Beliefs: “Still Evolving…” February 28, 2007
Posted by ibenaija in Beliefs, Blogroll, Position, Religion, Superstition.trackback
On Creationism
I believe there is a Creator. Or, to put it more accurately, I’d like to believe there is a Creator.
But believing is not the same thing as knowing—at least, not in the epistemological sense. My ‘belief’ is different from what I consider ‘knowledge,’ in that it is based on an imperative not too dissimilar from ‘faith,’ rather than empirical evidence, discernible by the senses or through deduction.
I believe there is a Creator; I just do not know that there is one.
Why I do believe that there is a Creator?
It appears highly unlikely to me that the universe, in all its complexity, began spontaneously and without cause, out of nothing. The sheer diversity and organization of things would appear to require the concerted action of a creator. In order words, I believe it is more likely than not that a universe as complex ours resulted from some sort of higher intelligence.
Also—and I am convinced many people share this sentiment—my belief in a Creator is driven by a desire, nay need, for there to be something bigger than me… for there to be something that transcends my mortality. Believing in a Creator satisfies that need.
(True, true, these two ‘arguments’ do not offer deductively valid support for the belief in a Creator, either. Nonetheless, I think that the first one at least, is strong enough to support that belief.)
Why I do not know there is a Creator?
I cannot claim to know that a Creator exists because I have not seen any empirical, fool-proof evidence for His (or Her) existence.
What is your own belief based on?
Do you KNOW that a Creator exists? What is this ‘knowledge’ based on? If you have a deductively valid (i.e. 100% fool-proof) argument for the existence of a Creator, do post a comment. Note though that anecdotal “evidence” do not count.
Finally, without convincing empirical evidence, I categorically refuse to believe in:
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there is no empirical evidence for any supreme being, and there will probably never will be unless there is a second comming of Christ on the horizon. There is however a suprisingly large collection of data supporting reincarnation, however it is not emprical evidence. there is no emperical evidence for anything paranormal.
So, if there is no empirical evidence, is there evidence of any other sort?
This “large collection of data supporting reincarnation”, where is it?
And to the question at hand: Do you, personally, KNOW that a Creator exists?
I know a Creator exists…..I have met Him. He could not be seen in the sense of a head, neck and shoulders but i came into His presence and it was as if i was blinded by light so bright you could see but couldnt see at the same time. We had a 2 sentence conversation which in retrospect was like a dialogue of eternity….for so much was meant in the few words He spoke to me
I know that such experiences are laughed at and felt to be untrue but i have things i can point to that resulted from that one encounter.
I was just beginning my second year in univ when t happened….my first year results were very dismal, not only was i too playful but i just didnt take my future seriously.
My second year results were phenomenal, why? I suddenly experienced a uniue ability to syntehsize vast amounts of information in a way that led me to several unique insights that helped me in my school work. I also developed a strong sense of purpose as a result of that one encounter. My life was no longer mine but His, i could not afford to live anyhow.
For me, the experience itself cant be ’substantiated’ by others but the after-effects are highly verifiable by anyone……especially those who knew me personally within the period. Something had changed about me they couldn’t describe. I however did not rush to begin proclaiming the experience. I spent a long time just internalizing its implications
It is only of recent that i have felt compelled to share that experience with others.
There is a Creator and He has a Son called Jesus. I met God and he pointed me to His Son. Thats my experience….
Idiare-
I can appreciate your experience and its far-reaching implication for you personally.
I look forward to, like you, meeting the Creator in that blinding light manifestation, or otherwise, and engaging Him in a conversation… Till then though, it’s hard to know that He exists.
Nonetheless, you and I agree that your argument for the existence of a Creator is based entirely on anecdotal “evidence”; and those never really do.
Charles,
In terms of empirical evidence, as well as logic, there is no creator. This argument will take you everywhere and fetch you victory in any intellectual debate on the topic.
You will never find it anywhere about the physical existence of a god, even in the studies of myths and deities. All you will find will be historical documentations of different beliefs with artifacts and fossils dated by archaeologists and the like.
Before you go further, I’d like you to stop, and repeat the thought…
My brother my friend, there is a Creator. Like Idiare, i have met him, but in different circumstances. The Creator and I are good friends.
I might perfectly understand your argument about his existence. And besides, He actually lives in the supernormal; the celestial. Some argue that he is in the Extra-Terrestrial. All of these have an element of truth.
These truth arise from one thing, which He gives us: free will. The freedom to exercise ourselves in any (un)given manner. If yours is to believe after a physical fact, you might never find proof to this effect.
You might want to ask yourself when last it depended on your belief to validate the truth, or fact, about any matter. Try disbelieving that the sun will not rise tomorrow. You might find the fact you are looking for.
cheers, my dear ol’ timer.
Ezeh-
I think you’ve got the order of things slightly off: it is the truth or validity of something that leads to (or inspires) one’s belief in it, not the other way around. It would be silly to attempt to “disbelieve” that the sun would rise; the “truth,” validated over time, is that the sun does rise (in the east!) every morning, and the sun will rise tomorrow (barring any cataclysmic event—like the Rapture!).
Interestingly, you bring up the subjects of “truth” and “validity,” two prerequisites for the soundness of an argument. For an argument to be considered to be sound, its premises (or underlying reasons) must be true; and its inference (i.e., the relationship between its premises and conclusion) must be valid. And, in the soundest of arguments, the relationship between the premise(s) and the conclusion(s) are such that the truth of the reason(s) guarantee the truth of the conclusion(s).
So, give me a sound argument for the existence of a Creator.
I dare you.
Idiare, the dare applies to you too.
Ordinarily, I would have teed off explaining the “hows” and “whys” about the existence of God. But I know better than a fruitless argument, which you will win because there’s no evidence to prove or disprove you.
I only have this to say; Charlie, you are one of God’s creation, exercising the very thing He gave us, Freewill.
On this note, I bow out and leave you to your belief, while hoping that some day, you meet him on your terms.
Peace.
I appreciate your candor…