• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Chuck the god(s)

Can you find evidence for a non-existant thing

  • Yes? Explain your logic

    Votes: 3 33.3%
  • No? Explain your logic

    Votes: 6 66.7%

  • Total voters
    9

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Does it make sense and can you find evidence for something that does not exist?

A philosophical question. Short. As is. Has no christian objectives.

Edit.

Sorry. This just came to my attention. Background:

"To chuck something" is an English idiom that means to disregard something or an idea. Chuck it/disregard it/ dont bother with it.

I didnt want the question to be around god(s) because that is a different path of question and answer Im not looking for in my OP.
 
Last edited:

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
Something that does not exist, can only exist in the imagination. I think its true that from imagination you can conceive of things that dont exist, and live them out, thus creating an existence of them in your world. I guess thats more than obvious though. Charlie Brown for example, or the idea of mercy. I think both examples are worthwhile. Of course the idea of mercy goes hand in hand with genuine repentance; not in a religious sense, but purely conceptual.

For many people God exists, and they create the reality of how they interpret that God to be. Its possible they have a faulty god, and then they filter the world through their picture. So the God manifests itself though only a phantom.
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
If something doesn't exist then it doesn't exist.

How can you know for certain that God doesn't exist?
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Something that does not exist, can only exist in the imagination. I think its true that from imagination you can conceive of things that dont exist, and live them out, thus creating an existence of them in your world. I guess thats more than obvious though. Charlie Brown for example, or the idea of mercy. I think both examples are worthwhile. Of course the idea of mercy goes hand in hand with genuine repentance; not in a religious sense, but purely conceptual.

For many people God exists, and they create the reality of how they interpret that God to be. Its possible they have a faulty god, and then they filter the world through their picture. So the God manifests itself though only a phantom.

The former part, I can see that. Authors create realistic characters all the time. I wouldnt know if there is a balance between whats imaginary and whats not. I dont know anyone who lives strictly in an imaginary world.
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
Dont know about god(s); chuck that. If something doesnt exist what would motivate a person to look into it otherwise?

Like the lost treasure I think that's buried in my back garden because the fairies whispered into my ear? It could find ten million dollars worth of gold and not have to work again. That's pretty motivating.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Like the lost treasure I think that's buried in my back garden because the fairies whispered into my ear? It could find ten million dollars worth of gold and not have to work again. That's pretty motivating.

Seriously?

I dont know. I love and have a passion for reading. I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and in the middle of The Idiot. I hoped there was no such thing as Chateau d'if; but, surprisingly, a RF member visit there. Its a good novel if you like reading. Neverending Story sounds promising.

Though, people in reality (outside the never ending story) do find motivation to look for something unknown to exist. Maybe if there is a logic reason behind it, it would help learn more about the human mind and motivation.

Hence why its more of a theological question rather than religious debates.
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
Seriously?

I dont know. I love and have a passion for reading. I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and in the middle of The Idiot. I hoped there was no such thing as Chateau d'if; but, surprisingly, a RF member visit there. Its a good novel if you like reading. Neverending Story sounds promising.

Though, people in reality (outside the never ending story) do find motivation to look for something unknown to exist. Maybe if there is a logic reason behind it, it would help learn more about the human mind and motivation.

Hence why its more of a theological question rather than religious debates.

Many of us chase dreams and hopes in life that may never be realised. Generally we want things to be better for ourselves or others. Religion offers both.

Finding happiness with the perfect partner, latest medicine, right job, or achieving financial goals are credible alternatives.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Its moreso hope that one would get the promotion that drives the person?

Im not really a dreamer and hope person. My experiences with "not knowing" gave me reason not to expect what hasnt happened yet. A week ago I was fine and two days ago, I stayed in the house only to find mid day I cant walk, lift my head, and just barely called 911 with the strength I had left.

Many people plan their day, but when I plan too far ahead, it usually goes off. So, religions that look "towards" something I never got. Regardless the god(s) part, since thats not in my line of thinking when talking about life, outside RF, its interesting to wonder.

