurring at precisely this moment, it will happen in a few hours, or days at most. Such is the confidence we can draw from the statistical laws that govern the lives of six billion human beings. The same statistics also suggest that this girl’s parents believe—at this very moment—that an all-powerful and all-loving God is watching over them and their family. Are they right to believe this? Is it good that they believe this?- Sam Harris
- almighty or infinite in power, as God.
- (of a deity) having unlimited power
- one who has unlimited power or authority
- having unlimited power and able to do anything:
- having unlimited power
- Omnipotence is maximal power.
- The burden of proof (Latin: onus probandi, shortened from Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat) is the obligation on a party in a dispute to provide sufficient warrant for their position.
- When two parties are in a discussion and one makes a claim that the other disputes, the one who makes the claim typically has a burden of proof to justify or substantiate that claim especially when it challenges a perceived status quo.[1] This is also stated in Hitchens's razor, which declares that "what may be asserted without evidence, may be dismissed without evidence." Carl Sagan proposed a related criterion – "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" – which is known as the Sagan standard.
- The best definition for atheism is that it is not the denial of Gods, it is a lack of belief in Gods. .
- All atheism is, is a lack of belief in a particular deity.
- Atheism is non-belief in the existence of a deity. It doesn't make assertions and it doesn't in anyway address knowledge. Non-belief is the default position until the burden of proof is met.
- Atheism is a lack of belief in God
- The definition of atheist is a person who lacks belief, or does not believe in God period.
- I try to clarify this with people who're under the impression, usually with negative connotations, that atheists think they know there's no god, but really, I subscribe to the passing of that - which is that that's not the case - it's unreasonable for me to believe there is a God.
- I personally prefer to define an atheist as "Someone who isn't convinced by the claims of theism"
- Thus with all these terms defined, and their relevant dictionaries hyperlinked, it therefore follows that theists have the burden of proof. Consider the following analogy.
- Imagine if I were to assert that there were intangible, invisible, inaudible and insensible fairies dancing in my garden, who would bear the burden of proof? Would it be the non-believer, or the believer? Of course, the non-believer cannot prove that there are no fairies, but this in no way means that there is a 50 50 chance between there being fairies and there not being fairies, and it certainly does not mean that the believer is right. If I want to prove that there are fairies in my garden bed, I must prove that there are fairies in my garden bed. Saying "well you can't disapprove it so I'm right by default" is at best a cop out.
- With this in mind, consider my following 7 contentions which enforce my lack of belief in the Christian God.
- Whatever begins to exist has a cause of its existence,
- The universe began to exist
- Therefore, the universe has a cause of its existence
“From start to finish, the Kalam cosmological argument is predicated upon the A-Theory of time” [1]
“On a B-Theory of time, the universe does not in fact come into being or become actual at the Big Bang; it just exists tenselessly as a four-dimensional space-time block that is finitely extended in the earlier than direction. If time is tenseless, then the universe never really comes into being, and, therefore, the quest for a cause of its coming into being is misconceived.” [1]
- The Oxford languages dictionary defines causation as that which relates to cause and effect. Where an event involves a cause and results in an effect, causation is associated. By virtue of truism, without a cause preceding an effect, causality must be absent. Moreover, the time between any cause and effect must be a finite and measurable number. Hence, it can be drawn that causality is inherently tied with the arrow of time, as the cause would have to precede the effect by a finite amount of time [2].
- Moreover, the nature of causation requires that cause “X” and effect “Y” both be logically possible, either contingently or necessarily [3]. For example, it is impossible that there exists a cause of which results in the effect of a circular square. Hence, it is necessary that the coherence of causality lies in logical, physical and metaphysical laws/axioms.
- Therefore, the nature of causation is inherently incumbent on logical, physical and metaphysical laws/axioms. If something is incoherent or breaks the laws of logic (circular square), it cannot be caused. Thus, the idea of a caused universe is ultimately illogical, as prior to the origin of the universe, there were neither time’s arrow nor physical/logical laws. As the necessary conditions for causation to take place did not exist prior to the Big Bang, it is unjustified to speak of causation as the cause of said effect.
- As the A-series of times affirms the proposition of a caused universe, and the conditions of a caused universe are wholly illogical, the A-series of time is inaccurate.
- General Relativity depicts a universe where time is an axis in a 4-dimensional, block universe.
- Special relativity holds true that the laws of physics are the same, regardless of the frame of reference. This means that people can disagree on the present moment but are all equally correct.
- Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity depicts a universe where time itself is an axis in a 4 dimensional, spatial plane. The theory provides an infused description of gravity and space-time and shows that space-time can be curved and distorted by objects with a large mass. Gravity, caused by large objects warping the fabric of spacetime, affects not only the movement of an object through space, but also the object's passage through time.
- Consider the words of Marina Cortês, a cosmologist from the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh.
"Imagine a regular chunk of cement. It has three dimensions but we live in four dimensions: the three spatial dimensions plus one time dimension. A block universe is a four-dimensional block, but instead of (being made of cement, it is made of) spacetime. And all of the space and time of the Universe are there in that block." [5]
Einstein's version of the experiment presumed that one observer was sitting midway inside a speeding train car and another was standing on a platform as the train moved past. As measured by the standing observer, the train is struck by two bolts of lightning simultaneously, but at different positions along the axis of train movement (back and front of the train car). In the inertial frame of the standing observer, there are three events which are spatially dislocated, but simultaneous: standing observer facing the moving observer (i.e., the centre of the train), lightning striking the front of the train car, and lightning striking the back of the car.Since the events are placed along the axis of train movement, their time coordinates become projected to different time coordinates in the moving train's inertial frame. Events which occurred at space coordinates in the direction of train movement happen earlier than events at coordinates opposite to the direction of train movement. In the moving train's inertial frame, this means that lightning will strike the front of the train car before the two observers align (face each other). [7]
- Essentially, special relativity demonstrates that observers separated in space have different perceptions of when “X” event occurs. This finding suggests that there is no such thing as an objective present, as beings can experience event “X” at different times.
- Hence, this refutes the A-Theory of time, as it demonstrates that there is no “real present” as a single event can be perceived differently, with no appropriate metric to determine who’s “perception” is right.
- As has been observed in the quantum world, “backwards causation” [8] can be achieved by linking time-symmetry and retrocausality. Retrocausality means that, when an experimenter chooses the measurement setting with which to measure a particle, that decision can influence the properties of that particle in the past, even before the experimenter made their choice. In other words, an effect can change the cause. Scientific research provides an abundance of facts which provides support for retrocausal quantum theories, in which the future influences the past. Huw Price, a major proponent of retrocausality in quantum theory laws out an argument which suggests that any quantum theory that assumes that
- the quantum state is real, and
- the quantum world is time-symmetric (that physical processes can run forwards and backwards while being described by the same physical laws) [9]
- must allow for retrocausal influences. Moreover, experiments such as the Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser designed by Yoon-Ho Kim aim to prove the existence of backwards causation. The said experiment is a rather complicated construction. It is set up to measure correlated pairs of photons, which are in an entangled state, so that one of the two photons is detected 8 nanoseconds before its partner. The result indicates that the behaviour of the photons detected 8 nanoseconds before their partners is determined by how the partners will be detected. [10] Undeniably, this should act as proof of backwards causation, in that the effect has affected the cause.
- Moreover, quantum entanglement further affirms this point, and shows that when a particle is observed and its wave function collapses, the entangled particles interact with each other retrocausally. [9]
- Furthermore, revisitation of the famous Bell Theorem, which was once under great scrutiny finds that the quantum non-locality observed in nature in the form of statistical correlations violating Bell’s inequality can be understood as the signature of retrocausal effects. [11]
- These such findings are incongruent with the A-series of times, as the A-series is reliant on the axiom that the cause comes before the effect. As the studies I have provided prove that this axiom is false, it is conclusive that the block universe theory is not only harmonious with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity but also makes sense of theories which would be deemed utterly absurd under the A-Theory of time.
- Premise one is valid via truism, which makes the real debate revolve around premise 2. With the excessive evidence that I have provided, the A-Theory of time can almost certainly be rendered false, hence the claim that the universe was caused is almost certainly false.
- P1: P --> Q
- P2: ¬Q
- C: ∴ ¬P
- C from P1 and P2, Modus Tollens.
- By definition, God is a being than which none greater can be imagined.
- A being that necessarily exists in reality is greater than a being that does not necessarily exist.
- Thus, by definition, if God exists as an idea in the mind but does not necessarily exist in reality, then we can imagine something that is greater than God.
- But we cannot imagine something that is greater than God.
- Thus, if God exists in the mind as an idea, then God necessarily exists in reality.
- God exists in the mind as an idea.
- Therefore, God necessarily exists in reality.
- Though convincing at first, this argument is riddled with flaws. Consider the following counter argument used to deny the existence of God.
- Its intrinsic quality and
- The ability of its creator
- The Occam's Razor, also known as the law of parsimony states that “plurality should not be posited without necessity”. The principle deems a theory most likely if it has the least ontological commitments when compared with other theories. The principle can also be expressed as “entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity” [12]. Thus, my application of Occam's Razor can be framed by theism versus metaphysical naturalism [13]. Whilst Metaphysical naturalism has only two ontological commitments (the physical universe and the laws that govern it), Theism has three commitments (the physical universe, the laws that govern it and a divine being).
- Hence, the theory of which God is not necessary is, according to the law of parsimony, more likely.
- The term “Ultimate Boeing 747” is derived from Fred Hoyle’s amusing photograph of the Boeing 747 and the scrapyard. Hoye asserted that the probability of abiogenesis occurring on earth is no greater than the chance of a hurricane sweeping through a scrapyard and assembling a Boeing 747. In a nutshell, this epitomises creationists' favourite argument - an argument that can only be made by one with limited knowledge of natural selection. Consider the true implications of the improbability argument.
