how should one respond to a statement that the only 'proof' of existence is in a book

that requires an agreement that it is the only proof,,, people look for proof in different places

the bible is MANY different books combined into one,, so its not really just proof in 'one book',,,there are different perspectives told by different people, and in different time periods

there is the constant reiteration of others about their experiences with God

its just a matter of believing what we are told or not, applying it in life, seeing if it seems to make sense and hold true,,


most of what we learn we havent learned it from a direct experience in validating its truth,, we have learned it from books whose authors knowledge and integrity are trusted,,,


I dont know that columbus existed, I know his name has been written in books and stories imply he is real

if I do feel he existed, I dont have proof he did what he is alleged to have done because its only in 'a book' ,,,,,,,but, yet, I believe he was a real man and really did (At least some of) what he is claimed to have done

'proof' is a different standard for everyone,, most of it doesnt involve us seeing things firsthand and for ourself,,,until the suggestion is put in our head for what we see and experience to MATCH UP With at a later time,,,

You have Free Will,but you had better do what I tell you to do,or I'll Burn Your Arse!

lol,, is it not true?

how long before they had 'proof' the world wasnt flat?

didnt make it any less true though,,,,


im a little out of practice on the organ,, perhaps vocal lessons though,,,

This is the other problem with religion, and in this case the Bible, and it goes along with the infallibility thing spoken of earlier. You CANNOT challenge it! If people ever try, it's always twisted by believers as our own failure to understand the thing like above, it's never ever ever that MAYBE what we are being told is wrong or incorrect.

Now how are you supposed to have an objective debate about the validity of something when whenever one comes up with an argument that is the response? You can't do it, the whole thing is rigged to make you look bad unless you agree with them. That is a biased system looking to support itself, not the actual truth.

What exactly are religious people afraid of? If the Bible is right as they say, if what they believe is right, then certainly the facts will prove it right? So what is the need to place the blame always on the questioner instead of the thing being questioned? Afraid of being wrong?

I think that's what it comes down to to me, they don't wanna be wrong so they shift the focus on the one making the argument instead, or even try to make excuses for the bad behavior done by their God or in the name of their God.

Catholics even have a term for this, they call it apologetics, which is basically another form of saying apology. If something is good and right it need not be apologized for. That a religion would feel the need to have a term that basically means just that, trying to justify their behavior somehow, says a lot about it.

So yeah bottom line is, you cannot have an honest discussion about this if every single time someone challenges it, you make the issue about them and not about what they are trying to argue against. You want truth? Then you'll follow it wherever it leads, even if it means you were wrong. Anything else just indicates you wanna cling to what you believe no matter what evidence is shown otherwise.

Right, we get it. You think people who believe in a creator are stupid and hear voices in their head.

We forgive you for your arrogance.

That is not the point. The point is, you can't just choose to believe in something.

You could no more believe in a deity than you could in an invisible fluffy puppy.

You can't choose what you believe.

You either have a reason to believe or not.

You apparently have no reason to believe. So you don't.

That's very simple.

I keep up fine with what FACTS and EVIDENCE are scientifically, and I keep up fine with knowing that all the scientific evidence in the world cant prove a NEGATIVE ,,,

it isnt proven that all the things science discovers didnt have a design that was created,,,,and it never will be,,,,

I don't agree that people can choose to believe what they want. You can imagine an invisible fluffy puppy that floats on a white fluffy cloud below the firmament, but you can't make yourself 'believe' it exists without some reason or evidence to support that belief.

You can "say" you believe it, but that is just a lie.

But to really believe it, is not that simple.

there is no physical evidence pointing anymore to it all being coincidence than there is it being designed,,,,

Do you know the function of a black hole?

yes, even the dull minded can have faith,,,and Gods grace
its not earned with mans tests, or diplomas,,,,,,



and people can believe in the cycle of life being a big cosmic coincidence too,,,

its all relative,,,,