Seems to me you’re asking the wrong question. I say, don’t ask if there is a omnipotent God, that is making an unwarranted narrowing assumption. Why should it be either/or? Lots and lots of room in between the ‘omnipotent God’ theory and the ‘no god at all’ theory for ’medium potent god(s) theories.
And ‘medium potent god’ theories are not only inherently more likely than either of the extremes, they seem a lot more fruitful and interesting to think about, in terms of possible consequences.
I say, ask if there are beings of ANY kind that are more intelligent/knowledgeable/scientifically or morally advanced than human beings.
And, if so, are they aware of us, and interested in us, and what we do, either as individuals or as a species?
Now, that’s an interesting question. If (they/he/it) exist, and are interested in our behavior, the important question isn’t if (they/he/it) are the all powerful creators of the universe or not.
It’s what do they want?
And, if they care about what we do, why haven’t they communicated with us directly, and said (variously) in an unmistakably clear manner exactly what they do want us to do/not do? eg, flaming letters 10 miles high in the sky, urging us to (variously) not eat meat/stop burning hydrocarbons/stop committing adultery/etc/etc/etc fill in the blank. They obviously would have the technology.
I personally find thinking of Jehovah/Zeus/Odin and all their kin as advanced extraterrestrials is AT LEAST as LIKELY a theory as assuming they are real, or that they are myths. It isn’t hard to believe that extraterrestrials noticed us a long time ago and are discretely guiding our progress (or discretely diverting us into blind alleys where we can’t ever advance to the point where we could annoy them).
After all, the important question isn’t if an omnipotent God created the universe, but if some god(s) are interested in what we do. If so, are they good/evil (from the standpoint of human morality)? Are they a threat or a blessing -- to ‘mankind’ or (ahem) ‘the environment’ (the earth and its existing ecosystem -- for those of you who belong to one of the newer religions).
Firstly because we have insufficient evidence to address the first problem. And secondly, because it doesn’t make any difference in real outcomes to you and me how the universe was created. What matters to us, is if there are beings—‘gods’—more powerful than US. It doesn’t matter if they are powerful enough to create the universe. All that matters is if they are powerful enough (and interested enough) to intervene in our lives, now or in the future (or the past).
Seems to me you’re asking the wrong question. I say, don’t ask if there is a omnipotent God, that is making an unwarranted narrowing assumption. Why should it be either/or? Lots and lots of room in between the ‘omnipotent God’ theory and the ‘no god at all’ theory for ’medium potent god(s) theories.
And ‘medium potent god’ theories are not only inherently more likely than either of the extremes, they seem a lot more fruitful and interesting to think about, in terms of possible consequences.
I say, ask if there are beings of ANY kind that are more intelligent/knowledgeable/scientifically or morally advanced than human beings.
And, if so, are they aware of us, and interested in us, and what we do, either as individuals or as a species?
Now, that’s an interesting question. If (they/he/it) exist, and are interested in our behavior, the important question isn’t if (they/he/it) are the all powerful creators of the universe or not.
It’s what do they want?
And, if they care about what we do, why haven’t they communicated with us directly, and said (variously) in an unmistakably clear manner exactly what they do want us to do/not do? eg, flaming letters 10 miles high in the sky, urging us to (variously) not eat meat/stop burning hydrocarbons/stop committing adultery/etc/etc/etc fill in the blank. They obviously would have the technology.
I personally find thinking of Jehovah/Zeus/Odin and all their kin as advanced extraterrestrials is AT LEAST as LIKELY a theory as assuming they are real, or that they are myths. It isn’t hard to believe that extraterrestrials noticed us a long time ago and are discretely guiding our progress (or discretely diverting us into blind alleys where we can’t ever advance to the point where we could annoy them).
After all, the important question isn’t if an omnipotent God created the universe, but if some god(s) are interested in what we do. If so, are they good/evil (from the standpoint of human morality)? Are they a threat or a blessing -- to ‘mankind’ or (ahem) ‘the environment’ (the earth and its existing ecosystem -- for those of you who belong to one of the newer religions).
Firstly because we have insufficient evidence to address the first problem. And secondly, because it doesn’t make any difference in real outcomes to you and me how the universe was created. What matters to us, is if there are beings—‘gods’—more powerful than US. It doesn’t matter if they are powerful enough to create the universe. All that matters is if they are powerful enough (and interested enough) to intervene in our lives, now or in the future (or the past).