Quote:
|
We are either capable of understanding god or we are not.
|
Depends upon two things. The "we" and the "understanding". If by "we" you meen collective society, then I'm not sure. Taking specific individuals or religions into account, there seems to be a level of understanding, but it's only in relation to that particular religious sect. For example, as Christians, we know that God generally doesn't like sinning. That could be interpreted into a basic level of understanding. But, many within Christian denominations may just blindly follow this without question, while others may believe they have God "all figured out". The "we" is a poor term to use here.
Your concept of "understanding" is also vague? There are many levels of understanding, and everybody "understands" differently. Taking love for example: Many people may view love as something that "clicks"- as in an instant chemistry is present that is often unexplainable. Others view it as a simple chemical synapsis in the brain. Chemical reactions taking place withing the recesses of the brain used to trigger the emotions of affection. Others think love is when you're shot in the ass by an arrow. It's all relative to the individual. In explaining God, special circumstances are especially relevant. If you must, as an atheist (or whatever you are) willingly suspend your disbelief for a second, and say that there
is a God, then you would generally agree that God isn't bound by laws of science. Science is one of the few resources we have in determining "existance" or "authenticity". If God cannot be disproven by science, then there is most definitely a severe lack of understanding, as far as the scientific world is concerned. But, like in the Christian community, there are people on both sides. Many believe that God
can be proven through science, while others believe His existance can be
disproven, either through science or simple logic.
Quote:
|
If we can't understand god then it is beyond out understanding, and therefore in reality we know nothing of it, and stating otherwise would merely taking a guess from an infinitely large and all inclusive pool of guesses.
|
No. Your concept of "understand" is vague. You'll have to clarify, because in the religious sense, we most definitely
do understand God. We understand that (again taking Christian/Catholic references here) he created the universe, sent His only Son to die for the sins of the world, that he hates sins, that there are things that please him (loving your neighbor, modesty, etc.- see Bible for furthur details). Well, from the atheist point of view who rejects these doctrines, then these may not qualify as understanding. For the religious zealot, they most definitely do qualify as understanding. For the religious person, there is no guesswork, in terms of the most basic questions of who He is, what He wants, what pisses Him off, and so forth. In explaining exactly
why he does what he does is where the basis of faith comes in. Religious people may essentially say that they place the "why" in the hands of God himself. That an essence greater, smarter, and more powerful than themselves is watching over their lives and making decisions as to what happens- when, why, and how- is where the whole doctrine of faith comes into play. Atheists may want to continue questioning, but, unfortunately or not, many religious people prefer to leave it at that, which is why you may have had trouble finding answers.
What? I think we have some conflicting opinions of what either "know" or "truth" means.
Linear Mode
