Comments on: Theist and Atheist thought; or The God of the Gaps http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:08:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dave Cohen http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-2168 Dave Cohen Sun, 20 Aug 2006 03:48:02 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-2168 I find it a little interesting that the athiest side has less color than the theist side... not that the artist meant it... but still.... interesting. I find it a little interesting that the athiest side has less color than the theist side… not that the artist meant it… but still…. interesting.

]]> By: Pedro Timóteo http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-430 Pedro Timóteo Thu, 30 Mar 2006 23:19:10 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-430 Zach: this is almost like meeting a celebrity. ;) Thanks for the comment. Zach: this is almost like meeting a celebrity. ;) Thanks for the comment.

]]> By: zachstern http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-429 zachstern Thu, 30 Mar 2006 18:21:24 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-429 As the artist behind this image, I thank you for your written explanation. Of all the discussions I've found on the web regarding this image, yours comes the closest to describing what I intended to capture. Thanks!! Zach As the artist behind this image, I thank you for your written explanation. Of all the discussions I’ve found on the web regarding this image, yours comes the closest to describing what I intended to capture. Thanks!! Zach

]]> By: Geoff http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-408 Geoff Wed, 29 Mar 2006 11:46:53 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-408 There seem to be a variety of types of Christian or theistic response to the advances of science - some modify their belief system to allow room for science to expand (retaining God as the prime mover), some simply deny the science or its validity. It seems that the latter is the sensible course of action if faith is to survive - if you don't care that your universe is inconsistent, then you can assert anything at all without fear of meaningful contradiction. You could even teach science without evolution, most of physics, geology or astronomy and maintain that God created the world a few millenia ago. There is no challenge that can make any difference to your faith as you have already demonstrated to your own satisfaction that anyone who disagrees is wrong - just throw out the parts that don't fit. There seem to be a variety of types of Christian or theistic response to the advances of science - some modify their belief system to allow room for science to expand (retaining God as the prime mover), some simply deny the science or its validity. It seems that the latter is the sensible course of action if faith is to survive - if you don’t care that your universe is inconsistent, then you can assert anything at all without fear of meaningful contradiction. You could even teach science without evolution, most of physics, geology or astronomy and maintain that God created the world a few millenia ago. There is no challenge that can make any difference to your faith as you have already demonstrated to your own satisfaction that anyone who disagrees is wrong - just throw out the parts that don’t fit.

]]> By: Neal http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-407 Neal Tue, 28 Mar 2006 21:32:21 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-407 The odd thing to me about those theists who guard the remaining gaps is that it would seem they don't understand what faith is. Faith is believing in something you cannot prove. Thus, whether we can explain everything with science or not should have no bearing on someone of faith because faith does not require proof. It's odd to me that believers don't understand what it means to have faith and haven't taken their beliefs to their logical conclusions. As I say (as an atheist), a faith unchallenged is no faith at all. The odd thing to me about those theists who guard the remaining gaps is that it would seem they don’t understand what faith is. Faith is believing in something you cannot prove. Thus, whether we can explain everything with science or not should have no bearing on someone of faith because faith does not require proof.

It’s odd to me that believers don’t understand what it means to have faith and haven’t taken their beliefs to their logical conclusions. As I say (as an atheist), a faith unchallenged is no faith at all.

]]> By: Elektra http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-404 Elektra Tue, 28 Mar 2006 13:05:04 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-404 You might be able to say I don’t know yet, that is already a skill that most humans seem not to have... but you never give up on finding an explanation, do you? That is exactly what moves science, the human need to explain everything. Theists just do it in another way because maybe they are afraid to find the scientific answer and it is much more easy and simpler just to say "It was God's will". You might be able to say I don’t know yet, that is already a skill that most humans seem not to have… but you never give up on finding an explanation, do you? That is exactly what moves science, the human need to explain everything. Theists just do it in another way because maybe they are afraid to find the scientific answer and it is much more easy and simpler just to say “It was God’s will”.

]]> By: Pedro Timóteo http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-403 Pedro Timóteo Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:51:08 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-403 Elektra: it's more than that. I am perfectly capable of saying "I don't know (yet)". I don't have the need to invent supernatural explanations for things just because I don't know of a natural one (yet). But theists seem to have that need. Elektra: it’s more than that. I am perfectly capable of saying “I don’t know (yet)”. I don’t have the need to invent supernatural explanations for things just because I don’t know of a natural one (yet).

But theists seem to have that need.

]]> By: Elektra http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-402 Elektra Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:28:50 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-402 This is not just a theist/atheist binomial. Man always felt the need to explain everything that surrounds us and therefore if Science doesn’t… then magic, god, supernatural or else does. It is Human Nature try to explain everything, because of fear of the unknowledgeable. This is not just a theist/atheist binomial. Man always felt the need to explain everything that surrounds us and therefore if Science doesn’t… then magic, god, supernatural or else does.

It is Human Nature try to explain everything, because of fear of the unknowledgeable.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-401 Geoff Tue, 28 Mar 2006 05:26:48 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2006/03/27/theist-and-atheist-thought-or-the-god-of-the-gaps/#comment-401 Yes it is interesting to see the "evidence" presented for "Intelligent" Design - usually something which doesn't quite fit into the established picture of the theory of evolution. Those who present it usually do not present any reason for ascribing God's intervention to it, aside from the fact that it appears not to be consistent with what is coming from "the other side of the table". I personally have no problem with theists who claim that God is behind everything and are content to believe that without evidence, rather than concocting pseudo-scientific garbage (ie, garbage that sounds scientific) to back up their claim. However, one cannot use God as a piece in the scientific jigsaw puzzle of cause and effect. At that point, science and religion have become confused. Yes it is interesting to see the “evidence” presented for “Intelligent” Design - usually something which doesn’t quite fit into the established picture of the theory of evolution. Those who present it usually do not present any reason for ascribing God’s intervention to it, aside from the fact that it appears not to be consistent with what is coming from “the other side of the table”. I personally have no problem with theists who claim that God is behind everything and are content to believe that without evidence, rather than concocting pseudo-scientific garbage (ie, garbage that sounds scientific) to back up their claim. However, one cannot use God as a piece in the scientific jigsaw puzzle of cause and effect. At that point, science and religion have become confused.

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