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Author Topic: Can science refute God?  (Read 1276 times)

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Vincegamer

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Re: Can science refute God?
« Reply #90 on: March 11, 2010, 10:41:40 AM »
It still comes down to the definition of "God".

"God" is a word.  That means it was invented by humans.  Humans had something in mind when they devised the word.
The religious will fall behind the defense of "well that doesn't disprove a god that chooses not to reveal himself" but that's bunk.   The proper response is "Oh, I thought we were talking about some intelligent being that answers prayers and affects our lives.  Please tell me what you mean by "God" and I'll let you know if science can disprove it.

Basically science is constantly disproving alleged characteristics of "God".  If you disprove enough alleged characteristics, is it still "God"?  Does the word "God" still have any significance?

That is why the person asking the question "can science refute god?" must first explain what he means by "god".  Otherwise he might as well ask can science disprove Molbeyr?
Only because "god" is a word in common usage and Molbeyr is a word I made up, there's a difference.  We all have some idea of what is meant by "god".  We already assign characteristics to the concept once we use a common word for it.
It's my position that no single characteristic is enough to fit the word, and that any combination of characteristics that would fit the word can be disproven.
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lucasdigital

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Re: Can science refute God?
« Reply #91 on: March 26, 2010, 05:53:37 PM »
It still comes down to the definition of "God".

"God" is a word.  That means it was invented by humans.  Humans had something in mind when they devised the word.

Spot on!

Too many people mistake science as a source of absolute truth, when in fact it's a system for understanding reality.  The question "can science disprove god?" wrongly assumes that science is the tool you use for proving/disproving any particular thing. So the answer is surely a simple "No".

As you say, any particular claim about gods that can be measured, detected or inferred can and will be proved or disproved.

Mk

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seaotter

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Re: Can science refute God?
« Reply #92 on: March 26, 2010, 06:02:23 PM »
It still comes down to the definition of "God".

"God" is a word.  That means it was invented by humans.  Humans had something in mind when they devised the word.


Spot on!

Too many people mistake science as a source of absolute truth, when in fact it's a system for understanding reality.  The question "can science disprove god?" wrongly assumes that science is the tool you use for proving/disproving any particular thing. So the answer is surely a simple "No".

As you say, any particular claim about gods that can be measured, detected or inferred can and will be proved or disproved.

Mk


We need a picture: http://sguforums.com/index.php/topic,1285.0.html Cause I'm betting Tom Hanks for the look alike.
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Vincegamer

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Re: Can science refute God?
« Reply #93 on: March 26, 2010, 11:22:03 PM »
for me? or for lucas?
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seaotter

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Re: Can science refute God?
« Reply #94 on: March 27, 2010, 08:30:44 AM »
for me? or for lucas?

Well, id like to see a picture of you too, but lucas looks like hanks in the avatar, if that is lucas.

And don't u think i know you know where the picture thread is?  ::)
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Vincegamer

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Re: Can science refute God?
« Reply #95 on: March 28, 2010, 08:52:46 PM »
Oh, I thought we were playing celebrity lookalike, in which case I look like Anthony Edwards (or like he did 20 years ago when he was more of a celeb)
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lucasdigital

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Re: Can science refute God?
« Reply #96 on: June 22, 2010, 09:20:59 AM »
for me? or for lucas?

Well, id like to see a picture of you too, but lucas looks like hanks in the avatar, if that is lucas.

And don't u think i know you know where the picture thread is?  ::)

Happy to oblige. Last time someone likened me to a movie star, she said I looked like Mickey Mouse. Hanks has gotta be progress.
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