Q&A: Volume 2
Whats up guys! I am not much of a blogger but my bro gave me this blog and said it is a good discussion. I have a question for both you. Anytime anyone debates the existence of God, you are inevitebly engaging in a discussion about epistemology (the nature and conditions of knowledge, ie. how we know what we know). So besides bare claims on both sides, I was wondering first IF both of you claim to have knowledge of your position and if you do, by what means to you use to come to your conclusions. Justin, what method did you use to come to your conclusion that “There is no God”, and Anthony, what method did you use to come to your conclusion that there is one?
Church. To be more exact churches. I have been to and a part of many growing up. Most of which were on my own. When I was little I went to a Christian Scientist church. My dad’s side of the family is Christian Scientist and I would go to Sunday school with my aunt and uncle ( my age… long story ) and my step grandmother ( part of the long story ) would lead all the kids in prayer etc. It is similar to what I am sure most little kids do in church. We learned bible stories etc. One of the most prominent aspects of being a Christian Scientist is that you don’t go to the doctor. No doctor, no dentist, no emergency room, nothing. When my father was young he and his brother were hit by a car. My father was flipped on to the sidewalk and cracked his head open. Now the “normal” way to handle this sort of thing would be to call for an ambulance and send the injured folk to an emergency room. Instead my father was taken home and his parents called over a practitioner and together they prayed over my fathers head. According to legend the next day my father was all better and wanted to go to school. Well fuck me sideways! What a miracle! For some reason though my father was never into church or being religious. I have always gone to the doctor. This is perhaps the earliest time in my life where I questioned religion. Why not go to the doctor? I’m fine.
For many years growing up I didn’t live near the church so I didn’t go. The only time religion was brought up was at christmas when we prayed over glazed ham. In 7th grade I was introduced to a Lutheran confimation class. It was run by my new step mothers step father who was the pastor of a nearby church. I went to church every Sunday and to Youth Group every week for the next 6 years. The people were great people. My step… step grandfather is a great pastor. Nothing showed me a God.
Time and experience has shown how fickle belief in God is. The only logical conclusion to draw is that there is no God.
Justin
