[MD] The End of Faith

[Akshay Peshwe]

Before anything about God's existence can be discussed, we first need to
think clearly as to what we really mean by the word God.

Do we suppose that God is the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent
controller of the universe? If yes, then obviously God cannot be known,
because all knowledge is bound by the limits of space, time and causality.
In making such a supposition, we clearly have to admit of God's existence,
because a controller of the universe does exist (even if it is the universe
itself, in which case God becomes a fancy name for a holistic sense of the
universe). Ethically, such a definition would match, because we observe that
God acts through the priest as well as the thief, the saint and the murderer
are the same from God's point of view.

The existence of God is of relatively low importance. We only have to define
God and then find out if such an entity exists. God is usually defined along
the lines of ultimate power/strength and knowledge. Even if atheists
nominally say they do not believe in God, can they abandon concepts
like control, law and power? A favourite argument is that if God created the
universe, then who it is that created God (because we have assumed that the
universe needed a creation to be in existence).

The answer to this is that some people (atheists for example) choose to
believe that the universe per se is the highest power, while theists believe
there is an entity higher into which the universe contracts. Perhaps a new
variety of theologians will believe in a Meta-God (God over God). But,
really, does this in any way change metaphysics? Occam knows better.


Akshay


On 16/01/2008, Steven Peterson <stevenkpeterson at mac.com> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Has any one read Sam Harris?
>
> He is one of the "new atheists."
>
> On forms with the little categories for race, religion, etc., do you check
> off atheist?
>
> Regards,
> Steve
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