Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: December 13, 2024, 7:34 pm

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Why theists think their irrational/fallacious beliefs are valid
#6
RE: Why theists think their irrational/fallacious beliefs are valid
Disclaimer:
I have never been a theist in real life or played one on television. I can only comment on my perspective on their behavior.

The model I use for explaining the observed behaviors of theists combines elements of evolution by means of natural selection and game theory.
I believe that religions, as self organizing and self perpetuating systems of observed regularity evolve to suit the environments they inhabit. The ones which lose that adaptive capability or have their environments change sufficiently go extinct. Nobody sacrifices to Athena these days. Religions are aggregates of their members. I have not seen convincing evidence that religions are self aware, though they have evolved self protective behaviors which serve to perpetuate and propagate them. This could be described as intentional. Religions are aggregates of their members. If the members change behaviors, so do their religions.

In game theory, one sets up payoff matrices based on input parameters. Offers of salvation or damnation are inputs and expected eternal bliss or torture are the presumed payoffs for the theist. In this context the truth of a proposition is simply another input. If the payoff is seen to be optimal by the player it will be selected whether true or false. This is not necessarily conscious or rational behavior. In the case of religious behavior I separate theists into sheep and shepherds. The sheep play a herd game in which banding together provides mutual protection and a greater influence than an individual could wield by itself. The shepherd strategy is one which uses greater independence and intellectual ability to use the power afforded by the flock to its individual advantage. These behaviors are each seen to be optimal by its practitioner. That condition is a Nash equilibrium/evolutionary stable scenario in which each player is playing a locally optimized strategy which still may be maladaptive compared to some other global strategy. But as the player cannot see past the local strategy, they persist in what may externally appear to be stupid, stubborn and self destructive behavior. To them it is their best play. The sheep and shepherd interaction forms the religion.
In American TV evangelical protestantism the sheep and shepherd model might be better described as the sheep and wolves model.
So how, exactly, does God know that She's NOT a brain in a vat? Huh
Reply



Messages In This Thread
RE: Why theists think their irrational/fallacious beliefs are valid - by JuliaL - April 30, 2014 at 11:07 am

Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  How often do your beliefs change? Ahriman 37 4120 January 23, 2022 at 10:03 pm
Last Post: paulpablo
  The soft toys parents hope connect kids to their faith zebo-the-fat 13 1720 October 31, 2021 at 3:50 am
Last Post: Paleophyte
Exclamation Why Atheism is Incoherent & You Aren't as Smart as You Think You Are Seax 60 6829 March 19, 2021 at 9:43 am
Last Post: Mister Agenda
  Theists, tell me, an atheist, why your God has neglected to show himself to me? ignoramus 75 27676 March 5, 2021 at 6:49 am
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Are there any theists here who think God wants, or will take care of, Global Warming? Duty 16 4230 January 19, 2020 at 11:50 am
Last Post: Smedders
  My views on religious doctrine and beliefs robvalue 9 1299 October 2, 2018 at 7:06 am
Last Post: Cod
  This Will Cause Believers To Lose Their Shit Minimalist 36 9628 March 30, 2018 at 11:14 am
Last Post: sdelsolray
  Christians and Their Homework! chimp3 78 12184 March 6, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Last Post: downbeatplumb
  Republicans seem hell bent on proving their god does not exist Silver 7 2635 December 23, 2017 at 4:23 am
Last Post: WinterHold
  How and why can people ignore their God’s immoral ways? Greatest I am 129 24097 November 27, 2017 at 9:35 am
Last Post: Cod



Users browsing this thread: 4 Guest(s)