- He created all the natural, complex phenomena in the universe
- He has no explanation for himself
- He is at least as complex as the natural, complex phenomena in the universe
- He has no explanation for himself
- Is at least as complex as the natural, complex phenomena in the universe,
- Has no explanation for its existence
- Disease
- Animals in the wild suffer from diseases which circulate in a similar manner to human colds and flus, such as epizootic's, which are analogous to human epidemics. Some well-studied examples include chronic wasting disease in elk and deer, white-nose syndrome in bats, devil facial tumour disease in Tasmanian devils and Newcastle disease in birds. Diseases, combined with parasitism, "may induce listlessness, shivering, ulcers, pneumonia, starvation, violent behaviour, or other gruesome symptoms over the course of days or weeks leading up to death."
- Injury
- Consider interspecific competitions; a natural interaction in population ecology whereby members of the same species fight to the death for limited resources. These interactions often lead to fractures, eye injuries, wing tears and self-amputations, all extremely painful injuries which further lead to behaviours which negatively affect the well-being of the injured animals.
- Parasitism
- Parasites can negatively affect the well-being of their hosts by redirecting their host's resources to themselves, destroying their host's tissue and increasing their host's susceptibility to predation. As a result, parasites may reduce the movement, reproduction and survival of their hosts. Parasites can alter the phenotype of their hosts; limb malformations in amphibians caused by ribeiroia ondatrae, is one example. Some parasites have the capacity to manipulate the cognitive function of their hosts, such as worms which make crickets kill themselves by directing them to drown themselves in water, so that the parasite can reproduce in an aquatic environment, as well as caterpillars using dopamine containing secretions to manipulating ants to acts as bodyguards to protect the caterpillar from parasites.
- It is apparent that one fact is clear. Animals are often born into worlds in which suffering from factors outside of their control is a part of life. Why is this the case? If an all loving God really existed, why did he allow animals to be born into this cycle of violence and torment. Why do animals get their tongues ripped off by parasites? Why do cows get born and bred with the sole purpose of eventual execution? Why did God create a system in which animals live fearful lives, with the possibility of an excruciating death? The number of vertebrates alone is thought to be somewhere around 10^11 and 10^14, digits which are well into the trillions. Each and every one of these animals will, under the unairing supervision of an all loving God, likely suffer from more fear, devastation and trauma than humans can even begin to imagine.
- Theists may recognise that this argument is similar to that of the “problem of evil”, however I personally regard this variant to be far superior. The following objections which are often used to reply to the “problem of evil”
- Humans suffer as a result of free will
- Humans will be compensated in the after life
- Suffering exists because from it, more good can immerge
- do not sufficiently reply to the problem of animal suffering. To number 1, free will does not reply to why wild bush fires set alight koalas, causing them undeniable agony. Nothing within the koala's ability allows it to escape such an event. To number 2, unless Christians believe in some sort of animal heaven, this point is void. To advocates of rebuttal 3, I challenge them to name a single benefit which arises from a burning koala.
- My opposition agrees that the bible is not completely accurate
- “I accept that the Bible is not 100% accurate. I never have believed it, and cannot be convinced otherwise”
- Despite this, they build their entire understanding of Genesis 1: 1 by nit picking a single word.
- III.b “The principle word here is “heavens,” which Strong’s Hebrew translation renders as...”
- Despite later admitting that
- X.b.2.6 “Finally, a third difficulty: intentional corruption of doctrine based on the bickering over and above translation errors”
- It is impossible for my opponent to simultaneously uphold the beliefs that a) the bible is inaccurate and b) the term “heavens” is not to be disputed.
- My opponent provides no rebuttal to my entire first contention.
- My opponent makes no case for the existence of God and only provides rebuttals to arguments, one of which I did not even make.
- X Argument: Addressing and defeating the Argument of Biblical Defects
- XI Argument: Addressing and defeating the Problem of Evil
- Note that there is a drastic difference between refuting critiques of your position and making a case for your position. Referring to the garden fairy analogy I presented, note that merely defending your claim against garden fairy sceptics is not sufficient, you must make a case for the garden fairies.
- Thus far, my opponent is therefore defending nothing.
True, and it follows as a just consequence of God’s greatest creation: man.Fails, since God has no handicapWhen God was creatingGod is creating a perfect worldHow did God allow this to happen? First, by free agency.God wrote the Ten Commandments on tabletsGod has completed the CreationGod is omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscientGod has always allowed it to be
- Or, consider this explanation, from Satan: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods [plural], knowing good and evil.”
- One must wonder how it is even possible to document what Satan himself said. When testifying at court, if one is to describe an event occuring, they will be asked who witnessed it, does the witness have any agenda’s and is the witness reliable. Moreover, all these factors need to be cleared to a standard of which renders the occurrence beyond reasonable doubt. Not only have you ignored the questions which determine the likelihood of this occurring all together, but you then have the audacity to write of this occurrence (Satan’s speech) as a fact and then proceed to use this “fact” to reinforce your case.
- or more lethally yet subtly
- "So, who bloody well ever said that God, being omnipotent, must always act at that extreme level of power, or, for some reason, he is not God?"
- In order to make the statement that "even though God is omnipotent that doesn't mean he has to fix everything" you must first make the colossal assumption that God is omnipotent. Why is God omnipotent?
- To once again recycle my garden fairy example, what my opponent has done is akin to saying “well there are no logical issues with my assertion of garden fairies so therefore they must exist”.
- Though the idea of fairies dancing in my garden does not contradict any logical laws, this is not synonymous having successfully proved that they exist.
- My assertion that there is an IKEA microwave floating in space does not contradict any known facts of humanity, but that in no way means that I have satisfied my burden in proving there is a stranded microwave in space.
- In your response, I request that you make a syllogistic argument for the Christian God's existence.
- Interestingly, my opponent dedicates a separate section to purely rebut the Kalam cosmological argument
- (the Kalam, not anti-Kalam, for reasons obscure to myself. Why not just rebut my argument?)
- Before I dive into my oppositions critique, the following is the syllogism being investigated
- P1: Whatever begins to exist has a cause of its existence,
- P2: The universe began to exist
- C: Therefore, the universe has a cause of its existence
- My opposition states
- “P1 is correct; that which begins to exist, i.e., was created, having no prior existence, was caused to exist. I agree”
- Perhaps if you had read my extensive case for why this type of causation is reliant on a faulty view of time, you would not hold this view. You are basing your knowledge of cause and effect on axioms which are discredited by Retrocausality and quantum physics.
- My opposition states
- "P2, however, has a flaw: the assumption that the universe began to exist. There is nothing in Pro’s logic to suggest this is true; it is merely assumed because the proposition says so"
- My opponent makes the bold claim that the universe did not begin to exist. However, the "infinity" of the universe is an century old analogy of which has been thoroughly debunked and shown to lead to absurd conclusions. If stars had been radiating for an infinite time, they would have heated up the universe to the point where it reached their own temperature. Even at night, the whole sky should be as bright as the Sun, as every line of sight would have ended either on a star or on a cloud of dust that had been heated up until it was as hot as the stars. The observation that the sky is dark at night is very important, as it implies that the universe cannot have existed for ever, in the state we see today. Something must have occurred in the past to make the starts "turn on" a finite time ago.
- My opponent then translates Genesis 1 from it's original Hebrew script, which though the swervy lines may render it as intimidating at first, it carries little substance. They come to the conclusion that
- "... descriptive of “the heavens,” but not “likely” the entire universe, given the Hebrew context of “the heavens,"
- I have heard a theist assert that God did not create the universe. Not only does the following scholarly bible analysis sources state
- BIBLE STUDY TOOLS: Genesis 1:1 THE CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
- "the heaven and the earth"
- - the universe. This first verse is a general introduction to the inspired volume, declaring the great and important truth that all things had a beginning; that nothing throughout the wide extent of nature existed from eternity, originated by chance, or from the skill of any inferior agent; but that the whole universe was produced by the creative power of God
- BIBLE-STUDIES.ORG: Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
- “Created”:
- (Hebrew bara): Meaning to create, shape or form. This verb is used exclusively with God as its subject. It refers to the instantaneous and miraculous act of God by which He brought the universe into existence. Thus, the Genesis account of Creation refutes atheism, pantheism, polytheism, and evolution.\
- BLUE-LETTER-BIBLE.ORG:
- "Heavens And Earth"
- The final phrase in verse one, heavens and the earth, speaks of everything that exists. The Hebrews had no word for universe. When this phrase is used in Scripture it denotes all things that exist. For example, we read in Isaiah.
- Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb; I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself Isaiah 44: 24
- BIBLE-REF:
- "What does Genesis 1:1 mean?"
- He created everything in the natural world from the heavens, the sky, and space, to our planet and everything on it.
- BIBLE-HUB:
- "The heaven and the earth"
- The normal phrase in the Bible for the universe (Deuteronomy 32:1; Psalm 148:13; Isaiah 2). To the Hebrew this consisted of our one planet and the atmosphere surrounding it, in which he beheld the sun, moon, and stars. But it is one of the more than human qualities of the language of the Holy Scriptures that, while written by men whose knowledge was in accordance with their times, does not contradict the increased knowledge of later times. Contemporaneous with the creation of the earth was the calling into existence, not merely of our solar system, but of that sidereal universe of which we form so small a part; but naturally in the Bible our attention is confined to that which chiefly concerns ourselves.
- EMERGING-SCHOLARS:
- "The message of Genesis 1"
- God and God alone created all things
- God is sovereign over his creation
- God created with wisdom and order
- God created man as the pinnacle of his creation
- JEHOVAH'S-WITNESS:
- "Meaning of Genesis 1:1"
- This opening passage of the Bible states two important truths. First, the “heavens and the earth,” or the material universe, had a beginning. Second, they were created by God.
- Therefore be concluded that 1) this is one of those many typographies of which the bible contains 2) the people writing the bible did not know about the wider universe and thus dedicated so that it was more relevant to them or 3) my opponent is straight up wrong.
- From the Hebrew text, my opponent concludes that
- "We often point to Genesis 1: 1 . . . Did God create the entire universe, or just what is immediately around Earth, such as our solar system, or, more likely our galaxy, because stars are included?"
- A false dilemma, also referred to as false dichotomy, is an informal fallacy based on a premise that erroneously limits what options are available.
