Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 2:40 pm
(This post was last modified: October 23, 2012 at 3:48 pm by Darkstar.)
I have been asked to start a seperate thread, so here I am. The basic question is this:
Theists: why do you believe your particular god is the correct one? You might cite specific claims, but I am asking you why your god's claims have more credibility as evidence for his/her existance than the other guy's.
This is one of a number of common reasonings used against theism: I don't believe in your god for the same reason you don't believe in anyone elses'. So, why don't you believe in other gods, and why is yours better? Saying that because no one believes in them anymore is proof that they are false will not work. You must at least provide a valid reason as to why people stopped believeing (other than persecution) for this to work.
If you are a non-denominational theist, then good job for having more intellectual honesty, and this doesn't apply to you (unless you have something you would like to add). To curve one's standards for evidence to allow in one god, but not others with the same level of evidence is intellectually dishonest. Maybe someone can prove they don't do that, and have a logical reason to think their religion is more valid, maybe not. Keep in mind, I am only referring to relative validity between religions, not validity in general. Note for the poll that desism wouldn't be considered a religion.
EDIT: For "no existing religion is correct in its interpretation of god" means you believe in god, but not religion (like MysticKnight). Should be at least sure enough to call yourself a theist, even if an agnostic one.
Theists: why do you believe your particular god is the correct one? You might cite specific claims, but I am asking you why your god's claims have more credibility as evidence for his/her existance than the other guy's.
This is one of a number of common reasonings used against theism: I don't believe in your god for the same reason you don't believe in anyone elses'. So, why don't you believe in other gods, and why is yours better? Saying that because no one believes in them anymore is proof that they are false will not work. You must at least provide a valid reason as to why people stopped believeing (other than persecution) for this to work.
If you are a non-denominational theist, then good job for having more intellectual honesty, and this doesn't apply to you (unless you have something you would like to add). To curve one's standards for evidence to allow in one god, but not others with the same level of evidence is intellectually dishonest. Maybe someone can prove they don't do that, and have a logical reason to think their religion is more valid, maybe not. Keep in mind, I am only referring to relative validity between religions, not validity in general. Note for the poll that desism wouldn't be considered a religion.
EDIT: For "no existing religion is correct in its interpretation of god" means you believe in god, but not religion (like MysticKnight). Should be at least sure enough to call yourself a theist, even if an agnostic one.
John Adams Wrote:The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
