Carter's nihlism and judgementalism

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>DAVIS

>Let's just say, to be accurate, that you "believe" her beliefs to be wrong.


CARTER
No, I KNOW her beliefs concerning God to be wrong, whether or not I can
convince you. 

DAVIS
I am still waiting for what I would consider to be convincing evidence...


>DAVIS

>Since you cannot, after repeated requests by numerous list members, including

>me, demonstrate the physical reality of your God (or the alleged demons who

>oppose Him) 


CARTER
Davis, this is very simple, and I am surprised you have not caught on yet.
You cannot demonstrate the PHYSICAL reality of a NON-PHYSICAL entity. It's
like saying, "Demonstrate the physical reality of 'love.'" 

DAVIS
I thought it was pretty simple, as well. But for such a simple request, it
generates significant problems for the omnipotent biblical god. Isn't the
doctrine of incarnation just such a demonstration? As are the doctrines of the
indwelling of the believer by the Holy Spirit, communion of saints, Church as
the body of Christ, etc.  Christian theologians and teachers frequently say that
love without demonstration isn't really love. Your bible even teaches that
"faith without works is dead". It seems your God demands physical demonstrations
of the non-physical as a condition of pleasing Him. Why does He demand what He
can't produce?



>DAVIS

>you are speaking of belief, not knowledge. Since you are "saved by

>faith" and "walk by faith, not by sight" your definition of salvation assumes

>that you CANNOT HAVE ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE of God.


CARTER
Having faith does not rule out actual knowledge. We may have faith because
we have actual knowledge, and we may have actual knowledge because we have
faith. 

DAVIS
But I think we are not speaking of the same thing. Faith is "belief that does
not rest in logical proof or material evidence." (American Heritage Dictionary
1985), while knowledge is "familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained
through experience or study (same reference)." So, as near as I can tell, the
concepts are contradictory since lack of logical proof or material evidence
precludes experience or study. So, if I have knowledge which I gain through
experience (of a material event or process) or study (a logical process) this
nullifies faith which does not rest in either experience or study...

Interested in your thoughts...

Mike Davis

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