- Overlooking alternatives. DEFINITION: Saying that two items are causational (one causes the other), when in fact they merely correlate
- Both are committed when you ask, "did God create the entire universe, or just what is immediately around Earth". You make the assumption, based on a book which you agree is faulty, that God must have created only that which is observable.
- The fallacies of presumption fails to provide adequate reason for believing the truth of their conclusions.
- This fallacy is committed when you make the assumption that God even exists to begin with. Stating "did God do X" is to assume that God exists to be able to do X. However, as you provide no such evidence for this claim, Hitchens Razor asserts that I can simply ignore it.
- Though my opponent agrees the Kalam Cosmological argument is faulty, they essentially it up as a straw man and shoot it down. If you want something to dismantle, try the argument which I actually made.
- Hence my opponent fails to rebut (or even acknowledge) the anti-Kalam argument.
- To recall, the syllogism in question is as follows
- P1. The creation of the world is the most marvellous achievement imaginable.
- P2. The merit of an achievement is the product of
- Its intrinsic quality and
- The ability of its creator
- P3. The greater the handicap of the creator, the more impressive his achievements are.
- P4. The most formidable handicap possible for a creator would be there non-existence
- P5. Therefore, if we assume that the universe is the product of an existent creator, it is conceivable that a greater feat would be to create the universe while not existing.
- P6. An existing God would not be a being greater than which a greater cannot be conceived, as an even more formidable and incredible creator would be a God which did not exist
- C1. God doesn't exist.
- My opponent had the following objections
- "P1: False: The creation of the world is not the “most marvellous” creation: that achievement is man, being “in the image of God,” which is the Pro-acknowledged greatest thing in existence, at least in man's perception"
- So if I were to conjure up a kid out of thin air, and then precede to literally create the entire universe, you would be more impressed out the prior?
- Moreover, even if creating mankind was the most marvellous thing achievable, God didn't do too good of a job did he, considering all the murders and rapists running around.
- FORSEEABLE REPLY: But God gave people free will, so they have the choice to the whatever they want.
- OBJECTION: But if God created man perfectly in the first place, then they would not have chosen to do wrong, even if they had free will. If we backtrack from the modern day back to when man was alleged created, somewhere along the line, someone had to have committed the first "sin". Obviously, if you had "perfect parents", definitionally, they would not sin, and would able to perfectly teach their children not to sin, so on. Obviously, somewhere, something has to have gone wrong, something which if people were actually perfect, they would not do.
- "P3: Fails as being merely an assumption"
- In what way is this an assumption? What is more impressive, me running a 100 meter sprint in my full form, or me running with one leg. Obviously, me completing the same feat but handicapped is more impressive. It follows that therefore, the more handicapped I am, the more impressive me running 100 metres is. The same applies for the creation of the universe.
- "P4: Fails, since God has no handicap"
- Fallacy of presumption. In stating that God has no handicap, you are making the assumption that God exists.
- Moreover, you completely miss the point here. My purpose of this argument is to show that a fully functional God creating a universe is not as impressive as one which is so severally handicapped that it doesn't exist. God, being omnipotent, should be the most impressive thing that there is.
- "P5: Fails, because it is a classic if/then statement, and an assumption that the universe was created"
- According to Genesis 1: 1, your universe was created. Moreover, this my whole syllogism can still be used if you are going to nit pick words. Change all references of "universe" to "mankind" and refer to this syllogism again.
- Hence my opponent fails to rebut the anti-ontological argument
Whilst Metaphysical naturalism has only two ontological commitments (the physical universe and the laws that govern it), Theism has three commitments (the physical universe, the laws that govern it and a divine being).
- My opponent states
- "He [God] has no explanation for himself.” From whence comes that little gem It is not biblical, for the Holy Bible, in the creation sequence of Genesis?"
- I am appalled at how unchristian my Christian opponent is. God, being the "perfect being", has no explanation for himself in that he does not of someone who created him. It is simple to understand.
- "By the way, relative to an earlier argument of plurality of gods, note the mention, “Let us,” and “our image.”
- In case you didn't realise, your God is comprised of the Father, Son and Holy spirit.
- "Therefore, with a repeating pattern, God exists, likewise, as a generational being. The Resolution fails"
- It seems my opponent proposes the view that God is created as product of natural selection. However, a God created through this process is not the God which you are arguing in favour for, which renders this entire point false.
- "When God was creating [I propose he did not retire from that profession, and still creates via evolution
- Fallacy of presumption. In stating that God was creating, you are making the assumption that God exists.
- This statement epitomises your lack of understanding regarding evolution. Evolution doesn't require a mover, or someone to push along, it is a natural process, hence the name natural selection.
- "From that systemic view, as creation proceeds, is there any biblical indication, whatsoever, that God is creating a perfect world wherein all creatures get along"
- According to you, God is both all loving and all powerful. Something which posses unlimited goodness is something which loves without limit. If you love something, especially if the love is unlimited, you would not allow it to suffer, especially if the suffering is a result of factors outside of their control.
- Consider the following syllogism
- p1. If you love something without limit you would not put it in a situation where it suffers outside of it's control and where it doesn't gain anything
- p2. There are beings which are put in situations where they are suffering outside of their control and not gaining anything
- c1. God is not all loving.
- I would be lying if I said that I was happy with the quality of your rebuttals.
- Hence my opponent fails to rebut the animal suffering argument.
- My opponent makes the startling claim that
- " who bloody well ever said that God, being omnipotent, must always act at that extreme level of power, or, for some reason, he is not God? Isn’t that a poor expense of energy?"
- Fallacy of presumption. In stating "God, being omnipotent", you are making the assumption that God exists.
- My opponent fails to make the distinction between a being which is merely omnipotent, and a being which is both omnipotent and omnibenevolent.
- The argument that you make will only be sound if God is only all powerful, however, God is allegedly both. Sure, a purely omnipotent being does not always need to act at extreme power levels (what does extreme even mean to a being with infinite power? How is extreme even possible?), but God is all loving.
- If you love something infinitely, you would be willing to do anything for it. Whilst the claim to being all powerful means that you can do anything, being all loving means that you love everything. Love, is a strong affection for another which means that all loving is infinite affection for another. If you are infinitely affectionate for your pet rabbit, will you watch it burn alive in a situation where it can do nothing else? Sure, being all powerful gives you no binding obligations, but being all loving can only be proved through the state of that being exerting love. A burning rabbit is not loved, it is suffering.
- Consider the following quote by Epicurus
- “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
- Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
- Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
- Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
- Your objection appears to be aimed at the second point, that is, why does God need to save everyone, isn’t that a poor use of energy? Well, if that’s the case, then don’t claim the title of being all loving because if you, an all powerful being “cannot be bothered” to save burning children, you’re clearly malevolent.
- Moreover, my opponent seems to completely have missed the gist of my argument. To aid, I will provide in a more digestible format.
- IF God can do anything THEN they can do something that they do not want to do.
- If God can't do something he doesn’t want to do, he isn’t all powerful, as he cannot do the thing which he does not want to do.
- IF God can do both both the things wants and doesn’t want to do THEN he must be doing everything
- When confronted with an option to commit an action, the only option of which God can logically choose from is to do it or not do it. This decision is solely driven by what God wants. He will only do the things which he wants. However, as established above, as God is omnipotent, he can do everything, even something that he doesn’t want to do. Thus, if God does both the things he wants and the things he doesn’t want to do, he will be doing everything.
- THEREFORE, God should be sending a world wide earthquake to kill all of humanity right now.
- Why? If I ask God to send a world wide earthquake to kill everyone, he can either want to do it or not want to do it. However, as I have established, if God is truly omnipotent, he can do things even if he doesn’t want to do them as he is all powerful. Thus logically, there is a contradiction, as everything cannot occur at the same time.
- With my argument more clearly explained, consider the objections of my opposition.
- p1. "The first is okay, but becomes self limiting, because it ignores for everyone, and robs from God “free agency,”"
- That's the whole point of this argument. You can't just say "oh your argument disapproves of my God, therefore it must not be true
- p2. "What, pray tell, is wrong with doing something you do not want to do, unless that something is limiting to any other person?"
- Again, I must refer mods to the following phrase,
- Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
- Thus, the omnipotence paradox has been reaffirmed and holds true.
- This section is both a rebuttal to my oppositions X argument and an affirmation of my 7th contention.
- Myself and my opponent are in agreement that there are contradictions in the bible.
- However, they create a strawman and spend a considerable amount of characters discussing it.
- The following is the case I will make for bible inaccuracies. You may wish to address this.
- p1. If a book, for whatever reason, contains contradictions or flaws, the claims that it makes should not be trusted.
- p2. The Bible contains contradictions or flaws.
- c1. The Bible should not be trusted.
- My opposition's whole argument can be boiled down to one statement.
- a assumes that God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient, and, therefore, always acts with omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and omniscience. See argument X, above. Do humans always act with maximum extremes? No, so why assume we can limit God to only extreme action?
- First, the lesser issue. Omnipotence is infinite power. If you divide infinite by any finite percent, the result is still infinite. If God decides to act with 1% of his power, this is still infinitely more than a humans maximum.
- It follows that even if God were to use less than a trillionth of a percent of his power, this number will still be infinte.
- Thus it is clear that this is not an issue of God stretching himself, or even tiring himself in any way, it becomes a debate about whether God is omnibenevolent.
- This brings me to the second point. You state that "just because X is omnipotent, this doesn't mean he needs to always be omnipotent", and you then make the assumption that this logic is therefore sound for the rest of God's omni's. However, this is not the case.
- It is true that being omnipotent does not mean you always have to act as you are omnipotent, because omnipotence in itself does not require one to be all powerful at all times.
- Omnibenevolence however does require you to love all the time. Why? On it's own, being all powerful does not compel you to any actions. You can be all powerful while be sitting on your throne without contradicting your claim. However, the claim to being all loving does compel you to act, as loving, as a oppose to power, requires action to fulfil. You cannot say that you are all loving, that is, that you are infinitely loving while allowing atrocities which I have mentioned occur, as love, unlike power, requires action to prove.
