Do You KNOW God Exists? Religious Epistemology Q&A

Christian philosopher Andrew Moon joins me for a fun Q&A on everything related to God and knowledge. How can we know that God exists? What are some of the ways that we might come to know that God is real? Are religious believers justified in their belief that God exists?
Dr. Moon's website: andrewymoon.wordpress.com/
My podcast interview with Dr. Moon on his defense of Reformed Epistemology: capturingchristianity.com/cc0...
A playlist of videos featuring Dr. Moon: • A Defense of Reformed ...
------------------------------- GIVING -------------------------------
Patreon (monthly giving): / capturingchristianity
Become a CC Member on KZbin: / @capturingchristianity
One-time Donations: donorbox.org/capturing-christ...
Special thanks to all of my supporters for your continued support as I transition into full-time ministry with Capturing Christianity! You guys and gals have no idea how much you mean to me.
--------------------------------- LINKS ---------------------------------
Website: capturingchristianity.com
Free Christian Apologetics Resources: capturingchristianity.com/fre...
The Ultimate List of Apologetics Terms for Beginners (with explanations): capturingchristianity.com/ult...
--------------------------------- SOCIAL ---------------------------------
Facebook: / capturingchristianity
Twitter: / capturingchrist
Instagram: / capturingchristianity
SoundCloud: / capturingchristianity
-------------------------------- MY GEAR ---------------------------------
I get a lot of questions about what gear I use, so here's a list of everything I have for streaming and recording. The links below are affiliate (thank you for clicking on them!).
Camera (Nikon Z6): amzn.to/364M1QE
Lens (Nikon 35mm f/1.4G): amzn.to/35WdyDQ
HDMI Adapter (Cam Link 4K): amzn.to/340mUwu
Microphone (Shure SM7B): amzn.to/2VC4rpg
Audio Interface (midiplus Studio 2): amzn.to/33U5u4G
Lights (Neewer 660's with softboxes): amzn.to/2W87tjk
Color Back Lighting (Hue Smart Lights): amzn.to/2MH2L8W
-------------------------------- CONTACT --------------------------------
Email: capturingchristianity.com/cont...
#God #Epistemology #Apologetics

[@HarmonyWheeler]

Do you have any books/resources you would recommend to start learning more about epistemology? Particularly about how we know God exists.

[@HarmonyWheeler]

Infinite Regress reminds me of the child who won't stop asking "why?" just because she wants to annoy someone.

[@vaskaventi6840]

Some of these comments are hard to read, my goodness.

[@nickmorris2250]

I find it helpful to focus on 'usefulness' rather than 'truth.' Who cares if something is true if it's not useful? It definitely seems that what humans really care about is utility rather than truth. This also seems to hold for religious folks where the reward for their faith and devotion is cashed out in terms of utility such as going to heaven or not being sent to hell. I think this applies to science as well. We collect data, create models and try to make predictions and then we can use those models to create useful technologies and practices. It's then an additional and optional step to say that because something is useful then a simple explanation of that is that it also accurately reflects the real world. This also removes the problem of whether our senses are reliable or not. We can all recognise their utility in our lives for getting by and what happens if we ignore them. Although we can also recognise that they don't always work perfectly. If we develop a scientific model that explains and shows that our senses are not useful or less useful in certain situations then we can update our beliefs on their utility and reliability accordingly. For example, we know that memory is increasingly unreliable as time goes on (making their crime analogy in the video a bit questionable). Scientific inquiry developed because people realised that while there were multiple ways of doing things, some worked better than others and wanted to develop some methods for determining the better ways of doing things. Methods like removing bias, repeatability, isolating variables etc. developed as ways you could build a model that was consistently useful for making predictions and then that could be further developed into all the different useful technologies and practices we have today such as cars, buildings, bridges, aircraft, space ships, computers, medical advancements etc. If any one of these were to fail to have the intended utility we'd have instant feedback that something is wrong with our model and requires extra investigation. The problem with religious inquiry is that we again have several ways of doing things (hundreds of religions, thousands of variations) but, for the main question at least, we don't get to know if it was useful until after we're already dead and there's no way to communicate that information back to the world of the living to help them choose the correct path. Of course many religious people find that their beliefs and practices give them utility within their lives and that can be a reason to keep following them and that's fine. I would of course suggest that they could get similar benefits without the religious belief and also improve their lives by getting rid of some harmful beliefs and practices that religion includes. The scientific explanation of this utility also makes more sense when we consider that people of competing religious beliefs can derive the same utility and even non religious people from similar practices.

[@Sednoob]

Saying that usefulness is an important constraint on the search for truth is a statement that could be true or false. But according to your own reasoning, you wouldn't care to have this conversation, because believing it to be true is useful to you.

