We don't have a clue how (or even if) the universe started. We don't even know if the concept of cause and effect is applicable. I haven't really been following what Denny is saying, but rest assured no working scientist, atheist or otherwise, claims to have anything about universal origins nailed down.
Dawkins doesn't claim to be 100% certain. In God Delusion he says something like 6 (or 6.9?) on a scale of 7. He thinks it is possible a creator exists, just very unlikely.
No biggie. Just hoped you'd think about that line of reasoning a little more closely before repeating it. Rest assured the vast majority of atheists are who they are because of how they view the evidence, not because of fear or pride.
I agree with this 100%. All I've said is there is an enormous amount of objective evidence of the Big Bang, and it's chronology is quite well understood. We don't know why it is the way it is or what caused it. It's also within the realm of possibility that they got it all wrong, but I prefer science over hocus pocus.
I understand why that implication bothered you, it bothered me too. It's like saying people only believe in god because they fear mortality. Neither are fair statements.
This is laughable. This is your idea of "proof", "science" and "logic". It wasn't "God", because I said so!
I would reply with a simple answer "How can I prove you love your mom?" Only one that can answer that is you. The relationship with God is personal, just like your relationship with your hand and that lotion
If you define specifically what you mean by love it becomes an empirically testable question. The only reason you think it's not is because you're using the concept vaguely.
