RE: Disproving Odin - An Experiment in arguing with a theist with Theist logic
March 7, 2018 at 2:54 pm
(March 7, 2018 at 12:58 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote:(March 6, 2018 at 9:19 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: But the point of the thread isn't even metaphysical. It's epistemological. How the hell do you disprove Odin? -- Whether he's necessary or not, you can't do it.
Yes, from a purely episimological perspective someone cannot disprove any of the Norse gods, fantastic beasts, or cosmic teapots. These are just things within a world of things. As for the Christian God, to the extent that He is identical with the God of Classical Philosophy, He falls into a completely category. So I really don't have time for the various straw man arguments that make this dumb-ass category error. And ultimately, I really don't care whether or not any pagan god exists. Maybe they do in some Star Trek "Who Mourns for Adonais" or Q kind of way but since none are the Supreme Being, none would be worthy of worship as God.
(FWIW I didn't "bail". I'm just tapped out from working, my side-hustle, and serving as my cooperative's board secretary. I do not fault anyone for dropping threads that cease to interest them or if they go silent for long periods of time.)
I didn't mean to imply that you "bailed" intentionally. Just that you left before providing a comprehensive argument for your side. I don't fault you or anyone else for dropping threads. You're not being paid for your apologetics. You came in and dropped your 2 cents. Then I said "Hey, that's 98 cents short of a dollar."
Side note: I found an article here that discusses your issue with pagan gods being compared to the philosopher's God. (It's in the second paragraph, Point #1.) The author accuses atheists of intellectual dishonesty on this account. I disagree with her, but she does have a point. The thing is, when talking to some theists, they are obviously talking about a god which does not compare to pagan deities. Yet, for the most part--when speaking to a colloquial Christian, for instance, they are obviously not talking about the god of the philosophers. They are talking about the tribal god of the Israelites. This conception of god can easily be compared to Odin, Zeus, or any other mythological being. Anyway, I'm considering starting a thread to address this issue...
