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Do atheists believe in magnetism?

Truth in love

Truth in love

Well-Known Member
A common sentiment from atheists is that they won’t believe in things that can’t be shown.

We cannot see it, we can’t touch it. In the case of electromagnetic devices it is not always there. Yet one can observe its effects being inline with a given theory.

So is it believed in?
 
Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
Truth in love said:
A common sentiment from atheists is that they won’t believe in things that can’t be shown.

We cannot see it, we can’t touch it. In the case of electromagnetic devices it is not always there. Yet one can observe its effects being inline with a given theory.

So is it believed in?
Click to expand...
Hogwash. Magnetism is perfect visible and demonstrable to exist.
We can't see it with our naked eye, of course, but that's a lot of stuff including all electromagnetic waves below and above the visible (to humans) color spectrum, which ranges from red to violet. Infrared we can't see, ultraviolet we can't see, we can't see below or above them, but they still exist and we can demonstrate they exist. Such as wifi. That operates far below the visible spectrum.
images
 
The Hammer

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Truth in love said:
A common sentiment from atheists is that they won’t believe in things that can’t be shown.

We cannot see it, we can’t touch it. In the case of electromagnetic devices it is not always there. Yet one can observe its effects being inline with a given theory.

So is it believed in?
Click to expand...

We can model it mathematically though. Which is a much easier hurdle then mathematically showing a God exists.
 
Truth in love

Truth in love

Well-Known Member
Viker said:
Magnetism can be demonstrated repeatedly. It's results consistent with it's theory. It doesn't require belief, in the sense you are aiming for, and definitely does not require faith.
Click to expand...
What is different?
When set conditions are met an electromagnet exerts an invisible power to impact life as we know it. This is widely accepted, but God communicating or helping man is not???
 
Sheldon

Sheldon

Veteran Member
Truth in love said:
A common sentiment from atheists is that they won’t believe in things that can’t be shown.
Click to expand...

I am an atheist, I have never made this claim.

We cannot see it, we can’t touch it. In the case of electromagnetic devices it is not always there. Yet one can observe its effects being inline with a given theory.
Click to expand...

Observe and evidence the effects, its effects are also testable, and of course falsifiable, and can of course be accurately defined and explained, all in stark contrast to any deity.
 
F

F1fan

Veteran Member
Truth in love said:
What is different?
When set conditions are met an electromagnet exerts an invisible power to impact life as we know it. This is widely accepted, but God communicating or helping man is not???
Click to expand...
This is what this thread is really about, a God that can't be detected unlike magnetism. It is not an equal comparison. We can test magnets and anybody can see for themselves it is real and has real effects and causes. There is no God test. At least there is no God test that has ever worked. That is why atheists reject claims about Gods existing and acting on the world, but can verify that magnetism is real.
 
Viker

Viker

Häxan
Truth in love said:
but God communicating or helping man is not???
Click to expand...
Because this can't be consistently repeated by independent observers it does not operate like scientific theory and application or even magnets.

If I called on your god hundreds of times (I actually did as a child) and got no results either your god does not exist or is not actively involved with certain individuals.

If I do an experiment with magnetism it gives results 100% of the time, in any language, in any culture, anywhere I decide to repeat the experiment.
 
Sheldon

Sheldon

Veteran Member
Truth in love said:
What is different?
When set conditions are met an electromagnet exerts an invisible power to impact life as we know it. This is widely accepted, but God communicating or helping man is not???
Click to expand...
Objective evidence for electromagnetism is testable and falsifiable, and stands up to critical scrutiny by neutral observers, that's the difference. Different countries and cultures across the globe, and during different epochs, have wildly varying deities they imagine are real, electromagnetism is the same for them all, or it would be falsified and rejected by science.
 
Evangelicalhumanist

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
Truth in love said:
A common sentiment from atheists is that they won’t believe in things that can’t be shown.

We cannot see it, we can’t touch it. In the case of electromagnetic devices it is not always there. Yet one can observe its effects being inline with a given theory.

So is it believed in?
Click to expand...
Can you see the air around you? Yet, you breathe it in an out every moment of your life. (I could show some ways to see it, but mostly, you don't). Do you believe in it?

Human senses are limited: we "see" a tiny portion of the electro-magnetic spectrum, we hear quite a limited range (20 to 18,000 hertz) of the range of sound available to us. Dogs and cats hear much more, insects "see" far higher in the EM spectrum than we do.

BUT! We humans are quite bright -- we've invented ways to detect what our own senses can't perceive, through our instruments. And thus -- what's not to believe? Actually -- what has "belief" to do with it at all?

And even more curious -- what the heck does "atheism" have to do with it?
 
Truth in love

Truth in love

Well-Known Member
F1fan said:
This is what this thread is really about, a God that can't be detected unlike magnetism. It is not an equal comparison. We can test magnets and anybody can see for themselves it is real and has real effects and causes. There is no God test. At least there is no God test that has ever worked. That is why atheists reject claims about Gods existing and acting on the world, but can verify that magnetism is real.
Click to expand...


So how do you decide what conditions for the test are valid or not?
A light bulb is very reliable when connected to power. When not it does not work.
 
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