How To Think About God's Existence | Episode 701 | Closer To Truth 

Kudos for not having so many commercial interruptions.

This is so much better than listening to an atheist and a theist debate each other.

This show is so addicting.

Pursuing Gods existance is something I cannot not do. That is exactly my experience.

I have been teaching Philosophy to University of the Third Age for 30 years - since retirement from school teaching. Closer to Truth is the most comprehensive and authoritative resource available with leading thinkers interviewed skilfully and respectfully by Laurence Krauss, on the most relevant and current questions of universal importance.

This guy is very professional and ambitious. He's walking on a road of big answers.

What an absolute joy this episode was. Absolutely blown away. Thank you.

Last statement is so well put and beautifully said. A struggle we all have.

Wow, amazing Lawrence... You appear to have the honesty, integrity and enthusiasm of the prophets in persuit of the truth... Keep going, good man... You're a sterling example of how best to approach the God issue, I think... GOD BLESS.

“Help! I need a sceptic.” Put that on a shirt.

THANK U SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS

Found this channel made me cry with joy🎉

We want a closed loop in logic with a model for creativity ,complexity and consciousness ,all inclusive .

I agree with Michael Shermer's position.

🙏♥️💪Always the BEST among the bests you are Mr Khun

Honesty is the ultimate truth.

This was an excellent episode of this series... possibly _the_ best, for tying all the arguments and justifiable bases relating to belief in God into a coherent summary. I am with Kuhn in every way, both in my unwillingness to dismiss the question he is asking as “unanswerable” and therefore not worth asking, or as unresolvable through processes of human cognition, in the context of “epistemic distance” (which I find a very useful concept). I was also able to resolve through this episode my curiosity whether Kuhn is Jewish, which I have often wondered. There is something about the style and nature of his intellectual curiosity that struck me as characteristically Jewish, yet I had nothing more to base this on than weak, circumstantial evidence. When he showed the two pictures of himself at a young age at the very beginning of this episode, I stopped the video and backed up to look at them again, to see if there was any evidence I might be missing, but found none, so I moved on. But then, at the end, he showed the same pictures again, but indicated they were from his Bar Mitzvah, I finally had the clear evidence I was looking for. This question could have been answered in other ways, had I undertaken the effort, but I was happy to have come across it in the way that i did. My screen name on RU-vid, MendTheWorld, is adapted from the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, a dictate I constantly strive to fulfill, and part of the way I have done this is through the pursuit of science and scientific understanding, which I have long regarded as having a religious dimension. (and NOT in the disparaging way that science deniers describe what they incorrectly perceive as unwarranted belief as “religion”. They understand nothing about science _or_ religion.) I also appreciated the reference to abductive reasoning (referred to here not by that term, but as “inference to the best explanation”. This is essentially the _only_ form of reasoning used in geology, which is the branch of science in which I was educated, but I’ve concluded (as others have as well), that abduction is the _only_ form of logical reasoning that is actually available to us. As a form of inference (perhaps better described as a concatenation of inferences), it is subject to all the inherent limitations of inference in general, as described definitively by David Hume, yet remains our only option for acquiring what we perceive to be “knowledge”. It never occurred to me that abductive reasoning might be used as a means of inferring God’s existence. I’m not sure i’m sold on that conclusion, but that’s why a good geologist uses both arms when looking for answers. (On the _one_ hand it could be.... But on the _other_ hand...). Thank you, Dr. Kuhn, for sharing your peripatetic quest for understanding.

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” - Epicurus (341 - 270 BCE)

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

We have this heart within us, our deepest feelings about life, and that is something we can not betray. To betray it would be like putting your hand into hot water, and then saying, this is not hot. So, either God lives in your heart, or there is no God living there in your heart. And that seems to be, the closest to the truth, and the end of the story - more thought does not resolve this or change this for us. It has been said, that faith is a divine grace, something given to you, and either you have it, or you do not, and there is nothing you or anyone can do about that.

