(April 29, 2019 at 8:41 pm)Won2blv Wrote: I guess the point I'm trying to make, is that my experience led me to believe in a narrative of my creation story from the big bang forward. Because even though I believe that at the big bang there was immaterial (non-physical matter) higher beings, I know there was definitely no higher beings of a material (physical matter) form. And I know I'm not the only human that has striven to tell a tale to myself from creation until present day. I seek a narrative the same that BILLIONS of other humans seek it. Mine just happens to align with Mormonism. And that is humorous to me because I spent my whole life growing up in Utah a mormon hater.
So that is real to me. For some odd reason, I relate to so much of Joseph Smith's life story and beliefs. And this came out of nowhere about 2 years ago. The entire experience is subjective, I get that, but it is still real to me
I guess the difference between us, is a care if my beliefs are true, or likely true. I want to have as many true beliefs and as few false beliefs as possible. You don't seem to have this same desire.
At least, you are not using the best set of epidemiological tools known, to get you to true beliefs. Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, etc, all get to mutually exclusive beliefs, using similar methods as you have; subjective feelings and what is 'real to them'.
I don't care what is 'real to you', I care what is demonstrably real.
As far as Mormonism goes, the only religion that I can think of that is more obviously made up by a single person, is Scientology. The claims of Joseph Smith are so obviously made up, it is laughable. Sorry if this sounds insulting.
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.
