The definition of atheism

When it's logically impossible for something to exist and not leave a certain evidence, and we don't find that evidence in the place where it's logically impossible for it to exist and not be, we know that something doesn't exist.For instance we can know the Christian god doesn't exist because it would be impossible for that God to exist and not leave certain evidence; since we know the evidence wasn't left we know that God doesn't exist. A benevolent and omnipotent god logically can't be present in the universe that we observe.Can I know that all possible gods don't exist? No, I can't, which is why I'm an agnostic atheist. But the existence of any gods described as "benevolent" and "omnipotent" can't logically be consistent with the world as we observe it, at least not if we're going to grant that words have any meaning at all.The only gods that can exist are useless ones, so I don't waste my time, especially since there's nothing I could know about them. For some gods, we can know that they don't exist. For others no knowledge about their status or nature is possible. Neither one of those are a legitimate basis to even propose that we can know that gods exist. Hence, atheism - no belief in any gods. Nonsense. If John Kerry, Andrew Sullivan and the new Pope can all be Catholics, then there's no predictive value to knowing that someone is a Catholic. Who am I to judge your religious experience? If you say you're a Catholic, who am I to argue? The Pope might disagree but who is he to define who is Catholic and who is not?

It's more like the difference between having an empty hand and having no hand.

His constant intersession for good among his believers, for one. Those are just words, though. You, John Kerry, Andrew Sullivan, and the pontif's college of theologians all have different interpretations of that same statement of belief. And not everybody who says they're Catholic cleaves to those beliefs. I'm sorry, but it isn't. It's a recognition that, if words have meaning, the words used to describe the Christian God describe a god that can't possibly exist in the world as we observe it. Again, not always.

Well, grab a dictionary. No, you still don't understand. It's not that I don't see how it could be possible. It's that I do see that it's impossible, thus, this is not an argument from incredulity.

God.Get a dictionary.Look up the word "intercede". Inflect it as gerund, and ignore the fact that I spelled it with an "s" instead of a "c".Does it make sense, now? Next time you don't understand a phrase that's perfect plain english, you're going to have to do better than "duh, I don't get it" if you expect a meaningful response from me. I can't read your mind and find out which words you don't understand. Nonsense, unless words have no meaning. Do words have meaning, CS?

Of course you don't see it; he doesn't do it. Because he doesn't exist as described by the Christian religion.Which was the whole point. What's the problem here? No, a god could have them. The gods that exist, if any, clearly do not possess both of these qualities, because otherwise we would see a constant intercession for good, the good of their believers, at least.Let's try it another way. Does Bill have a lawn-omnipotence (does he have the ability to mow his lawn and a lawn mower to do it) and lawn-benevolence (does he have the intention of mowing his lawn)? Well, when we look at his lawn and see that it's an overgrown thicket, we know that Bill does not possess those qualities as we have described him. He either lacks the power or lacks the will.

quote:

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Main Entry: intercede
Pronunciation: "in-t&r-'sEd
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -ceded; -ceding
Etymology: Latin intercedere, from inter- + cedere to go
: to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences : MEDIATE
synonym see INTERPOSE
- interceder noun

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Yes. If God existed, he would be interceding to do good and prevent evil, for either everyone or his followers, constantly and in every case. Then he has no intention of mowing it, now does he? If God wants it to be an evil world then God is not benevolent, unless words have no meaning. Thus, a benevolent God does not exist. Just as Bill and I are both endowed with the same ability to determine when a lawn is mowed and when it is not, so too are God and I endowed with the same ability to determine good from evil. It says so in Genesis. No matter how subjective good and evil may be both God and I are using the same standard so your objection is meaningless.