"I maintain that cosmic religious feeling is the strongest and noblest incitement to scientific research. Only those who realize the immense efforts and, above all, the devotion which pioneer work in theoretical science demands, can grasp the strength of the emotion out of which alone such work, remote as it is from the immediate realities of life, can issue. Those whose acquaintance with scientific research is derived chiefly from its practical results easily develop a completely false notion of the mentality of the men who, surrounded by a skeptical world, have shown the way to those like-minded with themselves, scattered through the earth and the centuries... A contemporary has said, not unjustly, that it is this materialistic age of ours the serious scientific workers are the only profoundly religious people." --Albert Einstein, The World As I See It. New York: Philosophical Library; 1949

Would be really interesting if he interviewed Chris Langan, author of the CTMU (Cognitive Theoretical Model of the Universe).

Bob Russell is SPOT ON!!

The spectre of death immediately raises questions about meaning.

WONderful series of interviews! Simply Superb - thank you! No dogmatism or Trumpy evangelical hysteria - cogent, brilliantly clear expression of both sides of the most crucial question we face as sentient beings. 💖🤩👏👏👏

This is a wonderful analysis, checking the temperature on the larger discourse on the existence or non-existence of God. My only concern with this show is how americentristic its presuppositions are. The idea of God is taken to be "the bearded man in the sky", "He" who has a will and a plan for all of his children. There are countless other notions of entities that would like to compete for the definition of "God". How can this issue not be addressed, not even en passant? "The God question", as presented here, is only entertaining to the minority of people across the world who ascribe to a belief in the Abrahamic God-narrative. If one truly desires to establish wether or not there is a god, one must take great care to pose the question correctly. Otherwise the entire enterprise is pointless, due to a flawed research question.

Thank you for the video.

Thx so much amazing work

Thank you for this video as it is a question I’ve struggled with all of my life. I accept now it is better to live in faith of God than to think that I can understand.

Thinking leads you away from silly notions of god.

Enjoyable series, but I think the discussion can do with more exploration of Eastern spirituality and conceptions of "God".

And to learn how to deeply love others.

Should I think about God's existence in a way that is different from the way that I think about mine? I wouldn't necessarily think so. But then in what way should I be thinking about my existence?

Here is a question to all religious people. First a note about myself. I have schizophrenia, it means I cannot use faith to determine my course of action. When I do, I often harm myself or others. I had to come up with mental training I learned from epistemology to help me. Here comes the question. After reading many religious books, asking many people, I have never found a way to be sure of anything. The question is, if god is real, loves me, knows what I'm going through, knows what I have to do just to make a simple decision ( I dont work, I can't) then how do I get guidance from god that I can truly separate from a normal schizophrenic episode. Second, why would god risk me never knowing him if he loved me. I want to know god, and I want to show appreciation in a way god would be happy with. But, one day moment im philosophical, next I'm a sex addict, then I'm homicidal, these arnt just moods, whole beliefs systems are adjusted. Typically only the philosophical and scientific mind sets are aware of the depths of the changes. That's why they are so dangerous. They deeply impact what I might do to myself or someone else. So I have to keep my self mostly isolated.

Incredible episode

thank you.

"So is my intuitive sense of god justified or just rationalized?" I like that statement. Is there a similar fundamental feeling when a person supports the concept of "no god"?

This is one of my favorite pieces on RU-vid. I find it amazing how far we’ve come as a species in terms of technology, but how little we actually understand. When I heard the third speaker, I was disappointed how narrow his view on god was. I don’t think it’s logical to think of god as some bearded man or as a blue four armed man. We as humans inherently need to assign a definition to something in order to “understand it”. Just like when you write code, you have to define your variables in order to call them. But how to you call something that is undefined by current understanding? I think of god as something that cannot be understood by our current level of consciousness. I think of god as the fabric that connects all of us. People who report their experiences after psilocybin all seem to have one common theme : that we are all one and that we form one collective consciousness. I feel like that’s more likely to be “god” than a character from a book or epic. As a side note: If you subscribe to the multiverse theory, you’re left with the same question times n^∞. Who or what is creating the precursor to those? Anyway, if you’ve read my brain chatter, I hope it was of interest.

