Question (and debate).

[Veritas]

So I'd like to start off by saying I'm a Roman Catholic who has a question concerning Atheism.

Why is Atheism so "reasonable" compared to Catholicism?

Atheists always seem to pride themselves on this and Im basically asking you to go through my religion and tell me why it's "unreasonable".

Debate is welcome,but please avoid malice and vehemency.

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[Stubby]

Hi Veritas.

In what sense are you using reasonable and unreasonable?

Also, when you say:

Atheists always seem to pride themselves on this...

have you got some examples?

[Veritas]

What do you guys think of them? (catholic here,by the way) I'd like to know the Atheist refute to them.

[ABridgeTooFar]

Originally Posted by Veritas

Why is Atheism so "reasonable" compared to Catholicism?

Hi and welcome.

Religion is based on unsubstantiated claims (ie: All those concerning the supernatural).

Atheism is the lack of belief in a Deity/Gods. The only claim being made (by some) is that there is no good reason or evidence to believe in a Deity. Unless substantial evidence can be provided to prove the existence of any God, this stance is reasonable and logical. Compared to the theist stance of making illogical claims about magic.

[Veritas]

@abridgetofar: I understand your claim in a sense,however, i'd like to ask you this:

How likely is it that the universe has an infinite regressing set of causes? Basically,what made the universe, if not God? The big bang? What caused that? At one point there must have been an unmoved mover,being God.

[ABridgeTooFar]

Originally Posted by Veritas

At one point there must have been an unmoved mover,being God.

This is the kind of unsubstantiated claim i'm talking about. We don't know what started the universe, and i don't claim to know. If you want to claim to know how it started, provide evidence for it.

Your basically saying that because everything needs a cause (when that is another unsubstantiated claim), we can attribute the first cause to magic and call it whatever supernatural fantasy appeals to you best, in this case a "God".

Would you like to outline the properties of this God?

[davo]

Originally Posted by Veritas

How likely is it that the universe has an infinite regressing set of causes? Basically,what made the universe, if not God? The big bang? What caused that? At one point there must have been an unmoved mover,being God.

Why could the universe have not always existed?

Remember, the universe is simply a set. A set of all things.

Why would a first cause have to be an intelligent thing? There is a difference between claiming a god, and the possibility of a first cause that is simple, rather than highly complex as defined by the term 'god'.

What process have you used to discount a simple force?

[Goldenmane]

Originally Posted by Veritas

@abridgetofar: I understand your claim in a sense,however, i'd like to ask you this:

How likely is it that the universe has an infinite regressing set of causes? Basically,what made the universe, if not God? The big bang? What caused that? At one point there must have been an unmoved mover,being God.

Why? What are the properties of this God?

Have you been listening to William Lane Craig?

[Centauri]

Originally Posted by Veritas

At one point there must have been an unmoved mover,being God.

Why? And why does it have to be 'God'? It could be something nobody has ever though of. Or it could be nothing.

And why does it have to be your God? Why not the God of the Indians? Or the God of the Chinese? Or the God of the Arabs?

By saying "there must have been an unmoved mover,being God.", you make an extraodinary assumption in that it was "being God". What proof do you have of this? And I can make an educated guess as to what you're going to say next - but remember, belief isn't truth.