Why not deism?

[chimp3]

I disagree. Authoritative testimony is not evidence. Logical proofs are not evidence. Both need to be supported by evidence. Please, this is the limit to my Philosophical knowledge and if we go deeper into that rabbit hole I will have to go Mad Hatter.

Alright... but just to clarify: the only thing you consider evidence warranting belief is direct and empirical? You're entitled to that; but then on a practical level (and not to get semantically messy) how would you trust someone is telling the truth about a claim?

My level of trust would be based on the claim. 

If the claim is mundane: "I went to the grocery store today" I may take them at their word. There may be a receipt or video evidence but why would I give a shit? 

I expect reality to be consistent. The dead do not return to life. Humans do not regenerate lost limbs. Horses do not fly. If someone were to make such a claim I would expect extraordinary evidence. I would also be unable to verify that evidence so would insist the claimant take their claim to experts and I would await their report. As far as subjective religious experiences, cornball anecdotes hold little weight with me. Their god can come impress me personally if it chooses. It would know what would convince me.

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I disagree. Authoritative testimony is not evidence. Logical proofs are not evidence. Both need to be supported by evidence. Please, this is the limit to my Philosophical knowledge and if we go deeper into that rabbit hole I will have to go Mad Hatter.

You seem to have a clear and precise idea of what evidence is.

Just so the rest of us can understand you, what exactly must something be to be considered evidence? 

These days you can watch real court testimony on YouTube. Lots of authorities give testimony and this is considered evidence in the trial. Then the jury has to weigh the evidence. 

Are you using a different definition than the court system?

No different. I would hope that the expert witnesses would support their argument with scientific data. I would hope the expert witness was not taken at their word just because they are considered an authority.