Originally Posted by
logroller
I didn't ask for your definition of God; I asked how your argument would change if God were omitted. You can believe whatever you so choose; don't think climate change is an issue, I don't care. It's not much of issue for me either. What is an issue to me is the vast amount of energy we have consumed, and continue to consume. You think godless Africans use the amount of energy you or I do? I assure you, they do not. And if climate change is a natural phenomenon, and mankind plays little role in its progression, then the only thing we can do is adapt as it progresses. In order to do this, we wil need to conserve resources to effectuate our survival. (I.e.:heavenly salvation) Climate change proponents understand this, and some recognize that many people will not take the necessary precautions unless some evil outcome is forlorned. Eg: hell. Religion effectuates the same sort of manipulation of social behavior. Reason is wholly at the source of mankind's behavior, preying upon irrationality is just a far more effective mechanism. Why we concern ourselves with concepts devoid of reason is beyond me. I love the bumper sticker, "if you live your life like there is no God, you'd better be right." wtf is that supposed to mean? i cant lead a good life based upon my own reasons for doing so, or there's less of an incentive to do good if hell isn't? As though my believing in God's existence is the determinant of my behavior. dont get me wrong, if religion helps you to share and influence and be influeced by others in the furthemnt of goodness, good on you; inwoild think the ooof is in the pudding though, not the recipe.
Who cares what was before time, it doesn't make a difference, does it? Purely an intellectual exercise without any possible real life application. I don't believe in God per se, but according to your definition above, I too find it useful to explain things where people reject the concept that we cannot answer everything. But to me, its an exercise not unlike that of a placating a child who consistently asks 'why'. because God, thats why. So He, God, Allah, Buddha, etc. are all just tools to content us of our wary ignorance. Nothing that God explains Is truly explained; its just excused. Bertrand Russell once said, "What men really want is not knowledge but certainty."