- Consider the following analogy to better understand my claim. A claim to omnipotence is like a claim to being a human calculator, while a claim to omnibenevolence is like a claim to being "the man who cures all diseases". The prior, like omnipotence, does not require one to act as part of the characteristic, in that you can be a human calculator without being obliged to do anything. However, the later, like omnibenevolence obligates one to an action. You cannot claim that you "cure all diseases" and then proceed to not do anything, for then the claim is not fulfilled. Moreover, it would not be satisfactory to say "who bloody well ever said that I, being "the man who cures all diseases", must cure all diseases", as there is a contradiction, as your fundamental claim requires action.
- This is similar to being omnibenevolence. You cannot claim you "infinitely love everyone" whilst letting them suffer.
“Heaven is a place of endless praise and adoration, limitless abnegation and abjection of self; a celestial North Korea.”-Ma bro Hitchens.
https://ancienthebrewpoetry.typepad.com/ancient_hebrew_poetry/2009/09/creatio-ex-nihilo-in-genesis-1.html
- Notice how my opposition only allow me to have 2 rounds to rebut to the argument for God which he has finally made. Whilst he has 120 000 characters to rebut my case, I only have half that number.
- The glaring issue has been resolved as my opponent has provided an argument for God's existence.
- The bible as a source
- My opponent attempts to point at a supposed contradiction in my case, highlighted by the bold beneath.
- Fauxlaw: Pro’s R2 charge, “In stating ‘God, being omnipotent,’ you are making the assumption that God exists,” which is, by the nature of the charge, a “fallacy of presumption;” a favoured Pro argument. No, not a presumption, nor an assumption, because Pro has already allowed for the inclusion of the Bible as evidence
- Yes the bible is allowed, but is it good evidence? I hope you understand that you have to do more than just citing in order to prove the credibility of your claim. If I were to cite “Thomas” from my bookstore, this would count as “sourcing” but it is as good me citing nothing, as I have not proved the credibility of Thomas. Sure use the bible, but I, you have acknowledged, have already shown that the bible is a faulty source.
- Clearly this demonstrates my opponents lack of understanding in terms of scientific research and methodology. Scientists rarely every assert things as fact, and resort to categorising them as theories. However, the term "theory" is used to describe what many would class as simple facts. From the theory of general relativity to the theory of natural selection, these things are carefully thought out explanation of for the observation of the natural world. The term "theory" is not coined lightly, it is akin to near certainty.
- Unfortunately, my opponent ignores the cumbersome evidence which I provided last round. To recall;
- BIBLE STUDY TOOLS: Genesis 1:1 THE CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
- "the heaven and the earth"
- - the universe. This first verse is a general introduction to the inspired volume, declaring the great and important truth that all things had a beginning; that nothing throughout the wide extent of nature existed from eternity, originated by chance, or from the skill of any inferior agent; but that the whole universe was produced by the creative power of God
- BIBLE-STUDIES.ORG: Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
- “Created”:
- (Hebrew bara): Meaning to create, shape or form. This verb is used exclusively with God as its subject. It refers to the instantaneous and miraculous act of God by which He brought the universe into existence. Thus, the Genesis account of Creation refutes atheism, pantheism, polytheism, and evolution.
- BLUE-LETTER-BIBLE.ORG:
- "Heavens And Earth"
- The final phrase in verse one, heavens and the earth, speaks of everything that exists. The Hebrews had no word for universe. When this phrase is used in Scripture it denotes all things that exist. For example, we read in Isaiah.
- Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb; I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself Isaiah 44: 24
- BIBLE-REF:
- "What does Genesis 1:1 mean?"
- He created everything in the natural world from the heavens, the sky, and space, to our planet and everything on it.
- BIBLE-HUB:
- "The heaven and the earth"
- The normal phrase in the Bible for the universe (Deuteronomy 32:1; Psalm 148:13; Isaiah 2). To the Hebrew this consisted of our one planet and the atmosphere surrounding it, in which he beheld the sun, moon, and stars. But it is one of the more than human qualities of the language of the Holy Scriptures that, while written by men whose knowledge was in accordance with their times, does not contradict the increased knowledge of later times. Contemporaneous with the creation of the earth was the calling into existence, not merely of our solar system, but of that sidereal universe of which we form so small a part; but naturally in the Bible our attention is confined to that which chiefly concerns ourselves.
- EMERGING-SCHOLARS:
- "The message of Genesis 1"
- God and God alone created all things
- God is sovereign over his creation
- God created with wisdom and order
- God created man as the pinnacle of his creation
- JEHOVAH'S-WITNESS:
- "Meaning of Genesis 1:1"
- This opening passage of the Bible states two important truths. First, the “heavens and the earth,” or the material universe, had a beginning. Second, they were created by God.
- p1. According to the bible, God caused the universe to come into existence.
- True because of the extensive evidence I have provided, none of which my opponent has rebutted.
- p2. If the universe is caused, the A-series of time is true
- Unrefuted by opposition.
- p3. The A-Theory of time is untrue
- Unrefuted by opposition.
- c1. The universe is uncaused
- c2. There is no cause.
- P1: P --> Q
- P2: ¬Q
- C: ∴ ¬P
- C from P1 and P2, Modus Tollens.
- Bones: p1. The creation of the world is the most marvellous achievement imaginable
- Fauxlaw: The creation of the world is not the “most marvellous” creation: that achievement is man
- Bones: What is more impressive, me running a 100-meter sprint in my full form, or me running with one leg. Obviously, me completing the same sprint but handicapped is more impressive. It follows that therefore, the more handicapped I am, the more impressive me running 100 metres is. The same applies for the creation of the universe.
- Observe how this was ignored by my opponent last round.
- Truism
- A re-read of the rebuttal? Let’s see the entire rebuttal which you made last round.
- Fauxlaw: Pro defines the sense of Occam’s Razor as “plurality should not be posited without necessity,” but the claim follows an 8,000-word plurality essay with no mention of the Resolution’s subject, and a 6x propositional “syllogism” that fails. Plurality? Pro concludes: “Hence, the theory of which God is not necessary is, according to the law of parsimony, more likely.” But the Resolution does not speak to the likelihood of necessity, but to the likelihood of non-existence. The razor is dull.
- Within the garble, there is one misconception to clarify. My opponent attempts to separate the terms necessary and likely. They nit-pick the sentence “the theory of which God is not necessary” and commentate that this debate is about non-existence, not necessity. Embarrassingly, they ignore the second half of my sentence, being “according to the law of parsimony, [God not existing] is more likely”.
- This embarrassing misrepresentation of Occam's razor is almost hilarious. By this logic, I might as well have just typed “no” as my round and won! After all you can’t get much shorter than 0 arguments and 0 rebuttals.
- Bones: Whilst Metaphysical naturalism has only two ontological commitments (the physical universe and the laws that govern it), Theism has three commitments (the physical universe, the laws that govern it and a divine being).
- Hence, the theory of which God is not necessary is, according to the law of parsimony, more likely.
- Underneath the crocodile tears my opponent sheds regarding me supposedly breaching his first amendment right, my opponent exposes what Dawkins may call a “consciousness raiser”. Notice how my opponent is free to interpret the bible in any way that he wants and when questioned, flexes his amendment rights. Imagine if this were history. Imagine if we were debating about the holocaust, and I stated
- I will remind my opponent to never assume what my holocaust beliefs are, which stipulate that the whole event did not even occur and that this is just an international sympathy-attracting hoax.
- Whilst you are entitled to your own opinion, facts remain facts regardless of your emotion.
- Though this point is not directly related to this debate, it is worth noting how coddled the religious are, which makes intelligent conversation all the more difficult.
- You’re a Christian and you’re hypothesising about other Gods which made your God?
- Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb; I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself Isaiah 44: 24
- And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me". Exodus 20:1-3
- for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God Exodus 34:14
- God creating God? This is a textbook example of an infinite regress. Who created the first God, if God is a being who is only created by Gods?
- He created all the natural, complex phenomena in the universe
- He has no explanation for himself
- He is at least as complex as the natural, complex phenomena in the universe
- He has no explanation for himself
- Is at least as complex as the natural, complex phenomena in the universe,
- Has no explanation for its existence
- Doing “what is necessary” is not all loving. If you raise a child, and you give them the bare minimum to survive, “what is necessary”, you are not all loving, you’re a dickhead. If all that is required to have the snazzy title of being omnibenevolent is giving someone “what is necessary”, I could throw my breadcrust at some homeless man, and as long as they survive off it, even if it is just, I can get the title of being “all loving”.
- Even if this was the case, God is not doing “what is necessary” to keep justice around the globe. As my animal suffering contention asserts, there are billion of vertebrates alone which are suffering unimaginable pain at this moment, not because of “free will”, or a strive to “the greater good”, or as “punishment”, but because they are quite helplessly placed into that situation. More one this in the next contention.
- Furthermore, it appears that the distinction between omnipotent and omnibenevolent is still unclear to my opponent. Consider the following analogy which magnifies their differences.
- A claim to omnipotence is like a claim stating "I can cure anyone of blindness" while a claim to omnibenevolence is like stating "I cure all blindness".
- The prior does not oblige one to any action. Asserting that you have ability to cure blindness is not a synonyms to saying you have to cure blindness.
- This is similar to omnipotence. Stating you have the power to do anything does not require you to do anything (I will question the validity of this claim later).
- The latter does oblige one to an action. Asserting that you actively cure all blindness requires you to cure all people with blindness.
- This is similar to omnibenevolence. Stating that you love everyone infinitely requires you to an action, that being to love everyone.
- To use another example, imagine you have just burnt your parents alive and have been caught by the police. In the interrogation room, when asked if you love your parents, it would you be right to say "yeah I love them and all that, but that doesn't mean I always have to love them, after all that would be poor expense of energy"
- This example epitomise how love requires action to prove. You cannot "take a break" from loving and still claim that you love someone. As soon as you stop loving, by virtue of truism, you are no longer loving the being. Thus, it is impossible to both love a being whilst putting it into a situation in which it has no choice but to suffer.
