When Atheists Can't Think Episode 1: No Evidence for God?

[Delicate]

So you admit not everything you believe is provable. That refutes downbeatplumb's claim.

As to whether belief in God is basic, that's a good question but immaterial to this particular conversation.

So far my point is just that not all we believe is provable.

No argument from me on that point.

Whether you deem my question immaterial is irrelevant to me. In one of your threads, you were the one who posted the link to Plantinga's lecture notes, in which he lists both non-belief in solipsism and belief in a god or gods as properly "basic" (not irrational to believe even if it can't be rationally demonstrated). I assume you endorse that position, or else there would have been little point in referencing Plantinga in the first place.

I'd like to know if, in fact, you agree with Plantinga and, if so, how you justify the linkage between belief in god(s) and acceptance of an external reality as "basic" in his sense.

I personally do find Plantinga persuasive, within his larger project.

Belief in God is indeed properly basic, in my view.

And I can lay out my reasons for why. But to do so requires groundwork.

For instance, I can't hope to convince downbeatplumb, who is convinced all legitimate knowledge must be provable. That kind of hardcore empiricism is rejected in epistemology but is popular among new atheists.

But once again, that's a different conversation than the one downbeatplumb and I are having.