chas, you have things just a bit backwards. the burden of proof is on YOU to PROVE his existence. not on me to disprove it. you have made the assertion, not me. look at it this way, if i claimed i was a martian from the red planet, wouldn't you want proof of this? of course you would.
"Puff the magic dragon?" Did we not move beyond the empty insult stage? The views have been presented, the territories defended. Why do you delve into foolishness and embarrass yourself further? Bertrand Russell, a curiously pompous fellow. Someone once asked Russell what he would do if he were to meet God face to face after death. Russell replied that he would shake his fist and say 'not enough evidence God, not enough evidence!' I still chuckle every time I think of that anecdote. If there is a better illustration of ultimate foolishness, I cannot imagine it.
a dam good case has been built against a god. let's see you refute it. a rational man would need more than faith. at the very least he would need to construct plausible and valid refutations to the skeptic's arguments. are you a rational man chas?
If you came to me looking like Kazoo and saying you weren't a Martian, it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask for proof. You have categorically denied God's existence. I simply asked you to prove your assertion. Is it asking too much to ask someone to offer proof of a categorical assertion? In a court of law, it is not. I can point to endless evidences of God's existence. But some won't believe 'even if he comes back from the dead.' Faster, the issue of God's existence or non-existence is exclusively a matter of faith. That is, until the day comes when He returns, and then noone will be able to deny Him any longer, though the hide themselves from Him in caves.
faster, you are deeply confused. does your knowledge affect my knowledge? does your eternity affect my eternity? does your blindness affect my understanding? no. I could care less whether you agree with me. I could care less whether you spit on me. I could care less whether you exist. does the messenger care if the message is rejected? he is called to speak, that is all. oblivion is a choice. choose it gleefully if you wish.
oh i can think of a better illustration. how about this...absolute unfailing belief in a MAGNIFICENT ALL-KNOWING ALL-POWERFUL CREATURE that you have never seen. that never shows itself. c'mon, if THAT isn't the height of foolishness, then i'll eat my hat!
by the way faster: in sticking to the limits of science and playing blind man, you were safe to a degree. when one has no position other than skepticism, there is nothing to defend. in declaring a case for a nonscientific absolute, you expose yourself. try to build a rational case against God on philosophical grounds. step into my office. I dare you. p.s. I'll give you 36 hours, starting now. better find some big guns quick, read up on your best shots, because your ass is grass and I'm a lawnmower.
Lack of Evidence. A powerful creature of this nature and magnitude could not conceal himself forever. Telltale signs would abound, he would leave "footprints". Furthermore, the gods of Chistianity and Judaism, two of the big 'ligions, claim their gods are concerned with our welfare and he creates miracles. If such a god exists, he would work his miracles to end the suffering of those who he claims to care for. But human suffering certainly exists and there is no evidence of your god. This constitutes evidence that this god does not exist. :-/