- Fauxlaw: “Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?” Epicurus has no grounding in understanding Genesis, wherein God allows free agency, even to Satan to tempt man, and to man to resist Satan, or not. Evil originates, and is spread by Satan.
- First half is ad hominem, and second half is poor. Free agency? I remember addressing that by bringing up the animal suffering contention. Recall from round 1.
- Theists may recognise that this argument is similar to that of the “problem of evil”, however I personally regard this variant to be far superior. The following objections which are often used to reply to the “problem of evil”
- Humans suffer as a result of free will
- Humans will be compensated in the after life
- Suffering exists because from it, more good can immerge
- do not sufficiently reply to the problem of animal suffering. To number 1, free will does not reply to why wild bush fires set alight koalas, causing them undeniable agony. Nothing within the koala's ability allows it to escape such an event.
- Fauxlaw: Pro further confuses his position by admitting that, “Sure, a purely omnipotent being does not always need to act at extreme power levels…” and questions what “extreme” means. It means omnipotent.
- Fauxlaw, furiously repeating your desired conclusion will get you no where. I clearly demonstrated last round that there is no way for an omnipotent being be "stretched to the limits". Recall
- Bones: First, the lesser issue. Omnipotence is infinite power. If you divide infinite by any finite percent, the result is still infinite. If God decides to act with 1% of his power, this is still infinitely more than a humans maximum.
- It follows that even if God were to use less than a trillionth of a percent of his power, this number will still be infinite.
- Thus it is clear that this is not an issue of God stretching himself, or even tiring himself in any way, it becomes a debate about whether God is omnibenevolent.
- "has the means to identify what is true and what is not true"
- This is an unproved statement which I am left to simply assume is true.
- As is established in the first half of P1, the bible contains contradictions.
- Using the contradictory book, we are supposed to find truth within it's pages.
- Consider the double standard of which the Bible is operation at. If this were a debate about history, and I bring up a source of which has severe contradictions, from wrong dates to wrong names, it would surely be illogical to then use this source to establish truth.
- Consider this absolute gem.
- Fauxlaw: One may argue the validity of these means [P2], but if one will try, having an honest and sincere heart of desire, having real intent, and avoiding doubt, the truth of these means is possible to know by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Fact and evidence operates whether one has a "heart of desire, real intent and avoiding doubt". In fact, the purpose of facts is to operate on a level where intentions and desires are not considered. 1+1 is 2 regardless of whether I have a sincere heart to peruse the truth. And even so, we all know that by "honest and sincere heart of desire", you are referring to religious people. Atheist scum bags aren't invited.
- "truth of these means is possible to know by the power of the Holy Spirit". Yes, the syllogism which is supposed to prove that God exists only works if you believe in the Holy Spirit. This is the pinacol of circular reasoning.
- IF God can do anything THEN they can do something that they do not want to do.
- If God can't do something he doesn’t want to do, he isn’t all powerful, as he cannot do the thing which he does not want to do.
- IF God can do both both the things wants and doesn’t want to do THEN he must be doing everything
- When confronted with an option to commit an action, the only option of which God can logically choose from is to do it or not do it. This decision is solely driven by what God wants. He will only do the things which he wants. However, as established above, as God is omnipotent, he can do everything, even something that he doesn’t want to do. Thus, if God does both the things he wants and the things he doesn’t want to do, he will be doing everything.
- THEREFORE, God should be sending a world wide earthquake to kill all of humanity right now.
- Why? If I ask God to send a world wide earthquake to kill everyone, he can either want to do it or not want to do it. However, as I have established, if God is truly omnipotent, he can do things even if he doesn’t want to do them as he is all powerful. Thus logically, there is a contradiction, as everything cannot occur at the same time.
- This is not what I have alleged, this is what your belief should entitle.
- p1. IF there is a being who loves everyone infinitely THEN everyone should be loved
- p2. IF everyone is loved THEN they would not suffer for no reason
- p3. People suffer for no reason.
- p4. These people are not loved.
- c1. There is no infinite lover.
- Or if you want to consider the syllogism which you ignored last round.
- p1. If you love something without limit you would not put it in a situation where it suffers outside of it's control and where it doesn't gain anything
- p2. There are beings which are put in situations where they are suffering outside of their control and not gaining anything
- c1. God is not all loving.
- p1. If a book, for whatever reason, contains contradictions or flaws, the claims that it makes should not be trusted.
- p2. The Bible contains contradictions or flaws.
- c1. The claims of the Bible should not be trusted.
- Bones: Consider the double standard of which the Bible is operation at. If this were a debate about history, and I bring up a source of which has severe contradictions, from wrong dates to wrong names, it would surely be illogical to then use this source to establish truth.
- Motion. Nothing moves without a prior mover
- Causation. Nothing causes itself
- Contingency. If nothing existed first, then nothing could have been created.
- The first issue is that it is entirely unwarranted to assume that God is immune to the regress. In fact, the second of Aquinas's proofs, "nothing causes itself" should on its own, if valid, debunk the entire idea of God. For the question arises, what caused God?
- This is a clear example of the special pleading fallacy, where one creates an expectation or rule without justifying why that case deservers exemption. For my opponent to assert that everything in motion is caused to be in motion by something else, except for God, without adequately justifying why this is the case on its own can render the first 3 "ways" false.
- The second issue is that even if we accept the first 3 statements, this will only prove that an unmoved mover exists. It would not prove this unmoved mover still exists, is a being, is conscious, posses the 4 omni's, listen to prayers, forgive people of their sins, read the innermost thoughts of people or that he created an afterlife for all good people to congregate.
- In other words, even if we allow for the premises to be correct, this in no way renders Fauxlaw's interpretation of Christianity to be true, for an Islam, Druze and Zoroastrianism could all use this argument to justify there own God.
- The first issue is that one does not need a "maximum" to judge an action, they can simply compare it to what is neutral. For example, I do not need to know how to perfectly raise my pet in order to know that smashing it's skull onto a brick wall is not productive for its well being. I can compare smashing my pets skull onto a brick wall(evil) with not smashing it's skull into a brick (neutral) and determine that the prior is good for my pet.
- The second issue is that even if I were to grant that a maximum is required to judge an action, it is possible to substitute any dimension of comparison for the term "perfect". For example, one could argue that there are degrees of evil, and therefore there must be an infinitely evil being, let's call him God.
- The first issue is that this commits the false analogy fallacy. The syllogism is flawed as it concludes that because two things share one similarity, they must also share other qualities. To magnify the issue, consider the following
- p1. A dog is an animal
- p2. The animal has legs
- p3. A snake is an animal
- c1. A snake has legs
- The second issue is that this is a false cause fallacy. This is done when it is asserted that complexity can only be caused by a designer. Not only has this never been proven to be true, it has actually been proven to be completely incorrect. Natural selection has been completely and utterly proven to be an unconscious process which has given rise to countless complex organisms. In other words, we know as a fact that natural can, does and has produced remarkably complex organism without a complex or intelligent hand behind it.
- The truth of the matter is that the reason why humans recognise watches as designed actually has nothing to do with how complex a watch is, it is because we know the watch was designed.
- Across the world, there are millions of examples of watches being created by a designer, and zero examples of a watches being made without designers.
- On the contrary, we have zero examples of life being created by a designer, and millions of examples of nature creating complex life.
“All thinking men are atheists.”- Ernest Hemingway
- For the sanity of voters, in my final segment, I will revisit and recap the dialogue between myself and my opposition throughout this entire debate. This way, it will be clear what arguments were made, how they were refuted, and how they were affirmed. With debates the size of this one, it is easy to forget an argument amidst the ocean of refutations.
- Another reason I do this is because the sheer amount of argument which my opponent misrepresents and ignores is so substantial that it cannot be ignored.
- A large portion of the arguments I make have been ignored by my opponent.
- If my opponent chooses to, in the final round, present new/actual rebuttals, take note that I physically cannot reply to them. My opponent has had 90 000 characters to refute my case, and if they choose to rebut my argument in the round where I cannot respond, take note.
- My opponent ability to ignore my arguments is overwhelmingly powerful.
- PRO opened what I coined as the anti-Kalam argument.
- P1: If the universe is caused, the A-series of time is true
- P2: The A-Theory of time is untrue
- C: The universe is uncaused
- I demonstrated that the A-series of time is absurd, and that the B-series is affirmed by the theory of general relativity, special relativity and quantum physics. I further showed that preconditions for causation were not satisfied before the existence of the universe, rendering the idea of a caused universe false. With the A-series proven as illogical, it follows that the universe could not have been caused. Thus, if the universe is not caused, there was no causer.
- CON questions the notion that the universe began, in hopes of showing that if the universe didn't begin on the account of the bible, my syllogism would not prove the nonexistence of God. They offer Hebrew translations of Genesis 1:1 which show that the term "heavens" refers to only that which is immediately around the Earth.
- PRO then, using sources from bible study tools, bible studies, blue letter bible, bible ref, bible hub, emerging scholars and Jehovah's witness shows that Genesis 1:1 does in fact describe the creation of the entire universe. PRO also offered bible verses to give context to his claim.
- "The heaven and the earth"
- [this is] the normal phrase in the Bible for the universe. Deuteronomy 32:1; Psalm 148:13; Isaiah 2
- Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb; I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself Isaiah 44:24
- CON then asserts that
- I reject Pro’s unsourced claims out of hand, because none actually cite the Bible as saying “universe.” These “experts’” opinions say it. Sorry, not convincing
- Moreover, they repeat their Hebrew translation once more to affirm their point.
- PRO the repeats the sources and bible versus that he provided in R2, as they were unrefuted.
- CON drops the anti-Kalam argument and assert that they are convinced by my interpretation of Genesis 1:1
- Pro has argued for the evidence of the Bible and it’s various scholars, I accept his argument.
- P1: If the universe is caused, the A-series of time is true
- P2: The A-Theory of time is untrue
- C: The universe is uncaused
- PRO once again opens a syllogism
- P1. The creation of the universe is the most marvellous achievement imaginable.