[@nickmorris2250]

@@Sednoob I think you missed my point, and it might be that I didn't explain it clearly. My point is that we have no way of knowing whether our methods of determining truth actually deliver us to truth. However, in the meantime we can still use those findings to attempt to get utility and if it works we can continue to use them in that way and if it doesn't we can stop. Maybe you're asking how can we know that a method or theory has delivered utility and I think it just comes back to our need to utilise our senses to navigate the world. If something seems to have utility and we have to do something with our lives, then that's as good a course of action to follow than any. If we die as a result because we were wrong, well, we wont' make that mistake again... I don't see why anything I've said would make you think I wouldn't care to have the conversation? Believing something to be true might be useful to me but maybe believing the opposite is in more useful... I'll never know if I never try so I don't think this way of thinking about things gives reason to stifle research and inquiry as you suggest.

[@mmore242]

@@nickmorris2250sounds like pragmatism.

[@HarmonyWheeler]

What about when a "seeming" is something psychologically caused - like an illusion or such? Or when a belief is influenced by emotions and background? I know we have to draw a line somewhere if we're to avoid entering the Matrix, but I imagine many an atheist would claim Christians are clinging to what feels good rather than what is real.

[@HarmonyWheeler]

I don't think that last question was so much about compatibility as it was asking if Reformed Epistemology is equal to and supportive of fideism, which is wrong.

[@HarmonyWheeler]

I find the use of the term "know" as meaning what we believe or are justified in believing confusing. Knowledge to me implies objective certainty.

[@MegaVIDEOGAMEVIDS]

Talk with Jay Dyer

[@armadaministries6283]

I believe because I've seen, I died and went before judgment, and I was not a Christian when I died. I was in a giant white courtroom, I saw God on a gigantic throne, they brought up my entire life and replayed every little thing and judged me on the life I had lived, there is no concept of time or space. I was thrown on my face at the feet of the Lord, and judged. I was covered in filthy oily dirty rags, I now know that this was my sin and the sin of the world, it was literally clinging to me. Just as He was about to cast me from His Presence, because I had broken the Law so many times, suddenly Jesus stepped up and saved me. He was my Advocate, Redeemer, Healer, Intercessor, Atoner, Atorner, Mediator, Defender... It was literally like a giant white courtroom and Jesus was my attorney, now that I read the scriptures I see it was all written who He was thousands of years ago. And no other religious document compares to what I saw. He was so bright and holy I could not see His face, but was enveloped in his love and compassion, his love literally ran through my veins and washed away all of my sin and left me white without blemish. He is the Son of God who gave his life for our sins, but not only our sins but the sins of the whole world. There is only one way to the Father and that is through His Son. for God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Amen🙏💖

[@paulbolton4929]

Why was everything in your life judged? If you accepted Jesus as your lord and savior, it doesn't matter what you did. If you didn't accept Jesus, then none of your good acts will matter. There is no judgement day .

[@armadaministries6283]

I was not a Christian when I died, and the scriptures also say that everyone will go before the judgment throne of Christ.

[@armadaministries6283]

Yes true Paul salvation is not based on works, but simultaneously faith without works is dead. They will replay your whole life, like every time you open the door for someone, those are some things that I saw. It's really small things, not so much the really big things. I don't know if believers will be judged like I was.

[@armadaministries6283]

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

[@armadaministries6283]

@@paulbolton4929 I do not believe personally in once saved always saved doctrine. Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

[@SimeonDenk]

So the "holy spirit" provides justification that other religions lack, and there "might" be some question begging that is permissible? Is that virtuous question begging? Why stop there and employ some virtuous argument from ignorance or virtuous denying the antecedent?

[@Joseph-ws5wr]

Btw, Cameron is the best singer in the world (kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3aQgoGpqdKFo7M) and that's objectively true!

[@jivaji2028]

Not only we dont know, but the question is is it reasonable to believe He/She exists? Hmmm🤔

[@amberfreitag42]

I like how you two were talking about basic beliefs because I complicated things and really look around it’s obvious God made the universe

[@colinjava8447]

Does cameron only do live chats with people that agree with him as opposed to atheists?

[@matthewchansavage3699]

no look at his videos he posts debates with Christians vs atheists

[@vaskaventi6840]

No, last video I watched he put plenty of atheist messages on the screen

[@amberfreitag42]

I wish I could go to your conference I have to work and I don’t have the money but I’ll definitely watch online

[@Hbmd3E]

what are these? oh hands, I have hands!

[@Qwerty-jy9mj]

but, what is a hand?

