Question by Fear of a Blank Planet: Theists: if the hypothetical metaphysical exists, how can you possibly ‘know’ anything about it?
Furthermore, how can one go on to define the nature of ‘God’, know what an ‘angel’ looks like (people have ‘seen’ them before, they claim), or know when they’ve actually made some kind of contact with this ‘metaphysical realm’?
Do you have any doubts? This applies to strong atheism, too, of course, but it’s not making any assumptions – simply dismissing assumptions. The fact is, the assumptions are neither provable or disprovable, so it makes perfect sense for atheists to reject theistic claims until they’ve experienced these so-called revelations on the account of epistemology. In that case, how can they [atheists] be blamed, when, ad absurdum, ‘God’ punishes you for being one?
Best answer:
Answer by Jedidiah C
emotional experiences.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
This is a very good and thoughtful question. Accepting your premise, the only way we could ever hope to know anything about God would be if He chose to reveal Himself to us. Christian faith in the bible or the Church is not an intellectual defect. It is an epistemic necessity. Without an objective revelation, all we have is a nihilist will to power. We are left with no public witness to God’s existence/nature. And so all of our claims to ‘experience’ lose their validity precisely because they are wholly subjective. The same applies to all other religious traditions with a sacred text.
Do I have doubts? It was this line of reasoning which led me to nihilism. So yeah, I have had doubts. I’m utterly convinced that naked reason can tell us nothing about God. So, in that sense, I understand your comments on atheism. What makes atheists culpable is that they have been told that their reason is not sufficient to the task of ascertaining God’s existence and will and they steadfastly refuse to believe even this self-evident truth. I cannot speak for any other atheists, but in my case it was Pride which prevented me from taking seriously the claims of religion. God did reveal Himself to me: a sort of “Damascus road” experience. Short of that, nothing would have convinced me that He was real. Afterwards, however, it is impossible for me to deny my own experience. God is real.
peace
this strikes me as a thoughtful and well thought out question so i will share my “two cents” on the matter… for what it is worth…
many theologians and mystics and others go through what is called “the dark night of the soul” where they have lost all faith and their faith in God. i think that we all go through that phase in one way or another. another way of putting it is… “when the well runs dry.”
this is a passage i copied from the internet… i hope you don’t mind…
“Rather than resulting in devastation, however, the dark night is perceived by mystics and others to be a blessing in disguise, whereby the individual extends from a state of contemplative prayer to an inability to pray. It is this purgatory, a purgation of the soul, that brings purity and union with God. Such blessings cannot be perceived while the soul suffers this “night.” Thus, the Dark Night of the Soul is experienced as a severe test of one’s faith that leads to deeper understanding and greater love.”
i don’t have any more doubts about the LORD… anymore than i can see the sun shining in the sky… any more than i can see the reflection of the moon… anymore than i can see the great complexity and variation of life forms on our small planet. we all have to answer that question for ourselves and perhaps our very existence here is a gift from the LORD to enable us to solve that question to our own satisfaction.
i wish you well on your journey towards the light of understanding for without that we cannot see.
may you be blessed.
one final thought that i have been taught…
“When the student is ready the Teacher will appear.”
i am a fellow student in this reality called life… Job 36:22, 8:9
best wishes and warm regards always!
I’m a christian & who said Aristotle’s thesis is hypothetical? I want ther number NOW!!
I really like your Avatar – but onto your question. It’s a great question, but I’m afraid that I don’t have the facility to answer as clearly as I’m sure you would like because it’s about feeling, and there’s no real vocabulary good enough to describe.
I will say this: I’ve never seen an angel, but I’ve felt non-physical presence in my life – many times. I don’t think I have “contact’ with the metaphysical realm, but I do believe it exists in a different kind of “space” and is not only closer than we think, it’s within us as well.
I don’t personally have any doubts. My life is a series of proof for me. But I cannot deny that the possibility exists that this is of my own (phsycological) making. And if it is – so be it. I love my connection to spirit – so if it’s fake, call me crazy and that’s just fine.
And you are right – it makes perfect sense for Athseists to reject all of this if they’ve had no personal experience to back it up. But I don’t believe God punishes people for using their brains and coming to the conclusion that makes the most sense for them. I think God is proud of them for making the choices that are right for them (Sounds a little weird – I know).
Lastly, what I appreciate is questions and dialogue like the one you’ve started here. What I dislike are:
– The few Atheists who feel it necessary to call me stupid because I don’t agree with their fact finding – it just doesn’t work in MY life – but more power to them
– ANd the Theists who run around telling people they are going to hell for not believing. God gave us free will to choose – honor God’s decision to do just that.
Thanks for your question. Have a great day!