Good show. Keep it up.

Incredible…and, sincere.

I’ve often wondered if there is a god why does this entity need humans to speak for it?

It is incorrect to say the scientist is afraid of error! The scientific method provides that the scientist devises a theory [to solve a problem] and the scientific community spends the next 10 or 20 or 100 years trying to disprove that theory. Again, observe the history of science!

The audio is great

Reminds me a bit about Feyerabend’s argument contra methodology.

PS As Carl Jung said, I don’t believe I know.

An hour with the late Christopher Hitchens and, like me, you'd be in no doubt.

One of the better episodes

Infinite mystery light and consciousness

Those Jewish guys should get hats that fit properly.

1:05 flaws and fallacies on both sides he says. I wager that Bob intelligence is better suited to be a religious man rather than attempting to split atoms.

A better question is which god or gods?

13:25 - Apparently Bob has been studying the works of the _Ramchal_ (Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto).

Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money!

God used to be in the trees, then we went to the trees and said he was in the mountains. Then we went to the mountains, and said he was in the sky. Now people want to co opt a Tesla quote and call it god. Ok

Awareness is known by awareness alone...

Begging the question.

Our existence came into being, when the energy of consciousness, came to the realisation, and understanding, That to just exist, was no longer enough. What we call call god, is us. All existence is conscious energy.

Don't waste time on "gods" unless you're an anthropologist

Speed at which consciousness travel is counter productive to its ultimate adventure. Good luck.

exactly before decision?

"How To Think About God's Existence" And how to think about the existence of smurfs.

Who cares if God exists or not, the point is that we don't want anything to do with him even if he exists, and our animosity towards God is definitely not our fault!!! He screwed it up from the very beginning, so we must conclude that he is either evil or incompetent. If he is evil he is Satan, if he is incompetent he isn't God....Make your choice...

Most appreciative of Mr. Kuhn's interest in a subject of such profound relevance, and his quest for answers. Speaking from the Christian perspective, it's my fervent wish that Mr. Kuhn finds the answers he seeks in a relationship with Jesus Christ, for there is no other way. The transformative process of sanctification is exhilarating, soothing, fulfilling and transcendent, though it enriches life here beyond any capacity I have to describe it. As one learns to love, and becomes rooted, grounded and inspired by its essence, which is the nature of God, relationships and the most mundane encounters with fellow humans become shared experiences with God. It's really all about love, Mr. Kuhn, and you will encounter that love in relationship with the Triune God. If you happen to read this, thanks again for your work and for including us in it.

Don't you think that when all thinking and searching is done, we live within a profound unknowingness and uncertainly? This is a very uncomfortable place to be... a full, ultimate meaning/purpose and hope beyond our grasp. I find your program so amazing and thought provoking. I just wonder if you will ever come to a conclusion. I doubt you and I ever will.

There isn't any god! Never was never will be!! It's jst us humans who created god and devil to control the stupid masses of humans with fear of hell and a reward of heaven.CONTROL is the name of the god game!!

I'm sure it is true that no one will prove or disprove God. It seems to me that we start with our presuppositions. So the greater question to me is how is it that we come to have our presuppositions? Do we like the contributing factors that led us to have a belief for or against the existence of God? There are clearly reasonable arguments on both sides. For myself, I was raised in a Christian culture, where the belief was assumed. It never occurred to me that there would not be a God until I met people who questioned this assumption. After having officially adopted the belief as a young adult, I began having doubts and wrote down in a notebook all the reasons it may not be true. I'm still making lists and asking and seeking. So I'm a believer who is questioning my belief, yet still assured in what I have chosen to believe. I use the word "assured", rather than certain. There is no certainty. There will only be belief for the theist or the athiest. For me the needle tips to believing. For others the needle tips in the other direction. Programs like this help me grow and question and continue the journey. Thank you for providing this venue!!!