[@Hbmd3E]

@@Qwerty-jy9mj That sounds too philosophical question :)

[@walterseliga9676]

Dear Friends, Cameron, dr Moon and anybody who is watching this video. Since the topic is "what humans know", what constitutes human knowledge, can you, please, tell me what mankind KNOWS about the meaning of the supposed message from the supposed Creator-Person? And the additional question: has the mankind arrived at the knowledge of the supposed message, if such knowledge exists, by collectively asking/engaging the Creator-Person, just as humans do when they collectively ask/engage Nature concerning Nature's mechanics; CERN, LIGO etc.? Kind regards.

[@GustAdlph]

I stopped watching. You don't believe you have hands because you see your hands right in front of you.

[@foofuufou]

I'm not judging this video, but how does it have so many likes and such starkly contrasting comments?

[@jt2097]

Cameron, you must stop accepting that the existence of evil in the world is a reason to disbelieve in God. Evil is the very reason we are here. We all have evil in us which is why we are here and not in heaven. We need to be isolated while we make our choice, either for God or for death. Every one of us is here because we are a sinner, we have evil in us. Remember the tree of the knowledge of good AND EVIL?

[@edwardlongfellow5819]

Are you trying to say that there is no evil in Heaven?

[@jt2097]

@@edwardlongfellow5819 To be part of our original community in heaven you must obey God's law. All people have free will and can choose to disobey, but no one can disobey God's law and remain part of the community in heaven. When people choose to turn away from God and His law they accept decay and death. The whole rebellion in heaven was because Lucifer began telling people that they should not obey God's law, that they should be able to decide for themselves what is good or bad, what is right or what is wrong, that if they followed him instead of following God, people would be free, that they would be like God and have the knowledge of good and evil. That is why God made this universe containing this earth which would support life, so that we can see for ourselves what life is like when we can choose right or wrong for ourselves, when we ignore God's law. BUT part of His plan from the beginning was that people who truly wanted to be back with Him had a way of returning. That those people would be His witnesses forever, that putting His law aside leads to pain, tears, evil and death. We, as witnesses would prevent this evil from reoccurring, be witnesses to the fact that God is love and is righteous. We are on this isolation ward called earth and have the choice of either dying, or, we can choose to be part of a new world without death and without tears. God placed Adam and Eve here as an example to us of how life Could be if we followed God's law. He then chose a people, the Israelites, to demonstrate success and obedience, but both times we turned away. Jesus is our last chance, all we have to do to be saved is want to be saved, and to ask for it. Lucifer knows that once Jesus returns for His people he is finished so he is doing all he can, spreading all the lies to deceive people to prevent the return of Jesus. So yes, there can be evil in heaven but it will be removed. You can live forever in paradise but you are free to choose not to. I'm sorry if I have not explained as well as I should, there is a lot to take in because there have been a lot of lies and a lot of covering of the simple truth.

[@edwardlongfellow5819]

@@jt2097 How do you come by the information that Lucifer is spreading lies to deceive people regarding Jesus?

[@jt2097]

@@edwardlongfellow5819 The description of Satan as the "father of lies" comes from a passage in the Gospel of John. Jesus was addressing a group of religious leaders in Israel, who were accusing him of being from Satan. He responded by telling them that they were liars, and that proved that they, not He, were of the Devil. Jesus said: "When he (Satan) lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44c). He also told the group of accusers that they were the children of the Devil because they were spreading lies about Him and refusing to see the truth. So, Satan is not only the father of lies, but of those who suppress the truth. From the beginning, Satan has been a liar. He told his first lies to Eve, to deceive her and draw her away from God (Genesis 3:1, 4). He was the first liar, which makes him "the father of lies" in the same way that Hippocrates is the father of modern medicine. He was the first to think "I'm going to say the opposite of what is true" and to carry out that action. God speaks the truth and Satan says the opposite, and man is confused. Ever since the garden of Eden, this has been happening. Satan uses the world system to disseminate his lies (1 John 5:19), and the lies are always growing in number and complexity. We know that God speaks the truth-the apostle John said, "We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6). John was drawing a distinction between the teachings of Jesus' apostles and the contradictory teachings which were leading people astray. John and the other apostles suffered greatly, dedicating their lives to the truth. The majority of them died horrible deaths rather than deny the truth about Jesus-His life, His death, His return to life, and the way of salvation for all men through His resurrection (John 3:16). John was saying "We are speaking the truth. Anybody who says the opposite is a liar." This is how Satan operates: he takes God's truth and twists or contradicts it so that people are led away from Him. God is love (1 John 4:7-8). But Satan says "how can a loving God allow so much suffering?" God says Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). Satan says "a good person of any belief system can get there." Jesus spoke of everlasting torment for those who reject Him (Matthew 25:46). But Satan says "there's no hell." God claims to exist, and to be a personal Being that interacts with us (Hebrews 11:6). But Satan says "God is dead." Unfortunately, since we are finite and fallen, we are susceptible to these lies. So, Satan continues to use them, and rehash even the original lie he told ("Did God really say…?") in order to get us off track. The Bible is attacked often and viciously by false religions and worldly men who want us to think that the Bible is not literal, is not authoritative, is not reliable. Why do so many people put so much thought and effort into contradicting the Bible? Because Satan is working to convince us that God is the liar-and that is the ultimate lie.