Im sure this applies to most people regardless ones belief or worldview.

Edit.
 
Last edited:

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
The former part, I can see that. Authors create realistic characters all the time. I wouldnt know if there is a balance between whats imaginary and whats not. I dont know anyone who lives strictly in an imaginary world.


That would be very unhealthy to live in that way. Shared imagination probably healthier. We all try to create meaning in our lives. But to be all alone with it, thats sad.
 

David T

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Does it make sense and can you find evidence for something that does not exist?

A philosophical question. Short. As is. Has no christian objectives.
Does fiction exist?
Does it make sense and can you find evidence for something that does not exist?

A philosophical question. Short. As is. Has no christian objectives.
Does fiction exist? I don't have a factual answer to that. Which is a bit wierd for me. Lol
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
Does it make sense and can you find evidence for something that does not exist?

A philosophical question. Short. As is. Has no christian objectives.
If it’s a ‘non-existent’ thing, that means it doesn’t exist. So, no. But an ‘invisible’ thing?

How about carbon monoxide?

He-he.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Does it make sense and can you find evidence for something that does not exist?

A philosophical question. Short. As is. Has no christian objectives.
Evidence? Yes, of course. Otherwise, people wouldn’t be able to justify conclusions like “we’re out of milk” or “this species is extinct” or “the sky is completely clear today.”

I’ve noticed that people who make outrageous claims about how we can’t have evidence for the non-existence of things when we’re debating whether their god exists have absolutely no issue with inferring the non-existence of things in every other area of their life.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Does it make sense and can you find evidence for something that does not exist?

A philosophical question. Short. As is. Has no christian objectives.
Wait - I think I misunderstood you. Are you asking if there can be evidence that something is true when it’s actually false?

If so, my answer is still the same (“yes, of course”) but my rationale is different.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Wait - I think I misunderstood you. Are you asking if there can be evidence that something is true when it’s actually false?

If so, my answer is still the same (“yes, of course”) but my rationale is different.

Its. If something does not exist, can you find evidence for it?
(And what is behind the motivation to do so?) Does it maks sense to you to believe and do such a thing?

Its a what-if questions; so, whether its true or not isnt the question.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Its. If something does not exist, can you find evidence for it?
(And what is behind the motivation to do so?) Does it maks sense to you to believe and do such a thing?
I'm still not sure what you mean. When you say "can you find evidence for it," does the "it" refer to the something or to the fact that the something doesn't exist?
 

HonestJoe

Well-Known Member
Does it make sense and can you find evidence for something that does not exist?
I’d say sort of. You can find evidence that you incorrectly interpret (possibly reasonably) as indicating the thing exists when it doesn’t. Evidence itself can also be flawed, corrupted or manufactured so as to present a false conclusion. You can also take incomplete evidence and reach a conclusion on what appears most likely but turns out to be incorrect.

Evidence itself can’t be wrong by definition, it is literally the consequences of the real cause. The errors only come in when we try to observe and interpret it.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I'm still not sure what you mean. When you say "can you find evidence for it," does the "it" refer to the something or to the fact that the something doesn't exist?

The, it, part, its english grammar. It uses the word it to refer to an objective even though the object isnt described. Cant think of a good word. Placeholder?

If there is nothing that exists, can you fine evidence for it?

If yes or no, what would motivate a person to find evidence for anything non-existant.

Im using Nothing and Something is an invisible "object" to properly phrase the question. In itself, there is a Nothing or Something.

Its not coming to mind how to explain it.
 
Last edited:

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I’d say sort of. You can find evidence that you incorrectly interpret (possibly reasonably) as indicating the thing exists when it doesn’t. Evidence itself can also be flawed, corrupted or manufactured so as to present a false conclusion. You can also take incomplete evidence and reach a conclusion on what appears most likely but turns out to be incorrect.

Evidence itself can’t be wrong by definition, it is literally the consequences of the real cause. The errors only come in when we try to observe and interpret it.

What would the incorrect evidence be based on, though?

If something does not exist, by what criteria do you use to find the evidence and correct it if its wrong?
 
Top