RE: Disproving Odin - An Experiment in arguing with a theist with Theist logic
March 11, 2018 at 6:49 pm
(This post was last modified: March 11, 2018 at 7:17 pm by vulcanlogician.)
(March 11, 2018 at 6:31 pm)SteveII Wrote: 1. Person of Jesus is compelling.
2. The NT describes actual events including the miracles, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
3. God works in people's lives today--changing people on the inside as well as the occurrence of miracles.
4. The natural theology arguments:
a. God is the best explanation why anything at all exists.
b. God is the best explanation of the origin of the universe.
c. God is the best explanation of the fine-tuning of the universe for intelligent life.
d. God is the best explanation of intentional states of consciousness.
e. God is the best explanation of objective moral values and duties.
Since you cannot 'prove' that any of these are falsely held beliefs, my conclusion (opinion) that God exists is by definition rationale (from my reasoning listed above). The amount of evidence meets my personal threshold for proof that God exists.
(added strikethrough)
The first three items (though I personally have problems with them) can in fact serve as a rational basis for belief. But the stricken items under number 4 represent arguments from ignorance-- they represent "god of the gaps" reasoning.
Before we understood the water cycle: God was the best explanation for what made the rain fall/weather patterns.
Before we understood gravity: God was the best explanation for what supported celestial bodies and kept them from falling.
Before we understood medicine: God was the best explanation for disease and illness.
For a and e.... I don't think this represents god of the gaps reasoning, but still, nothing makes God the best explanation there either. It is shaky logic to consider god the best explanation. (We've discussed the problems with those elsewhere, anyway.)
But b, c, and, d are right out. In no way is it rational for a theist to believe based on those.
