RE: My view and reasons for them. Atheist and Christians welcome here. (short)
May 7, 2018 at 8:10 pm
(May 7, 2018 at 6:12 pm)Quick Wrote: I can't be sure my subjective mappings of reality are any more accurate than anyone else's.
Bold mine.
But others do have a method to see of our beliefs accurately map to reality. And that is by basing them on demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, reasoned argument and valid and sound logic.
You really don't believe that there is a reliable method to determine fact from fiction? Or what is likely true, from what is unlikely true? Then why do we lock up insane people? I am sure there are many schizophrenics you can get many different subjective interpretations of reality from, that are demonstrable not true. And of course, you don't believe them.
The fact that you are unable to see the difference in the reliability of beliefs based on subjective interpretations, and based on demonstrable evidence and reasoned argument, says a lot about your credulity.
When I accept a claim to be true, I do so based on the above criteria (demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, reasoned argument and valid and sound logic). If the claim is not supported by those criteria, then I withhold belief.
The interesting thing is, I can guarantee that, when it comes to other aspects of your life, you don't base your beliefs on subjective interpretations. I'll bet when you cross the street, you make your decision based on evidence, not subjective interpretation. "It sure looks there is a car coming, but my subjective interpretation makes me believe the street is clear", said you never.
Why are your god beliefs immune to the same level of scrutiny as other aspects of your life? Why base them on subjective interpretations, yet use evidence and reason when choosing a surgeon, for example?
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
