God Probably Doesn't Exist

Thanks Pro, here is my defense. Defense to Rebuttal of Contention One: Simultaneous causation has never been observed, it is only a theory, originally proposed by Stephen Hawking, [1] who claimed time never existed before the Big Bang, which, (If the theory held any weight [2]) would be true. Yet Stephen Hawking is not even sure if the Big Bang occurred. (See quote in my opening argument) The argument that A caused B which caused C which caused A is obviously circular, and therefore self-refuting. Retrocausality is purely a hypothetical mind exercise for philosophers. "Retrocausality is primarily a thought experiment in philosophy of science based on elements of physics, addressing the question: Can the future affect the present, and can the present affect the past?"[3] You also said that it has been demonstrated to exist, which neither of those references backed up. Even if such a thing could exist, it is not observable, because we cannot go back in time. Therefore, it is really a useless citation. You claim, "There is something else deeply wrong with trying to derive attributes of some transcendent cause. It assumes the experience you have in this universe extends to the transcendent cause. However, there is no reason for this assumption." This can be turned back on you. If this is the case, there is something "deeply wrong" with trying to derive attributes of a natural cause. For no one has actually experienced the past, yet we know there was a cause. Therefore, since we have no experience or knowledge of the past it "...makes it wrong to to calculate the probability or assert what it is." Defense to Rebuttal of Contention Two: I believe Pro has missed the entire point of this contention. My assertion was that each of us has a conscience. Which is defined, "the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong "[4] It is innate as it has been viewed in children, animals do not have it. Pro set up a pretty straw man, which he quite nicely destroyed, but his attack was not at my assertion, but at good and bad in general. Defense to Rebuttal of Contention Three: When has destruction and chaos produced order? Why are there repeatable patterns in the world around us? Why is gravity present? Why does life exist on this planet and not on any other known planet? Why do humans have the ability to consciously do good or evil? Science cannot explain any of these things, it can only observe and interpret them. A higher force, (God) is required to make all of these things run. Something had to put everything into motion, and science cannot explain what without assumptions. Yet the Bible has the clearest account of origins, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."[5] To have a universe without God is like having a building without a constructor, it is impossible. Conclusion: Great debate n7, thank you for allowing me to take you on. Great arguments, yet they can all be deconstructed, and exposed. Thanks to anyone who read this debate and thought about the big issues. Great debate n7, thank you for remaining professional and not going into name-calling and the like. Adeo ut mox publicis! [1] http://www.apologeticspress.org... [2] http://www.answersingenesis.org... [3] http://en.wikipedia.org... [4] http://www.merriam-webster.com... [5] http://www.biblegateway.com...