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Atheists, Who Is the Most Powerful Being in Existence?

Mindmaster

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Because at least one atheist thinks that theists think God is the most powerful being in existence.

So atheists? Who is the most powerful being in existence? Why do you believe this?

Many atheists believe that something created the universe they just don't think it's an anthropomorphic sky daddy.
 

QuestioningMind

Well-Known Member
Because at least one atheist thinks that theists think God is the most powerful being in existence.

So atheists? Who is the most powerful being in existence? Why do you believe this?

Powerful in what respect? If you're talking raw physical power, probably the largest blue whale currently alive. If you're talking power to survive over the long haul... probably some microorganism.

I'd be interested to know, how many theists out there believe that there's an entity MORE powerful than their god? If so, why aren't you defining this more powerful entity as god?
 

Darkforbid

Well-Known Member
They're not? :eek:

'A being is any living creature, from a person to a bug. Being also refers to the state of existing. "To be, or not to be" — that is the question when you're talking about being. Things that exist are in a state of being: this meaning of being is a little vague, but it has to do with the way things are alive and real.'

According to the Google dictionary
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Powerful in what respect? If you're talking raw physical power, probably the largest blue whale currently alive. If you're talking power to survive over the long haul... probably some microorganism.

I answered this in post #19 of this thread. I should probably link that post to the OP.

I'd be interested to know, how many theists out there believe that there's an entity MORE powerful than their god? If so, why aren't you defining this more powerful entity as god?

I can't really speak for others, but I don't view my "god" concept to be powerful. I really never wrapped my head around the reason for the correlation of God to power.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
'A being is any living creature, from a person to a bug. Being also refers to the state of existing. "To be, or not to be" — that is the question when you're talking about being. Things that exist are in a state of being: this meaning of being is a little vague, but it has to do with the way things are alive and real.'

According to the Google dictionary

I gave the working definition for the purpose of this thread in post #19 (linked in my previous post).
 

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
Although not an atheist, I'm darn close to being one, so I'll toss in my two cents. Right now I think President Donald J. Trump is the most powerful being in existence. Why? Because he's screwing up the world like no other person ever has before him.

.
What can I do to help tip you over that edge into atheism?

But really, all power is situational -- it comes and goes with the turn of events. Yes, while you've got power, you may well do great good or great damage, but you won't keep it long, and somebody else will come along and either undo what you've done, or enhance it.
 

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
Many atheists believe that something created the universe they just don't think it's an anthropomorphic sky daddy.
I actually don't think that's quite right -- at least it's not for me. The problem centers on that word "created." The easiest and most comfortable atheist position is that "existence just is." It didn't require creation.
 
Who is the most powerful being in existence?

Matt+Hunter+Chuck+Norris.jpg

Why do you believe this?

Matt+Hunter+Chuck+Norris.jpg
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Because at least one atheist thinks that theists think God is the most powerful being in existence.

So atheists? Who is the most powerful being in existence? Why do you believe this?


ETA: A few poster ITT asked me to define the terms "powerful" and "being." The definitions for the purpose of this thread are presented here.

I could give you a 'funny' answer, but if I'm going all serious-face on this, the question simply doesn't make sense to me.
I don't envisage a situation where there is a single 'being' that is substantially and objectively more powerful than all other beings.
 

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
Because at least one atheist thinks that theists think God is the most powerful being in existence.

So atheists? Who is the most powerful being in existence? Why do you believe this?


ETA: A few poster ITT asked me to define the terms "powerful" and "being." The definitions for the purpose of this thread are presented here.


I am, because with love all things exist.

The understanding with which I see love is the same with which love sees me. My understanding and love's understanding is one understanding, and one sight, and one knowing, and one Spirit. - meister eckhart.


The man who abides in the will of God wills nothing else than what God is, and what He wills. - meister eckhart.
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
For the purpose of this thread, "more or less powerful" is the degree of ability with which to possess authority, influence, or control over that which exists.

'Most' would obviously mean greatest in quantity, extent, or degree.

But that is ambiguous. So, I might have a great deal of power in one way and someone else a great deal in another way. Both of us may be local maxima, but there may not be a *most* that is above both of us in power.

Authority is a social construct. Influence is a social construct. Control is a mixture of one's ability and one's social connections.

But, for example, a person who is physically strong is able to influence some things, while someone who is eloquent can influence others. Which is more powerful?

Once again, how do you put the power different beings have into an order? How do you say one is more powerful than another unambiguously?

Let's use that which has conscious existence. And preemptively, we will define 'conscious' as having awareness.

In which case I have no idea. Are whales conscious? Probably. And they are probably physically the strongest beings on Earth. But if you want most social influence among humans, we have a completely different question.

On the other hand, like I said, I have no idea whether there are beings on other planets. If there are, I have no idea what their abilities might be and how they would compare to the beings on Earth. Are they more or less powerful then we are? I have no idea.

Also, it is quite possible, even if you define 'powerful' in a precise enough way to define 'more powerful' and 'less powerful' unambiguously and in a way that can be linearly ordered (for every pair, a larger and a smaller can be chosen), there is also the issue that the differences between the top powerful beings are so small that the largest changes from moment to moment.

So, perhaps the most powerful being is some individual in a very strong, very smart, very social species that is able to inspire others to create technology that affects the dynamics of stars. Such an individual would be more powerful than any human.

Do I know if such a being exists? Not at all.
 

Samantha Rinne

Resident Genderfluid Writer/Artist
Because at least one atheist thinks that theists think God is the most powerful being in existence.

So atheists? Who is the most powerful being in existence? Why do you believe this?

In strong atheistic states, classically, authority is god. That is to say, because atheists believe that because there is no afterlife, that the one they ought to fear the most is political and military force (followed by celebrity).

Or as one church road sign put it, "When you kneel before God, you can stand before any man."
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
I think most atheists don't think there was a conscious being that created the universe. Instead, it was some unconscious process that formed (not created) it.

Why the assumption that whatever formed it is unconscious? Isn’t it equally possible that whatever formed the universe could have been conscious or unconscious?

How do you know that it isn’t you that’s forming the universe in your own consciousness?
 

Darkforbid

Well-Known Member
Mindmaster
I think most atheists don't think there was a conscious being that created the universe. Instead, it was some unconscious process that formed (not created) it.

Yep, if atheists started claiming the universe was created how would it differ from theism
 
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