either/or

It matters very much if you believe in an afterlife, which pretty much covers every major religion. It trumps every petty, here today, gone tomorrow, little thing you can be concerned about in this short, blip of an existance.

True. It does not matter to me. I would live my life the same way whether god exists or not.

If you are going to prove "god" exists, you need, well ... proof. How you decide how that proof manifests and can be measured is the definition... Therefore you need that clear definition of what "god" actually is in order to prove anything about it's existence, or lack thereof.

...(h)owever, your definition as explained basically then ruled out whether it existed or not as philosophically irrelevant to you unless it fit your "must exist" definition. Faulty logic, I'm sorry. That definition does not permit the ability to prove anything.

...(i)n the grand scheme of the cosmos we are no more important than a tree or a dolphin or swamp gas. Only human arrogance purports that we are. I would presume (and I admit it's a presumption!) that there are far more interesting things out there than us to occupy a deity's attention. Our civilization will be destroyed when our sun goes nova, so will everything else on this little blue planet we call Earth.

Unless, of course, we find a way to go hang out in some other solar system very very very far away. Maybe the one where they make rocking martinis, that would be cool.

Again, your definition rules out whether god exists as irrelevant unless it fits your "must exist" definition. It contradicts the very question you originally posit!

Perhaps the more important question is, why does it matter if there's a god or not?

...It does not matter to me. I would live my life the same way whether god exists or not.

Exactly!

you bring up some very interesting points that i would eventually like to get back to. but for right now...

this is what i would like to consider next. does it make any moral difference- to me, to us- if there is or is not a god? WW got here ahead of me followed by AK...

does it really make no difference in how you live your life if there is no god- or no god to whom we are accountable? would we still have the same sense of moral responsibilities? the same sense of right and wrong?

Would we still have the same sense of moral responsibilities? the same sense of right and wrong?

See, where I don't believe in a deity, I do think some need to. Unfortunately some people need the guidance, the assumed forgiveness, and/or the ultimate consequences to control themselves.

...I get why some people need that assurance and guideline. Some just do....

I think many husbands need a weekly reminder (church) or more (men's church group) in order not to cheat or otherwise mistreat their wives. Those men should be encouraged to join a congregation as soon as possible because it does work. I have seen unbelievable turnarounds after conversion...

i am trying hard to remember where you fall on this issue. i seem to remember that you are neither spiritual or religious. do correct me if i am wrong.

but if i am right, who determines that "cheating" is wrong?

i am trying hard to remember where you fall on this issue. i seem to remember that you are neither spiritual or religious. do correct me if i am wrong.

but if i am right, who determines that "cheating" is wrong?