- P2. It is more impressive to complete act X whilst you are handicapped than when you are completely able
- P3. The most formidable handicap possible for a creator would be there non-existence
- P4. If p1 then it is conceivable that the greatest feat would be to create the universe while not existing.
- P5. An existing God would not be a being greater than which a greater cannot be conceived, as an even more formidable and incredible creator would be a God which did not exist
- C1. God does not exist.
- CON critique the first premise.
- The creation of the world is not the “most marvellous” creation: that achievement is man, being “in the image of God,”
- PRO questions the validity of the oppositions rebuttal
- So if I were to conjure up a kid out of thin air, and then precede to literally create the entire universe, you would be more impressed out the prior?
- PRO further shows that this is not an issue, and that his opponent can "change all references of "universe" to "mankind" and refer to this syllogism again."
- CON, due to the technical difficulty described above rebuts the anti-Kalam. Personally, I am very dubious that my opponent sincerely missed my 3000 word section on the anti ontological argument (recapped above).
- PRO notes how CON ignores his suggestion to "change all references of "universe" to "mankind" and refer to this syllogism again." As such, he then changes the words around for him and presents it once again. Note that the revised syllogism is exactly the same as the one I recapped above, except that the word universe has been substituted with mankind.
- By doing this, it is certain that the p1 is agreed upon, as my opponent explicitly asserted that the creation of mankind is the most marvellous creation.
- CON replies
- "we re-visit, once again. Been here R1, R2, and now R3. And, again, Pro begins his defence of the argument with his failed anti-ontological syllogism:
- P1: The creation of the world is the most marvellous achievement imaginable
- To which I rebutted: The creation of the world is not the “most marvellous” creation: that achievement is man.
- Bones: P1, the most marvellous creation is man, is pretty digestible, as it was a statement that my opponent made leaving no room for digestion. P2, doing X when handicapped is more marvellous than doing it not handicapped is also very simple (who would reasonably say running 100 meters is easier with 1 leg than with 2?). Therefore it follows that if a non-existent God is more marvellous than an existent God, the Christian God is not real, as it alleges to both exist and be the most marvellous.
- PRO's position can be summed up as follows
- Whilst Metaphysical naturalism has only two ontological commitments (the physical universe and the laws that govern it), Theism has three commitments (the physical universe, the laws that govern it and a divine being).
- CON rebuts by showing the irony of how PRO can advocate for cancelling plurality whilst making an 8000 word essay on the Kalam.
- PRO calls this garble.
- CON points at how "ironic" PRO's position is. They show that whilst PRO made 7 arguments, CON only made 2, hence less plurality.
- PRO states that this shows CON does not understand Occam's razor. They finish by stating "By this logic, I might as well have just typed “no” as my round and won! After all you can’t get much shorter than 0 arguments and 0 rebuttals."
- CON repeats himself
- Pro missing... an 8,000 godless word... a fishing trip... 3,000-word essay in R2... duplicate 3,000 word... an excess plurality? It’s like arguing with a sock puppet with too many toes.
- PRO opens with a syllogism.
- P1. If God exists, God is an ordered system and more complex than the universe he allegedly designed.
- P2. From the Boeing 747 gambit complex systems either originate from design or chance occurrence.
- P3. If God exists, God was not designed.
- P4. From (2) and (3), God originated by chance or does not exist.
- P5. From the Boeing 747 gambit the occurrence of complex systems by random chance is improbable.
- C1. From (4) and (5), God probably does not exist.
- CON postulates "a continuous pattern of humans becoming Gods, begetting/creating subsequent generations of man, who become gods, and so on, from eternity to eternity"
- PRO points at the red herring and reminds his opponent that this debate is about the Christian God, which allegedly created everything (he is supposed to be the most powerful being, of which nothing else is more powerful).
- I am the Lord, who makes all things Isaiah 44: 24
- PRO further exposes that this is an infinite regress.
- CON states "I’ve argued that as God created us, thus he, himself, began, as a mortal man who has progressed beyond mortality into a god, a supreme being."
- PRO opened by asserting that an omnibenevolent being would not allow for animals to suffer needlessly. PRO demonstrated that the usual objections to the problem of evil, namely free will, does not sufficiently reply to the animal suffering problem, as "free will does not reply to why wild bush fires set alight koalas, causing them undeniable agony".
- CON replies by stating that there is no biblical indication that God created a perfect world.
- PRO states
- According to you, God is both all loving and all powerful. Something which posses unlimited goodness is something which loves without limit. If you love something, especially if the love is unlimited, you would not allow it to suffer, especially if the suffering is a result of factors outside of their control.
- Furthermore, they provide the following syllogism
- p1. If you love something without limit you would not put it in a situation where it suffers outside of it's control and where it doesn't gain anything
- p2. There are beings which are put in situations where they are suffering outside of their control and not gaining anything
- c1. God is not all loving.
- CON asserts;
- Pro alleges that God should have created a perfect creation. What’s the point, given the purpose of our creation in the first place?
- CON drops the argument that PRO made.
- CON drops the syllogism that PRO made.
- PRO calls out the fact that CON drops both his arguments. PRO aptly reply to allegations that they want a "perfect world" from God by stating
- This is not what I have alleged, this is what your belief should entitle.
- PRO extends his syllogism.
- CON states "all living things experience suffering. That’s life. It is allowed by God’s free will"
- CON replies to the syllogism by stating
- Bones: P2: if everyone is loved, then they would not suffer for any reason.
- Fauxlaw: And they don’t suffer for no reason. They suffer, at times, for their own actions.
- Bones: "free will does not reply to why wild bush fires set alight koalas, causing them undeniable agony".
- PRO opened with multiple syllogisms which prove that exposes the contradiction of a supreme being. The following is a shortened version of it.
- p1. God can do anything
- p2. God can do something that he doesn't want to
- p3. God can do X action even if he doesn't want to
- c1. If God didn't make you do X said task because he didn't want to, God is not omnipotent, as he cannot do things that he does not want to do
- c2. If God didn't do said task because he cannot, God is not omnipotent, as he cannot do a certain
- CON does not understand my argument and vaguely asserts the importance of free will.
- I have no idea to what Pro refers
- Moreover, CON voices a common objection to religion
- One would think one could imagine a more probable complaint but that God is omnipotent, so why doesn’t he… eliminate all suffering, for example... Isn’t that a poor expense of energy?
- PRO compensates for his opponents inability to digest the initial syllogism, so he presents a simplified version.
- In regards to "eliminating" all suffering, PRO points at the difference between omnipotence and omnibenevolence. While the prior is simply an ability, the latter requires action. It is clear that in order for one to say they love something, they cannot let it suffer needlessly.
- In regards to Bone's statement,
- “If you love something infinitely, you would be willing to do anything for it.”
- CON replies
- "No; only what is necessary"
- CON reaffirms the idea that even though God is all-powerful and all-loving, he does not always need to act to with maximum power.
- CON introduces the idea of free will and states that suffering is not God's creation, but a creation of man.
- In reply to what CON stated above, PRO replies
- Doing “what is necessary” is not all loving. If you raise a child, and you give them the bare minimum to survive, “what is necessary”, you are not all loving, you’re a dickhead.
- Furthermore, PRO states that even if giving "what is necessary" to survive is the criteria for omnipotence, God is not even fulfilling this.
- "As my animal suffering contention asserts, there are billion of vertebrates alone which are suffering unimaginable pain at this moment, not because of “free will”, or a strive to “the greater good”, or as “punishment”, but because they are quite helplessly placed into that situation"
- PRO further demonstrates the difference between all-powerful and all-loving.
- The prior does not oblige one to any action.
- The latter does oblige one to an action.
- To use another example, imagine you have just burnt your parents alive and have been caught by the police. In the interrogation room, when asked if you love your parents, it would you be right to say "yeah I love them and all that, but that doesn't mean I always have to love them, after all that would be poor expense of energy"
- This example epitomise how love requires action to prove. You cannot "take a break" from loving and still claim that you love someone. As soon as you stop loving, by virtue of truism, you are no longer loving the being. Thus, it is impossible to both love a being whilst putting it into a situation in which it has no choice but to suffer.
- PRO reminds his opponent to address the initial syllogism which he has already simplified.
- CON asserts
- Pro, like many presenting an omnipotence paradox essentially says God is like the ultimate battery-powered heart. It can only perform full-force, it has no rheostat to vary the performance as needed. My argument adds the rheostat
- PRO opens by listing inaccuracies/contradictions in the bible.
- CON accepts this
- I accept that the Bible is not 100% accurate.
- CON provides reasons why the bible contains contradictions. There case is that the bible is not necessarily the only "word of God". Though there are contradictions, these are due to "corruption, translating issues, the Ecumenical Councils bickering over correct understanding of text and intentional corruption"
- PRO ignores the reasons to why there are contradictions in the bible and focus's on the fact that the contradictions are there. After all, if a history textbook contains flaws, the reasons listed above does not change the fact that the book shouldn't be taken literally. The following syllogism is provided.
- p1. If a book, for whatever reason, contains contradictions or flaws, the claims that it makes should not be trusted.
- p2. The Bible contains contradictions or flaws.
- c1. The Bible should not be trusted.
- CON drops this argument and the syllogism.
- PRO extends
- CON accuses PRO of repeating himself
- A fourth repetition of inaccuracies? Pluralities, anyone?
- The two "arguments" were not arguments at all. The first is a rebuttal against an argument I made, and the second is a rebuttal of an argument I didn't make. I urge voters to take not of the difference between an argument and a rebuttal. Even if, for example, my opponent shows that the problem of evil is not a problem, that does not in any way prove the existence of God, it only proves that a popular argument against God is invalid. This would be akin to me "proving" that there is a teapot orbiting earth by refuting all scepticism. Of course, even if there is no valid argument against the orbiting tea pot, the idea can be discarded if evidence is not provided for it.
- Moreover, take not that my opponent has provided 2 new arguments in the second last round of this debate, giving me only 1 round to rebut both the arguments. Consider, on the other hand, myself, who made their 7 contentions crystal clear from the first round.
