As far as atheist demands for "empirical evidence" is concerned I would say that any evidence would be acceptable so why are you believers so poor at delivering?
Unfortunately, believers raise and lower the bar on with astounding ease with what they would consider to be evidence. When they are "proving" the existence of their god, somehow a flower and a beautiful sunset is enough to prove the existence of their god above all others. For Christians it also seems to prove all of Jesus' miracles as well as a literal interpretation of Genesis. There is no evidence that is considered too flimsy (just watch anybody who quotes Lee Strobel).
On the other hand any evidence against supernatural cause, any evidence that points out the absurdity and historical inaccuracy of their holy book is passed off as meaningless. Any evidence to show an evolutionary cause for morality, for art, for philosophy and altruism as well as religious beliefs is either dismissed without consideration or just plain ignored. A few weeks later the same pious individual will return to make the SAME claim.
_________________________ Signed in to remove the link to a dead forum.
A health nut enthusiat who happened to be an avowed atheist, was on a hiking trip during his many excursions to get touch with nature and enjoy the outdoors during his vacations and long week-ends.
As he hiking up an old familiar hiking trail, he suddenly spots a grizzly bear directly in his tracks, and the bear immediatly spots him and begins chasing him.
Naturally the atheist hiker runs as fast as he could, but the bear was too fast and too strong.Soon the hiker's life flashes before his eyes as the bear is about to strike the fatal blow.
The hiker screams his last words "Oh my God, someone save me!!!" The next instant the hiker sees himself standing at the pearly gates before the Supreme Creator Himself.
Genuinely impressed but still remaining unconvinced the hiker inquires God of his current whereabouts.
"You're at the pearly gates, where souls come to Paradise, and I am He who has created the heavens and the earth and all things my child"
"That's impossible, I firmly believe with all my heart that you are not who you claim to be,and there's no way you could ever prove to me to convince or convert me otherwise"
"Then why did you call my name in your time of need my child?" The Lord inquires the hiker.
"Well...I was literally at death's door...I panicked it's what people do when they about to die."
"Fair enough. So what is your desire then, since you disbelieve my existance anyway?" The Lord asks the hiker.
Atheist hiker;"Well nothing for me, since I don't believe in you... I mean I just want to go back to my life hiking and such, enjoying nature til my natural life is done."
God;"Back to the very spot before you came to the afterlife my son?"
Athiest Hiker: "Hmm you're right...that would put me back in a tight spot once more...well if you say you're God or whoever you are, maybe you could do something about the bear, like change its mind or something?"
God"I'll see what I can do my child"
With a snap of his fingers, God sends the hiker instantanously back to earth.As the hiker wakes up moments later.He sees the bear just standing there.
Then about a minute later the bear astonishly sits on his hind legs and places its front paws together as if to pray.The hiker so amazed by the unusual sight that he continues to watch the bear missing his chance to flee the premises.
After about a minute or so, the bear closes its eyes and speaks, which astonishes the hiker even more.
Bear "Oh Father in Heaven, I thank thee for thy bounty in which thou has given me.May it sustain me and nourish me... Amen "
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To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible". ~Thomas Aquinas
The dogmatic idea that what can not be "proved" empirically, can not be proved at all or is not worthy of consideration. The dogmatic idea that the philosophy of empiricism is superior to other philosophies in search for truth. That fundamentalist view of life actually creates hostility amongst scientists as well: some scientists' methods are never "scientific enough" for some. Similarly, some religious people are never religious enough.
I have respect for agnostic views though, but not much for atheistic ones.