5:46 In the scientific mindset, before the question of evidence comes the question of delineation of claim. 'What does it mean?,' comes before, 'Is it true?'

I wish you would’ve interview Christopher Hitchens on this one and hear what he had to say

Just curious anybody know the story behind that waterfall structure that appears at 17.40. Seems a bit odd and pointless at first look.

I agree with Bob. Imagine an omniPRESENT God, here "in person", who is nonstop noisy, giving direct orders and answering questions like "am I drinking too much" or "should I marry this girl". What would be left of "me"? We'd be an inert bunch of skygazers nonstop awaiting orders for even as simple issues as what to have for breakfast. If there is a God, I fully understand his hiddenness.

How can this channel upload new videos so often? I don't understand it. I have thought about it a long time but I decided to ask now.

What is a spirit ?

My father had a wonderful, pragmatic approach when people wanted to debate this. He said if you believe and you’re wrong…no harm no foul…and you benefitted greatly. If you don’t believe and are wrong, the consequences could be great and eternal. Forced choice indeed.

questions about existence?

could existence communicate with physical nature as God?

All these intelligent and good people with a variety of different thoughts why couldn't they all be right.

God is not a thing, to be or not to be, God is process, as in harmonizing diversity into ever greater complexities. When we acknowledge God as creator, we reflect on the emergence of the periodic table of elements and the evolution of life, including ourselves. This harmonizing process is The Agenda, which calls for each of us to get woke, lean in, and participate, as we are of the Whole-of-it-all. Doing so is why we are here, what we need to be about, all on our journey to the stars, even as we leave our aging solar system behind.

Who decides what is good and evil ???

Same age same passion

​Modern Quantum Physics has shown that reality is based on probability: ​ A statistical impossibility is defined as “a probability that is so low as to not be worthy of mentioning. Sometimes it is quoted as 1/10^50 although the cutoff is inherently arbitrary. Although not truly impossible the probability is low enough so as to not bear mention in a Rational, Reasonable argument." The probability of finding one particular atom out of all of the atoms in the universe has been estimated to be 1/10^80. The probability of just one (1) functional 150 amino acid protein chain forming by chance is 1/10^164. It has been calculated that the probability of DNA forming by chance is 1/10^119,000. The probability of random chance protein-protein linkages in a cell is 1/10^79,000,000,000. Based on just these three cellular components, it would be far more Rational and Reasonable to conclude that the cell was not formed by un-directed random natural processes. Note: Abiogenesis Hypothesis posits that un-directed random natural processes, i.e. random chance formation, of molecules led to living organisms. Natural selection has no effect on individual atoms and molecules on the micro scale in a prebiotic environment. (*For reference, peptides/proteins can vary in size from 3 amino acid chains to 34,000 amino acid chains. Some scientists consider 300-400 amino acid protein chains to be the average size. There are 42,000,000 protein molecules in just one (1) simple cell, each protein requiring precise assembly. There are approx. 30,000,000,000,000 cells in the human body.) Of all the physical laws and constants, just the Cosmological Constant alone is tuned to a level of 1/10^120; not to mention the fine-tuning of the Mass-Energy distribution of early universe which is 1/10^10^123. Therefore, in the fine-tuning argument, it would be more Rational and Reasonable to conclude that the multi-verse is not the correct answer. On the other hand, it has been scientifically proven numerous times that Consciousness does indeed collapse the wave function to cause information waves of probability/potentiality to become particle/matter with 1/1 probability. A rational and reasonable person could therefore conclude that the answer is consciousness. A "Miracle" is considered to be an event with a probability of occurrence of 1/10^6. Abiogenesis, RNA World Hypothesis, and Multiverse would all far, far, far exceed any "Miracle". Yet, these extremely irrational and unreasonable hypotheses are what some of the world’s top scientists ‘must’ believe in because of a prior commitment to a strictly arbitrary, subjective, biased, narrow, limiting, materialistic ideology / worldview. Every idea, number, concept, thought, theory, mathematical equation, abstraction, qualia, etc. existing within and expressed by anyone is "Immaterial" or "Non-material". The very idea or concept of "Materialism" is an immaterial entity and by it's own definition does not exist. Modern science seems to be stuck in archaic, subjective, biased, incomplete ideologies that have inadequately attempted to define the "nature of reality" or the "reality of nature" for millennia. A Paradigm Shift in ‘Science’ is needed for humanity to advance. A major part of this Science Paradigm Shift would be the formal acknowledgment by the scientific community of the existence of "Immaterial" or "Non-material" entities as verified and confirmed by observation of the universe and discoveries in Quantum Physics.)

