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To: laredo44
"Nonsense. I've never "perceived" the core of Pluto but that doesn't mean I don't believe it exists."

You could concieveably dig to the core of a planet and use other tests to prove it's existance.

The notion of God isn't subject to empirical verification by it's very nature.

As for the "if I cannot perceive it, it cannot exist" quote.... it's a misinterpetation of the atheist position. The real position is: "if I cannot perceive it WHY should I recognize it exists?"
19 posted on 10/06/2003 6:51:29 AM PDT by Jason Kauppinen
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To: Jason Kauppinen
As for the "if I cannot perceive it, it cannot exist" quote.... it's a misinterpetation of the atheist position. The real position is: "if I cannot perceive it WHY should I recognize it exists?"

Think of black holes. You cannot perceive them, so why should you recognize that they exist? Well, scientists say they do. Scientists say they are important, and scientists have data which provides some level of verification.

Why should you recognize that God exists? Well, religious people say He does. Religious people say He is important, and religious people have data (testimonials) that provide some level of verification.

Some people think scientists have credibility -- in other words, they have faith in scientists. Some people think religious people have credibility -- in other words, they have faith. Some people have faith in both science and God.

23 posted on 10/06/2003 7:02:57 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (France delenda est)
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To: Jason Kauppinen
The notion of God isn't subject to empirical verification by it's very nature.

Says who?

24 posted on 10/06/2003 7:03:52 AM PDT by laredo44
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To: Jason Kauppinen
The real position is: "if I cannot perceive it WHY should I recognize it exists?"

I've always considered that position agnostic, rather than atheist. Isn't atheism a positive belief that God does not exist?

I've always considered that position (God positively doesn't exist) to be silly, as you can't prove a negative.

30 posted on 10/06/2003 7:13:24 AM PDT by jimt
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