>> You sound like you’re trying to figure out the mind of God?
For the sake of simplicity, let’s cast the question in the context of atheism.
The canonical atheist proposes the absence of God through apparent contradictions espoused by the non-atheist. It doesn’t matter whether or not the non-atheist believes in God. What matters is the arbitrary precept that challenges the atheist’s sensibilities.
The atheist isn’t trying to figure out God’s mind... the atheist is trying to figure out another’s spiritual mind.
If there were no mention of God, there would be no atheists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou3-zq-qHJo
At 1:09, the great theologian Norm MacDonald (RIP) talks to Larry King about the “God Shaped hole in his heart”. Norm believes in God. (And he also uses the F word a lot.
Excerpt (paraphrased as I remembered it):
“I find it hard to have a discussion with an atheist about God. You ever notice how all they want to talk about is God? But according to them, He doesn’t exist. I suppose their minds are greater than mine, but I would have a hard time talking about something that doesn’t even exist.”
It is perhaps a bit of a comedy bit, but Norm says it in earnest - and it is true!
I’ve often said....If ther’s no God in the mind of an Atheist then who are they fighting against? It shouldn’t be such an issue.
“What matters is the arbitrary precept that challenges the atheist’s sensibilities.”
Yes, and they are not just “arbitrary” precepts but out-and-out contradictions that are embraced by certain religions and their followers, that gall not just the atheist’s sensibilities but any rational human.
And when those contradictions are pointed out (which is all I’m doing) the “believers” work themselves up in a lather, rather than correcting the contradictions.
I myself am agnostic. I think most likely there is something bigger than us but I have as much knowledge of the nature of that being as an amoeba has of me.