(April 24, 2017 at 1:42 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote:(April 24, 2017 at 1:12 pm)Valyza1 Wrote: Do theists really need to be able to articulate *why* they believe in God in order to be justified in believing? People kept breathing long before they were able to figure out why it's necessary. But even if we never figured it out, we'd still be justified in actually breathing. Likewise, it may be that some religious people are never able to answer the question of why they believe. Still doesn't mean they aren't justified in doing so.
If they can't express why they believe in it, they should stop claiming their beliefs are the truth and stop trying to convince others to believe. And breathing isn't a belief.
Agreed.
Breathing isn't something you have to "believe" in, it is demonstrably provable and observable. If you stop breathing long enough you die, no belief required in that. We constantly observe what happens when people stop breathing long enough.
I don't think anyone can legally stop anyone from making absurd claims no, nor do I think you can or should force any religion out of existence. But again, I would say that if you are not willing to ask yourself that question, then you are not being objective.