- Fauxlaw: I do not “fire all of my guns at once
- Great, next time, I'll waive my first round, let you make your weak case for God and wait until the second last round to fire all VII contentions at you, giving you only 1 round to rebut them, affirm your case and conclude. Good strat, actually!
- P1: God will not fail to make deserving humans exactly like him.
- P2: Man can individually fail, by his own free agency to resist being made like God.
- C: Therefore, God exists
1. In order to gain wisdom, faith must be worked.
In every instance when Master Yoda mentions “the Force,” think faith and its rightful application
Pro begins by the absurdity that motion, cause and contingency are saying the same thing. No, I disagree.
- My opponent drops the first issue, being that "it is entirely unwarranted to assume that God is immune to the regress".
- This is a clear example of the special pleading fallacy
- My opponent drops the second issue being "that even if we accept the first 3 statements, this will only prove that an unmoved mover exists. It would not prove this unmoved mover still exists, is a being, is conscious, posses the 4 omni's, listen to prayers, forgive people of their sins, read the innermost thoughts of people or that he created an afterlife for all good people to congregate"
Perfection is not a comparison at all, as Pro alleges... Period.
- The third issue, being that "one does not need a "maximum" to judge an action, they can simply compare it to what is neutral. For example, I do not need to know how to perfectly raise my pet in order to know that smashing it's skull onto a brick wall is not productive for its well being. I can compare smashing my pets skull onto a brick wall(evil) with not smashing it's skull into a brick (neutral) and determine that the prior is good for my pet"
- The fourth issue being "even if I were to grant that a maximum is required to judge an action, it is possible to substitute any dimension of comparison for the term "perfect". For example, one could argue that there are degrees of evil, and therefore there must be an infinitely evil being, let's call him God"
- The implication of this is that even if the "perfection" argument is granted as true, it still does not warrant the Christian God. It only implies that anything of which varies in degrees must have a maximum. As stated above, this warrants an evil, misogynistic, homophobic, jealous, stingy and brutal God. Wait dammit, I just proved the Christian God exists.
Teleology, by Pro, is being confused with Causation.
- Bones: The argument usually uses an analogy of which goes along the lines of "a painting requires a painter to paint". The teleological argument uses the following syllogism, or a variation.
- I provided a source of what the teleological argument is and proceeded to rebut it. How my opponent thinks I have mixed up causation and teleology is beyond more.
- Recall that the following arguments were also, unsurprisingly, dropped by my opponent.
- The fifth issue is that this commits the false analogy fallacy. The syllogism is flawed as it concludes that because two things share one similarity, they must also share other qualities.
- The sixth issue is that this is a false cause fallacy. This is committed when it is asserted that complexity can only be caused by a designer. Not only has this never been proven to be true, it has actually been proven to be completely incorrect.
- I recommend a thorough re-read of these two cases where I elaborate with examples and syllogism.
• is straight (no bends),
• has no thickness, and
• extends in both directions without end (infinitely).[4]
"You do not own a house. Truth
You do not own your car, outright, if you are even legally allowed to drive. Truth
I believe my reference was that you take advice from your sock puppet, not that you are one. Truth"
How do you know this? For all you know, I could be the son of a Saudi Arabia prince who's swimming in bills and driving golden lambo's. Moreover, you make this claim as a direct insult to my apparent wealth, not to point out a truth about my age.
"My, my, carrying a grudge for over a month?"
No not carrying a grudge over a month. It's just some people's character doesn't change in a month, so my analysis of them a month ago is still relevant today.
"Get over yourself, punk."
This statement would have much more oompf if you had actually won/am in the process of beating me. Neither of which is true. The contrary, actually.
It is not in my nature to gloat when I win. In fact, I am quite a nice and kind mannered person who is humble in victory in defeat [1]. It's just when some dude comes to insult me when I did nothing to provoke them and proceeds to lose (predictable twice), I remind them what a whooping I have them and tell them they ought to learn some respect.
[1] https://www.debateart.com/debates/3071-is-god-real?open_tab=comments&comments_page=1&comment_number=3
Coming back?
You do not own a house. Truth
You do not own your car, outright, if you are even legally allowed to drive. Truth
I believe my reference was that you take advice from your sock puppet, not that you are one. Truth.
My, my, carrying a grudge for over a month? Get over yourself, punk.
"There is still no mystery to the notion that youth is wasted on the young."
What does that even mean.
"I am still in the top ten in debate, which says something for staying power"
Well I've beaten a top tenner then.
" Hint: I don't gloat when I win."
This isn't gloating. This is coming back to the guy who said I don't own a house, who's car is owned by their bank and who, in the pursuit for intelligent discourse, was accused of miscommunicating with his sock puppet.
There is still no mystery to the notion that youth is wasted on the young. I am still in the top ten in debate, which says something for staying power. Let's see if you rank as well when you have engaged as many debates. Hint: I don't gloat when I win. A lesson lost on a child. If you want to wear "sock puppet," be my guest. Tough? You have no idea what that is. You will.
Well, he has lost to a 15-year old edgy teenager who has practically no life, so I don't see the point.(obv. extension to joke)
How does it feel like to lose to a "sock puppet" [1] who "doesn't own the property they occupy"? [1], and who's "bank owns their car" [1] Must be tough 🤣🤣.
[1] https://www.debateart.com/forum/topics/6171-breaking-news-i-actually-own-the-us?page=1&post_number=10
The claim that “I don’t have the burden of proof” is different than the claim that “atheism is the lack of belief in God, not the disbelief in God.”
I strongly reject the existence of invisible garden fairies because their existence has not been proven. So the claim that theists have the burden of proof is *consistent* with atheism being the active rejection of God’s existence.
"would you say that someone who places a 50% probability in God existing is an atheist? Because that’s the only relevant question – if someone thinks there’s a 49.9% chance God exist, then they actively reject God’s existence "
I wouldn't say 51 percent requires one to bear the burden, and I wouldn't say that to believe something with more than a 50 percent makes you bear the burden. I make an assumption and say that you don't believe in invisible garden fairies. I'll wager another guess and say that you're disbelief in garden fairies is a tad bit more than 50 percent. Does this mean that you bear the BoP just to justify the non-existence of garden fairies? Obviously, you can atheistic on invisible garden fairies and consider your disbelief to be over 50 percent without needing to justify this position. Personally, I am almost certain that there are no garden fairies, but I will concede that I cannot prove this.
Random thought (as an atheist) – it seems to me that distinguishing between a “lack of belief in God” and “active disbelief in God” is a semantic trick to avoid talking about probabilities. Atheists who make this distinction often ask “Do you actively reject the existence of a pink unicorn, or do you simply lack belief in it?”, as if that proves their point – but I do, in fact, actively reject the existence of a pink unicorn. Maybe atheists simply say this to say that religious people have the burden of proof – but that’s a claim independent of “disbelief” and “lack of belief” (i.e., you can actively reject God’s existence on account of it being unproven).
So I’m curious, Pro – would you say that someone who places a 50% probability in God existing is an atheist? Because that’s the only relevant question – if someone thinks there’s a 49.9% chance God exists, then they actively reject God’s existence (in all likelihood), right?
Thx for the vote. I’m aware that mobile devices cannot handle my quadriple dotting format very well, resulting to a possible difficult read.
Vote conclusion:
Arguments: PRO'S arguments were sufficient to convince one that the Christian (read Biblical) God could not exist, or at least hardly so. CON'S argument, at best, disproved the impossibility of God, but never the improbability.
Sources: Equal
Legibility: Equal
Conduct: PRO, since CON failed to provide the requested positive case as well as multiple times moving the goalpost by re-defining God to have different properties than the classical Christian God
(Not gonna give point though, as this was not directly a conduct violation)
Vote part 3:
PRO exposes CONS hypocrisy in admitting the Bible as inaccurate yet still building his argument on a literal/semantically interpretation of certain passages. He also mentions CON'S lack of positive case.
"realise the difference between proving God is not illogical, and proving that he is objectively real."
PRO goes on to rebuke CON'S arguments one after one, and I am convinced by most of these rebuttals. I laugh when I see the extremely thin text his arguments include. The only rebuttal of CON I didn't agree with was the problem of evil. PRO has no authority to claim what God's "love" means, especially after debunking the Bible's accuracy and it being written by God. Therefore, he does not prove that unnecesary suffering existing contradicts God being the creator.
"In stating "God, being omnipotent", you are making the assumption that God exists."
Yes, the floor is made of floor. But this assumption is a valid one to make against PRO'S arguments which also assumes qualities of God. On that note, PRO fails to disqualify CON'S rebuttal against the omnipotence paradox.
Vote part 2:
I am convinced that though the BoP lies on theists initially, the debate BoP falls on mainly PRO.
CON does not rebutt the B-theory of time. He instead goes into the Hebrew details and tries to claim the Biblical God only created the Earth, not the universe. Waiting to see if PRO will bring up passages of God creating everything there is.
CON correctly emphasises God not having any handicap such as not existing, due to his properties. He does however not defend or use the ontological argument.
CON continues to build his argument on a non-biblical version of God, one that possibly is only one of many and only created Earth. He also asserts humans become gods and many other strange theories. I strongly condemn this tactics since basically every Christian ever would disagree with CON, making his view non-representative of "the CHRISTIAN God". Likewise, I condemn CONs attempt at using Darwin to justify animal suffering.
CON correctly rebuts PRO'S "omnipotence paradox" by refering to free will as a way God COULD do something he doesn't want to do, but without needing to do it.
CON admits the Bible to not be infallible, and proposes other scriptures be from God, or the Bible not from God, thus putting further distance between his view of God and the regular Christian.
Honestly, at this point the God CON defends and the Christian God aren't exactly the same. For this reason, CON is in danger of conceding without knowing it.
However, CON rebuts the problem of evil but rejecting the assumption that "only good could exist in a world God created".
Sorry for my short vote. I am on holiday, and though my phone allows for me to easily READ the entire debate, writing a lengthy vote is hard.
Vote part 1:
I am convinced by PRO that his framework and definitions are correct. Meaning I agree theists have the BoP. However, the BoP is still shared in the debate.
