Post by rdlb on Dec 13, 2014 12:55:18 GMT -6
Atheism vs. Theism Debate – The Basics
The “Atheism vs. Theism” debate has been a fixture in Western culture for the last few hundred years. Remarkably, the same issues repeat themselves over and over again. Although certain “double PhD’s” would like us to think otherwise, the core controversies aren’t really “rocket science” at all. In a nutshell, the Atheism vs. Theism debate comes down to the following:
The Atheist’s Response to the Theist:
God doesn’t exist because science explains the cosmos without him.
Even if a finely-tuned cosmos and/or complex life suggest a first cause/designer, there’s too much pain and suffering in the world to believe in the Judeo-Christian God.
The Judeo-Christian Bible is myth and legend.
A moral life doesn’t require God, anyway.
The Theist’s Response to the Atheist:
Science affirms that the finely-tuned cosmos was created out of nothing.
Life’s order, design, and complexity require an Intelligent Designer, and our response to pain and suffering is relative to our knowledge of right and wrong/good and evil in a fallen world.
The Bible is trustworthy based on history, science, archaeology, manuscripts, and prophecy.
True morality requires a transcendent standard -- God.
Atheism vs. Theism Debate – The Essence
This is the essence of the Atheism vs. Theism debate. Although the theological, philosophical, and scientific controversies might appear vast and intimidating at first, they really boil down to these four foundational arguments. Once you feel comfortable with these key areas in the Atheism vs. Theism debate, there’s not much that will surprise you.
www.allaboutphilosophy.org/atheism-vs-theism-debate-faq.htm
The “Atheism vs. Theism” debate has been a fixture in Western culture for the last few hundred years. Remarkably, the same issues repeat themselves over and over again. Although certain “double PhD’s” would like us to think otherwise, the core controversies aren’t really “rocket science” at all. In a nutshell, the Atheism vs. Theism debate comes down to the following:
The Atheist’s Response to the Theist:
God doesn’t exist because science explains the cosmos without him.
Even if a finely-tuned cosmos and/or complex life suggest a first cause/designer, there’s too much pain and suffering in the world to believe in the Judeo-Christian God.
The Judeo-Christian Bible is myth and legend.
A moral life doesn’t require God, anyway.
The Theist’s Response to the Atheist:
Science affirms that the finely-tuned cosmos was created out of nothing.
Life’s order, design, and complexity require an Intelligent Designer, and our response to pain and suffering is relative to our knowledge of right and wrong/good and evil in a fallen world.
The Bible is trustworthy based on history, science, archaeology, manuscripts, and prophecy.
True morality requires a transcendent standard -- God.
Atheism vs. Theism Debate – The Essence
This is the essence of the Atheism vs. Theism debate. Although the theological, philosophical, and scientific controversies might appear vast and intimidating at first, they really boil down to these four foundational arguments. Once you feel comfortable with these key areas in the Atheism vs. Theism debate, there’s not much that will surprise you.
www.allaboutphilosophy.org/atheism-vs-theism-debate-faq.htm
A theist believes there is a God who made and governs all creation; but does not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, nor in a divine revelation.
A deist believes there is a God who created all things, but does not believe in His superintendence and government. He thinks the Creator implanted in all things certain immutable laws, called the Laws of Nature, which act per se, as a watch acts without the supervision of its maker. Like the theist, he does not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, nor in a divine revelation.
The atheist disbelieves even the existence of a God. He thinks matter is eternal, and what we call “creation” is the result of natural laws.
The agnostic believes only what is knowable. He rejects revelation and the doctrine of the Trinity as “past human understanding.” He is neither theist, deist, nor atheist, as all these are past understanding.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A deist believes there is a God who created all things, but does not believe in His superintendence and government. He thinks the Creator implanted in all things certain immutable laws, called the Laws of Nature, which act per se, as a watch acts without the supervision of its maker. Like the theist, he does not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, nor in a divine revelation.
The atheist disbelieves even the existence of a God. He thinks matter is eternal, and what we call “creation” is the result of natural laws.
The agnostic believes only what is knowable. He rejects revelation and the doctrine of the Trinity as “past human understanding.” He is neither theist, deist, nor atheist, as all these are past understanding.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894