How to think about God’s existence? I think of it as non.

guy with a beard? where did he get this image of god from?

Read Leo Tolstoy's A Confession.

Repeatative topic in one form or another. Sir, if we can truly know about our existences, for that matter existence of any creations in the universe just by passionately observing the nature and it's manifestations through it's different creations in the universe, we will know how to think about GOD. This is simply through self realization. There is no other path to realize GOD's existence. No matter what different shopisticated mathematical models and equations try to explain it, there will always be remaining a burning and most fundamental question in humanity about existence / non existence of GOD. Given a chance, i can explain it in more detail with latest theory of quantum mechanics and general relativity, even when the general theory of relativity and quantum gravity are married together to produce the theory of everything! 🕊😊🙏

does intelligence and rationality of universe confirm existence of God?

feeling to follow something other than human being(s)?

The best way to think about God's existence is the same as saying, we don't have an answer yet so let's beleive in God instead.

Before I was old enough to consider death ,God come to my life and allowed me to know that he is very real. So the death equation is not valid.

An argument for the existence of God is not, just by itself, enough to be convinced that God exists; we must first have the need for God.

I was born into an atheist family and still remain one. I often envied others faith and blind acceptance of the meaning of life because I had no “god” to guide me through my life. I finally decided to take it on faith that there is no god until proven wrong but it is no longer a conundrum to me.

As an atheist I think the problem of evil is a very weak argument. Here are some possible answers that allows for gods and evil. Our narrow human minds fails to see the greater picture. God is not nice, don’t care, or has decided to not intervene. God can’t do anything about it. The worst counter argument is ramblings about free will which always falls flat on their face and chew dirt.

Nobody can prove or disprove God's existence! I feel God presence in my heart, like my mother's love that is present even when she is not present. We can only feel God with our heart. He is like a good friend that you can call for help any time as many times that is necessary. Conclusion at 83 I am a happy man with a truth or an illusion,

I think art, is our deepest connection to God and Reality. Everything else is in a Traditional Box. Which can easily be picked apart.

the guy with the beard, pearly gates ... omg LOL!

It makes sense that those who do not know what "Reason" is about, lend themselves to sit down and talk with those who appeal to the existence of a God without having evidence. If there is something that characterizes Reason, it is "evidence", and until today there is no evidence that God exists. Reason and Faith belong to different universes. In fact, they are incompatible. It is not clear to me if the interviewer wants to play an idiot or is.

The first question to ask is God the Creator or are they different entities?

"What used to pass as proving God has proven wrong."

The first mistake people make is not defining who or what God is from their perspective. Opinions differ even between people of the same faith. How then can we argue for or against?

The question is incorrect? It should be... what kind of a 'god' I want? God concept serves as a model for each human being... choice of a god defines our path in life... any further query... leave a comment here pl

Isn’t hope based in fear, too?