PRO'S anti-kalam argument was convincing in showing that A-time is false, but didn't quite manage to prove the universe is likely uncaused. That is because he provides no absolute foundation for there being no logical laws or time (quantified progression) outside of the universe.
PRO'S anti-ontological argument fully convinces me that the ontological argument is absurd, since he shows that one can easily prove a non-existing God with said arguments logic, which is absurd. Really put a smile on my face too.
PRO'S anti-fine-tuning argument fails to convince me, as it necessarily assumes God came into being. No evidence was provided to support that assumption.
Animal suffering was proven by PRO to necessarily be caused by God if he created earth, and he uses this modified problem of evil to challenge the existence of a loving God like the one Christianity teaches.
PRO'S omnipotence paradox seems to assume that if God didn't do something he didn't want to do, it was because he couldn't do something he didn't do. In other words, he ignores the Christian doctrine of free will as a property of God and later humans. This argument fails to convince anyone with knowledge of the topic "Christian God", me included.
Bible inaccuracies is brought up by PRO, to show what exactly? Even if the Bible was written by humans, that does not help PRO'S case regarding God's existence.
I ought to manage.
Interested in voting? I am aware that you are an agnostic who is not as convicted of their view on religion. Perhaps your clean canvas can give an informed vote? I know this is a long one, so no worries if you can't.
I refer you to rule 2
I refer you to your definition of "likely"
Look, my friend. Stop airing saying that I am dirty laundry in public. Surely you portraying me in a way that makes me look incorrect would have an influence on voters. How about you stop your blatant lying? Tell me where the words "probability" and "likelihood" come up between I.a to I.d. The only thing I see is you rebutting my generic defining of the BoP. I hope you understand there is a difference between establishing who bears the BoP, and what the resolution of the debate is. NOWHERE in your first 3 arguments do you make the case that my arguments are irrelevant and that they only affirm certainly instead not likelihood. This is a completely NEW case that you have made.
Look, my friend. Stop airing your dirty laundry in public. It is an influence on voters, as Ragnar said in his #21. STOP IT. Use PM. I will note for you, since it is already noted in my R1 and R4, that you:
1. Had ample opportunity [10 days] to change your resolution, before I accepted the debate. You chose to leave it as is.
2. My R4, referring to my R1, paragraph I, including all sub-paragraphs I.a thru I.d, that you had ample time to defend your Resolution, and chose to ignore it. R1 was not my last round. My R4 merely repeats. Learn the distinction between argument and rebuttal. I've explained it in R4, as well.
“ VII Defense: Pro’s failure of a proper Resolution”
Withdrawing rebuttals until the last round. Seriously?
“The creation of the world is the most marvelous achievement imaginable.” I rebutted in R1, IV, that, no, the most marvelous creation is man. That is the last creation of all, saving the best for last on “day” 6. That new species have evolved since then is just evidence that creation continues by that mode, events which occurred after God rested on the 7th “day,” and did not retire as some allege. But all that is secondary to the main point: The creation of the world was accomplished on “day” 3, just another preparatory “day,” each day building toward the ultimate creation: us”
Again! Ignorance of my new (3 round old) syllogism! I literally set the new p1 as “the most marvellous creation is man” in my second argument!
See comment #17.
It's not that there can be zero discussion, just that debaters themselves should exercise some restraint to not unduly influence voters.
Fair enough, but then it follows that the content of the debate cannot be discussed in the comment section, which leaves the question, what is the point of the comment section?
Do you disagree with the notion that repetition at the very least increases rote learning?
It was taken directly out of the debate round, word for word, so any potential voters there are would have read the same phrase. Obviously, this comment wouldn't bias the voters, at least not any more than them reading the same phrase in the debate.
While there's no hard rule against discussing the debate in the comment section, as David points out, such can still cross the line into poor conduct.
IMO, comment #13 clearly belonged in the argument rounds, as opposed to the comment section.
Strike 1: Undefeatable simply offered a suggestion for me to clarify my argument. Nothing in his comment enhances or improves my contention.
Strike 2: I was not offering suggestions of interpretation, I simply quoted what I stated in the debate and commented that I was unaware how to further simply my argument.
Strike 3: Even if I was getting "assistance" from Undefeatable,
"There is nothing in the COC that says members can’t consult other members in debate arguments"
-David
https://www.debateart.com/debates/2992-flat-earth-is-physically-viable-plausible-if-space-agencies-are-lying-especially-nasa-and-roscosmos?open_tab=comments&comments_page=2&comment_number=18
So in the case that my argument was enhanced by Undefeatable's comment (it wasn't), that still is not an issue. Honestly, what is the point of a comment section if people cannot comment about the debate?
And I think your offering suggestions of interpretation of argument to a potential voter ought not be done during debate, either.
I think you ought to stop offering suggestions to anyone in current debate.
I mean I'm not too sure how I can simplify it. P1, the most marvellous creation is man, is pretty digestible, as it was a statement that my opponent made leaving no room for digestion. P2, doing X when handicapped is more marvellous than doing it not handicapped is also very simple (who would reasonably say running 100 meters is easier with 1 leg than with 2?). Therefore it follows that if a non-existent God is more marvellous than an existent God, the Christian God is not real, as it alleges to both exist and be the most marvellous. I do not see any possibility that I am over complicating things.
I think your “non existent god” argument may be too confusing for faux law causing you two to speak over each other’s heads. Simpler wording might help a little bit XD
I prefer to not comment during debate. Read again. Stop skimming. You have less than VII days. And, I have another round of rebuttal remaining, yeah?
Is there a reason why you ignored the revised anti-ontological syllogism?
The rule, “no new argument in the last round” is a different statement than “no argument in the last round,” whether one includes rebuttal, or not. I’ll get to rebuttal later. Suppose our debate is: “Resolved: sod is not a better way to have a lawn in a new area of yard than planting seeds.” If you are instigator and Pro, I, as Con, having the last frame of the round, should not present a new argument: planting sod will provide instant lawn. That gives you no opportunity to reply by rebuttal. But if I have offered that argument in an earlier round, I am open to defending the argument in my last frame, such as by saying, “In five years, what’s the difference? You have the desired lawn.” having already given you opportunity to rebut it.
To answer your question, I agree with no new argument, as the rule you defined in Description actually says. I have no problem repeating an argument made in a previous round in the last round, but it should not have new evidence provided for it. I consider that defense, rather than calling it argument.
Relative to rebuttal, rebuttal is not really argument. Rebuttal attacks an opponent’s argument from a perspective of relevance, assumption, and impact of an opponent’s argument, even if that rebuttal is given in the final frame of the last round. You are making a case against the opponent, not bolstering your own case.
Therefore, for clarification, when I forbid new argument in the last round, I also stipulate that rebuttal, defense, and conclusion are allowed in the last round for both parties.
What do you make of the rule "no arguments in the last round"? The point of the rule is to allow both of us a chance to reply to everything that is said, so would you count rebuttals as a sort of "argument". After all, it would be hardly fair if you came through in the last round and swooped all my arguments off the floor without giving me a chance to reply. Just wanted to clarify before the last round comes.
Thanks for the praise. I'll be interested to see how this one plays out.
Notice: somehow, I managed to omit the referenced source for the definition of. "[The burden of the proof] lies upon him who affirms not he who denies" that is in my R1, I.c paragraph. The source is. https://dictionary.thelaw.com/ei-incumbit-probatio-qui-dicit-non-qui-negat/
oh, impressive. I've never seen an ontological argument like that. There was something off to me about the idea of the inherent "Creator behind the scenes". I agree that the Big Bang seems even more miraculous than an omnipotent god, because there was no "infinitely powerful creator", and therefore even more "all powerful" in my opinion. Let's see how Fauxlaw responds.
References
[1] Craig, William Lane, editor. The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. pp. 183-184
[2] ‘Arrow of Time’. Wikipedia, 2 Feb. 2021. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow_of_time#Thermodynamic_arrow_of_time
[3] Garson, James. ‘Modal Logic’. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Summer 2021, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2021. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/logic-modal/
[4] Maudlin, Tim. ‘XIV-Remarks on the Passing of Time’. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, vol. 102, no. 3, Apr. 2002
[5] ‘What Is a Block Universe?’ Plus.Maths.Org, 30 Sept. 2016,
https://plus.maths.org/content/what-block-time#:~:text=When%20Einstein%20unified%20space%20and,way%20to%20picture%20our%20Universe.&text=A%20block%20universe%20is%20a,are%20there%20in%20that%20block.%22
[6] ‘Relativity of Simultaneity’. Wikipedia, 8 June 2021. Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relativity_of_simultaneity
[7] ‘Relativity of Simultaneity’. Wikipedia, 8 June 2021. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relativity_of_simultaneity#:~:text=Einstein%20imagined%20a%20stationary%20observer,to%20strike%20at%20different%20times
[8] Friederich, Simon, and Peter W. Evans. ‘Retrocausality in Quantum Mechanics’. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Summer 2019, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2019. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-retrocausality/
[9]Physicists Provide Support for Retrocausal Quantum Theory, in Which the Future Influences the Past.
https://phys.org/news/2017-07-physicists-retrocausal-quantum-theory-future.html
[10] Faye, Jan. ‘Backward Causation’. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Spring 2021, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2021. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/causation-backwards/#His
[11] ‘Bell Test’. Wikipedia, 6 May 2021.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_test
[12] ‘Occam’s Razor | Origin, Examples, & Facts’. Encyclopedia Britannica,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Occams-razor
[13] ‘Theism vs. Naturalism’. Https://Www.Apa.Org,https://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/05/god#:~:text=While%20naturalistic%20psychologists%20deny%20the,two%20viewpoints%20incompatible%2C%20says%20Slife.
[14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsDl-EMomqM&t=550s
I know this is a long one, but perhaps you would like to vote if interested? It'll give you some good, unique atheist arguments.
Perhaps you guys would be interested?
I'd love to play devil's advocate (perhaps, pun intended), but this debate would likely be near impossible for me. Perhaps you guys would like a chance first.