What if we proved that God exists? (Venue: Caffè Nero)
Details
(Scroll down for topic intro)
THE VENUE: Caffè Nero
It is now autumn, so we will meet indoors for the next few months.
When we meet indoors, we run the same event in two locations: Caffè Nero and Starbucks, so as to provide capacity for as many people who would like to attend, without overwhelming any one venue. Thus, there will be two events published, and you can choose which one to attend. Please don't sign up for both. This event is for the Nero location.
Note that we may combine the events if one location attracts too few signups. Look out for updates nearer the time. The locations are only 2 minutes apart.
We meet upstairs at Caffè Nero. An organiser will be present from 10.45. We are not charged for use of the space so it would be good if everyone bought at least one drink.
An attendee limit has been set so as not to overwhelm the venue.
Etiquette
Our discussions are friendly and open. We are a discussion group, not a for-and-against debating society. But it helps if we try to stay on topic. And we should not talk over others, interrupt them, or try to dominate the conversation.
There is often a waiting list for places, so please cancel your attendance as soon as possible if you subsequently find you can't come.
WhatsApp groups
We have two WhatsApp groups. One is to notify events, including extra events such as meeting for a meal or a drink during the week which we don't normally put on the Meetup site. The other is for open discussion of whatever topics occur to people. If you would like to join either or both groups, please send a note of the phone number you would like to use to Richard Baron on: website.audible238@passmail.net. (This is an alias that can be discarded if it attracts spam, hence the odd words.)
THE TOPIC: What if we proved that God exists?
Thank you to Miguel for preparing this week's topic.
Imagine that humanity has conclusively proven the existence of God. The proof is beyond reasonable doubt, and it comes with three further discoveries:
- God’s character is now known, and it resembles the God described in some religions far more closely than in others.
- God is unique. No other gods exist.
- Nothing else changes. We still cannot communicate or interact with God, and our direct relationship with the divine is exactly as it was before. We simply know that God is there.
What are the implications of this knowledge on faith?
Faith is often defined as belief in the absence of proof, and it is closely tied to trust, confidence, and persuasion. If God’s existence is established, is faith in a deity still needed, or does it become redundant? Does faith shift from believing in the existence of a God to trusting in God's character and purpose? And what of religious leaders who taught that God was one way when God turned out to be another? Can they still be trusted?
What are the implications on religion?
Religions lie on the basis of faith in a God (or Gods) but they extend beyond it. Religions usually have a set of moral and ethical guidelines, they are characterised by the use of sacred texts and traditions and have a set of rituals of worship, and symbolic ceremonies. Do these still make sense in light of our knowledge that God exists? Perhaps the followers of the religion that most accurately depicts God might say so. But how about the followers of other religions?
What are the implications to non-believers?
The atheists among us will learn that they were wrong in their beliefs. How will an atheist cope with this knowledge? Do our lives change meaningfully from learning about this God we cannot interact with (at least not know whether God is paying attention)? Does knowing there is a God change our views on our existence and on ethics and morals?
Other questions for discussion
Does faith lose its meaning when belief with no evidence is no longer required, or does it simply change?
Does proof of God’s existence make religion more credible?
Would religions survive?
So bring your favourite God along on Sunday, and let’s explore how things would change.