My brother wants to debate religion with me

Can you present your brothers argument from absolute truth?

I can provide you with a very rough idea. I'd hate to put words into his mouth, because we haven't discussed religion in months, so this is simply a recalled memory from the last discussion. Although, we will begin a new debate in the next couple days, and I will record it (he said I could) and then I can provide you with his words, quote by quote (if you're interested, that is). Here's my interpretation (very rough, remember):

The apple grows on a tree, does it not? You can deny it's reality, but an apple is still growing on a tree, regardless of your denial or interpretation of that process. That's an absolute truth. We use language to label things: "tree, house, dog" or whatever we like. The tree can be 'cat,' if I wanted to mix names around. However, does that change 'what is...?' No. Impossible. You cannot change something's reality through your interpretation alone. It is still the same, and is still doing the same. You're only changing your perspective. Another example would be tripping on a substance; now say you watch the apple transform into a baby. Does that mean the apple is actually a baby? No. It has not changed. You have.

When people mention that God can be easily replaced with any other imaginable entity with superpowers, they're the one's altering their perspectives on something 'that is.' God is unaffected by that, in the sense that God does not cease it's existence/change based upon someone's personal opinion/interpretation. They change. Not God. Just because someone doesn't believe in God, doesn't mean he is not there.

Let's move this forward: Creation. Birth. Who/what banged the big bang? How could something come from nothing? Well, something cannot come from nothing because nothing is impossible. Therefore, this points in the favor of a creator, higher power, because the way this universe operates/thrives is through a systematic reproduction/death. Everything stems from the source of creation. But what started that cycle?

I fall off here. He had said more, but I can't remember anything else past this point.

/r/DebateAnAtheist Thread Parent