It depends how strong someone's "faith" is but I think if someone's faith is strong enough - basically nothing will move them from it.
If their faith is weaker - it can be moved by logic and reason. And I think there are degrees - some it doesn't take much and they just believed and had faith because they didn't realize the alternative. And others it takes a lot more.
And as I said - some cannot be moved I think. But its hard to really KNOW until they've met with reason enough times and their beliefs have been tested.
The problem often comes with those who are not willing to even LISTEN to reason. That often makes it very very hard (or impossible) for a 'person of faith' to be moved.
Although sometimes the only reason someone sticks with their faith is simply because they have been blocking themselves of and not been listening I think - like I said, not realizing the alternative - and if enough reason slips in through the gate; they actually lose their faith.
I agree that of course religious beliefs are completely absurd. Very unparsimonious and implausible indeed. God and miracles defy the laws of the universe for Celestial Teapot's sake!
I find it interesting that - if I am not mistaken - I read on these forums on a thread you created about your story as a past Christian and how you lost your faith; that once you begun to read the bible more you lost a lot more (or all) of your faith? If I remember correctly and I'm not mistaken?
On Penn and Teller's Bullshit Penn said that the best way to become an atheist is to read the bible.
I think the bible either makes you lose your faith - more or entirely - or strengthen it if you already believed what you were told by other believers - or find your faith.
I think it can go all ways because it depends how you interpret it.
And I think providing you haven't been brought up to believe as a child its usually, at least, a lot easier to recognize the circular reasoning.
The whole believing in God because the bible says God exists and is God - and you believe the bible because its Gods book. All that circular mumbo jumbo reasoning.
Although its possible to find faith even if you weren't brought up to believe as a child. But a lot harder and a lot more uncommon I, at least, think.
Evf
If their faith is weaker - it can be moved by logic and reason. And I think there are degrees - some it doesn't take much and they just believed and had faith because they didn't realize the alternative. And others it takes a lot more.
And as I said - some cannot be moved I think. But its hard to really KNOW until they've met with reason enough times and their beliefs have been tested.
The problem often comes with those who are not willing to even LISTEN to reason. That often makes it very very hard (or impossible) for a 'person of faith' to be moved.
Although sometimes the only reason someone sticks with their faith is simply because they have been blocking themselves of and not been listening I think - like I said, not realizing the alternative - and if enough reason slips in through the gate; they actually lose their faith.
I agree that of course religious beliefs are completely absurd. Very unparsimonious and implausible indeed. God and miracles defy the laws of the universe for Celestial Teapot's sake!
I find it interesting that - if I am not mistaken - I read on these forums on a thread you created about your story as a past Christian and how you lost your faith; that once you begun to read the bible more you lost a lot more (or all) of your faith? If I remember correctly and I'm not mistaken?
On Penn and Teller's Bullshit Penn said that the best way to become an atheist is to read the bible.
I think the bible either makes you lose your faith - more or entirely - or strengthen it if you already believed what you were told by other believers - or find your faith.
I think it can go all ways because it depends how you interpret it.
And I think providing you haven't been brought up to believe as a child its usually, at least, a lot easier to recognize the circular reasoning.
The whole believing in God because the bible says God exists and is God - and you believe the bible because its Gods book. All that circular mumbo jumbo reasoning.
Although its possible to find faith even if you weren't brought up to believe as a child. But a lot harder and a lot more uncommon I, at least, think.
Evf
