If God died...

[Steve]

Many of our discussions revolve around the question of a supreme Being's existence, and issues of faith versus proof.

Let me pose a question to believers:

If proof developed that "God" did not exist, how would your worldview change?

Say, for instance, that research into the human mind and brain developed overwhelming, if not incontrovertible, evidence that the existence of "God" was attributed to some combination of genetic markers and brain pattern behavior?  Just for instance........

That, in every instance, when evidence of a Divine "influence" was presented, it could be tied back to the activity of the mind and brain?

How shaken would your faith be?  Would you still continue to believe in God?  Would you still go to church?  How would such a thing affect the world?  Your country?  Your community?

God does not exist.  There is no afterlife.  This is it.

What does that do to you?

[ethics]

Wouldn't it be blasphemy for these people to even discuss this?

[Steve]

ethics, you know what's funny? I've never even looked up the dictionary definition of blasphemy, so I'm not sure.

I know, as a believer, as a Christian, as a deacon of my church, not only is it OK for me to ask such questions and ponder them, but it's a tenet of my faith that it is constantly tested.

If I am the one to do the testing and questioning, so much the better!

On a side not, imnsho, it is the people who cease that quest for answers, who stop questioning, who no longer subject themselves to tests of faith, that cause the most problems in the world.

And I will answer the question I posed, for myself, but I want to see what other believers think, first.

[Coriolis]

I think what Stevent is asking though, for the believers (hence I can't really answer the question), is what would you do <b>IF</b> it could be proven that God exists, and the result came back negatory.

What would you do, as a believer, if you were presented with incontrovertible and unequivocal evidence that God does not exist?

It's a great question, and I look forward to reading the answers.

[mikepd]

Depends on the belief system of the individual. Do you believe that your life on earth is preparation for an eternal reward or is your life here also important by itself? If I were to find out that there was no afterlife, no God, I would, perhaps, be disappointed because I always envisioned an adventure unlike nothing any religion described. Rather a mixture of the best with a dash of the the worst for spice. In short, something completely different.

But living my life here and doing the best I could to touch others, make an impact on the future, imprint in a positive way someone's life, that would be sufficient for me. To leave a small corner of my plot of ground a better place for having walked on it is sufficient unto the cause. If I could know that I had done that, I would die content.

For still, I would have Faith.

[bruzzes]

This is a very hard question to answer.

For you see, I <b>AM</b> a believer in God.

But since this is a thread without the premise of God, I would have to say that a scientific order is present in this world. Apples fall, cause creates effects, disorder creates chaos.

I would have to believe in the laws of nature and the laws of order. But the laws of order, when created and applied by and to man can stifle hope, dreams and desire for those objects that make a better life.

I do believe we would create God.
There must be a uniting force for mankind.
Call it what you will, whether real or illusion, but without hope, without the impetus for change, without a goal, life indeed would be so limited.

[ethics]

Just a caution to all that wish to respond. Stevent, in this forum, is asking believers of God about the question. While we value everyone's opinion on the topic of God, please respect his inquiry.

All messages that are OT will be moved.

[mikepd]

I think Bruzzes touches on something that I have thought about for many years. Perhaps, taken as a whole, the best spirit of Man is God. That quality in us which strives to do good even in the midst of terrible horror might show that God resides in each of us. Maybe I am trying to evade the question, it is an interesting one, to be sure. There are physical laws which govern the universe, there are concepts which we yet do not understand and may not ever know.

What inspired humans to question their surroundings, to ask 'why', to strive to be better than they are. So perhaps God does not exist as a separate entity at all. Together, we may be God.

[Sacchiridites]

I like answering these types of questions without reading other's responses first.

You propose:
if "the existence of "God" was attributed to some combination of genetic markers and brain pattern behavior? Just for instance........"

It would only further my belief that God DOES exist. As a matter of fact, I think what you're proposing as far as brain pattern behavior is quite probable. Take a close look at biophotons.

Not sure about the 'genetic marker' thing. But, if the first man was given the breath of life and was created by God, he's probably got some of God's 'genes'. If everything (and the dust from which man was made) is created by God, how can everything not contain a part of Him? It's His fingerprint, His handiwork, of His existence. Cool. We're able to explain the complex uniqueness of snowflakes, why not the complex uniqueness of a human being in this regard?

Even if God's existence is traced back to a certain set of brainwave or other electro-chemical patterns, it would only prove to me that there is a plan, a design, a relativity. It would confirm the physical and spiritual parallel that is taught in His word.

I don't think I'd fall for the completely secular point of view you propose. Faith as a single mustard seed or what? ;)

Selah,
Sacchiridites
Cie

[mikeky]

Hmm... If there was evidence that pointed that God did not exists, but it wasn't incontrovertible, then I would still believe, because, afterall, that's what faith is all about, believing without having complete evidence.

If evidence was incontrovertible, then I would still live as I do now (of course, always striving to do better where I fall short), because I can't think of any better model than the one presented by Christ.

[ethics]

Folks, once again, this isn't a thread on the "Does God exist" that's nother thread. This is a question posed to the BELIEVERS of God.

Please, stay on topic on this one?

[Fiona]

Funny, Ethics--- After reading stevent's original post and question I had the same initial reaction... of course that's never stopped me. I pray constantly if you want to call it that... I talk to MY higher power... call it GOD, I do... or inner self, or spirit or consciousness... whatever... there is something that is OTHER and I talk to It... if IT died? hmmmmm

The fact is I don't believe that is at all conceivably possible, but lets "pretend"

Firstly, I would be very very sad, because My best friend would be gone and i would understand the complete depths of ALONENESS... bummer.. THAT is Hell (as described in the Bible, separated from God) :cry:

Secondly, the Truth is, there are moments where i might behave a "little worse" but in general... I was born with this knowledge of right and wrong and will to do good.... I don't think it will change. :)

[AmeritecTech]

Every effect needs a cause. You can attribute many effects to the flow of nature, but somewhere way back when, you have to have something sentient to start the ball rolling. An object at rest stays at rest, unless acted on by some outside force. Such is the nature of my belief in God.

To take away the existence of God is to take away the Law of Causality. Effects no longer have a cause. This would be a non-sensical world, where my actions no longer have consequences. If the things I do don't result in a certain effect, why do anything?

[melpomene]

ah! Bruzzes the White, i do love your posts.

Maybe at our stage of evolution we still need a form of God.

Monkey brains that we have ...............