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From: david@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Norris)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.religion
Subject: evidence for the non-existence of God
Message-ID: <892@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 15-Mar-84 12:37:59 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.892
Posted: Thu Mar 15 12:37:59 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Mar-84 02:42:22 EST
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 27

[=<{!(*)!}>=]
Tim Stoehr writes:

> I agree, one cannot prove the non-existence of God, nor can one prove
> the non-existence of dragons, witches, vampires, tooth-fairies or
> Santa Claus.  Would you consider me a logical person if I believed
> that all of the above existed?  The real question is then "Why should
> anyone believe in the existence of God any more than in the existence
> of Santa Claus[e]?"  The only reason I can think of is the fact that
> one's parents (and others) are more persistent in TELLING one that God
> exists than in telling one that Santa Claus exists, despite all
> evidence pointing to the non-existence of both.

I'll bite.  If, indeed, the only reason anyone believes in God is that others
are persistent in telling them God exists, I would think that Christianity
would have died out a long time ago.  Many people are stupid, but not that
stupid.  They usually require *some* shred of evidence besides a lot of
verbiage;  else, we have no way to account for those devout atheists who, after
serious study, become Christians.  What do you suppose convinced them? 

I am interested in hearing "all evidence pointing to the non-existence" of
God.  And, let's move this discussion to net.religion.  You will find support
for your discussion there, as well as some armchair Christian apologeticians.

	-- David Norris        :-)
	-- uw-beaver!ssc-vax!david