[@edwardlongfellow5819]

@@jt2097 Where in the bible do we find Satan saying "a good person of any belief system can get there." Or "God is dead." ? Jesus spoke of everlasting torment for those who reject Him (Matthew 25:46). But why would a man who declared Love to be the second greatest commandment wish to punish those who reject him with an everlasting torment. This is the character mark of the sadist. Incidentally what lie did Satan impart to Eve? I know not of it.

[@veganworldorder9394]

The christian God created everything. P1 There are evil things. P2 The christian God created evil things. C1 The christian God is defined as omnibenevolent which implies that he can't create evil things. The christian God is logically impossible. Therefore, the christian God doesn't exist.

[@markslomp8607]

This ain’t it chief. P1 depends on what u mean by create... I mean. I can create a kitchen knife that was later used to murder someone. But that doesn’t mean I created the evil act. P2 depends on if u think evil is a “thing”. Again a kitchen knife being used to murder isn’t a “thing” it’s an event. Did God create all events? Not if he created free creatures The last part u need to be careful. If u want to prove Gods logical impossibility, u need to prove he doesn’t have morally sufficient reasons for allowing certain evil. Which you cannot do. The PoE stands as a good argument. Just doesn’t work in the logical form u attempted

[@elgatofelix8917]

God: *exists* atheists: *triggered*

[@elgatofelix8917]

@@creatinechris sorry but there is no philosophical consensus. That's why we have debate. Nice try though 😉

[@gabenorman747]

@@Unconskep Zero? You clearly haven't looked.

[@je9950]

Certainty over the god hypothesis is what can trigger people - both from the there “is a god, and there “is no god” camps. Unfortunately, the facts we share can lead us to wildly different conclusions and inferences to the best explanation. Both sides share strong points. So sometimes the most reasonable and least arrogant response to “does god exist” is, “I don’t know”. It’s takes humility to say “I don’t know”.

[@je9950]

@@Unconskep I was merely stating that just saying god does or doesn’t exist without providing evidence is what can trigger people’s bs alarm. Reformed epistemology falls into this category. So does antithesim to some extent. On a truth table, you may be right that it is indeed a false statement.

[@je9950]

@@Unconskep although I agree with some of what you are saying , what on earth does that have to do with anything I was saying? I think you’re proving OP’s point.

[@conorburke7888]

I assume God exists. Therefore, God exists.

[@sillysyriac8925]

Woosh

[@carsonwall2400]

I refuse to believe you're actually that inept at understanding an introductory video.

[@jeffreyeggstein329]

@@sillysyriac8925 cussin is a sin you know

[@paulbolton4929]

What happens after we die? What happens to all life forms when they die? Yes, we know, we just don't like it. Compare this epistemology to the Christian one, were dead isn't dead, because we're smarter than the other animals.

[@Qwerty-jy9mj]

Dude that's like, so deep mang

[@barry.anderberg]

What happens when we die?

[@paulbolton4929]

@@barry.anderberg What happens to your dog? We no longer exist. Just like before you were born.

[@elgatofelix8917]

@@paulbolton4929 to be dead does not mean ceasing to exist. Have you ever been to an open casket funeral?

[@barry.anderberg]

@@paulbolton4929 How did you come to that conclusion?

[@jt2097]

Cameron, The existence of evil in the world does not detract from a belief in God. The whole reason for the existence of us in this world is because we ARE evil. The reason God is allowing us to experience evil is so that we can make our own decision to reject evil. Evil and sin can not be allowed to exist in heaven so God created this world, away from heaven, for us to follow our chosen Prince, Lucifer, and then to either reject him and return to Jesus, or to reject Jesus and die with satan. God could have just rejected us and allowed us to die, but in His love and mercy He has given us this second chance. His love is described in the parable of the prodigal son.

[@gradystein5765]

How did you come to this insanely stupid conclusion?

[@jt2097]

@@gradystein5765 I can only quote the Bible to you. 1 Corinthians 1:18. For the preaching of our gospel to those who are lost is foolishness. But to those of us who are saved it is the power of God. You think it is foolishness because you are lost Grady. Congratulations.