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Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 2:40 pm
(This post was last modified: October 23, 2012 at 3:48 pm by Darkstar.)
I have been asked to start a seperate thread, so here I am. The basic question is this:
Theists: why do you believe your particular god is the correct one? You might cite specific claims, but I am asking you why your god's claims have more credibility as evidence for his/her existance than the other guy's.
This is one of a number of common reasonings used against theism: I don't believe in your god for the same reason you don't believe in anyone elses'. So, why don't you believe in other gods, and why is yours better? Saying that because no one believes in them anymore is proof that they are false will not work. You must at least provide a valid reason as to why people stopped believeing (other than persecution) for this to work.
If you are a non-denominational theist, then good job for having more intellectual honesty, and this doesn't apply to you (unless you have something you would like to add). To curve one's standards for evidence to allow in one god, but not others with the same level of evidence is intellectually dishonest. Maybe someone can prove they don't do that, and have a logical reason to think their religion is more valid, maybe not. Keep in mind, I am only referring to relative validity between religions, not validity in general. Note for the poll that desism wouldn't be considered a religion.
EDIT: For "no existing religion is correct in its interpretation of god" means you believe in god, but not religion (like MysticKnight). Should be at least sure enough to call yourself a theist, even if an agnostic one.
John Adams Wrote:The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 3:41 pm
religion is man's attempt to worhip and offer himself to God.
No one religion is right.
What God did to cover this gap is sacerfice His son to cover the 'wrong-ness' of our efforts. All He has asked in return is to take our efforts and acknoweledge the sacerfice made. This 'effort' is known as Christianity, or rather Biblically Based Christianity. Even in biblically based Christianity our religious efforts are incomplete. That is where His grace and mercy comes in. It forgives our short commings and leaves the expression of Love we show when we worship in our various religious practices.
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 3:45 pm
(This post was last modified: October 23, 2012 at 3:45 pm by Darkstar.)
(October 23, 2012 at 3:41 pm)Drich Wrote:
So you are saying that rather than christianity being right, it is just somewhat more accurate? (for clarity) On that note, that would mean you accept Jesus as divine. On what grounds do you mean to claim that this is true while ressurection claims made by other religions are false?
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Per your instructions, I voted.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 3:50 pm
(This post was last modified: October 23, 2012 at 3:51 pm by Darkstar.)
(October 23, 2012 at 3:49 pm)DeistPaladin Wrote: Per your instructions, I voted.
Why are atheists voting, though? (Two have so far)
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 3:52 pm
(This post was last modified: October 23, 2012 at 3:52 pm by frankiej.)
Because I wanted to. 
I never answer polls seriously anyway...
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm
(This post was last modified: October 23, 2012 at 4:11 pm by Mystic.)
There is the following arguments for religion that I've made after being a Deist, that put's deism on the defense.
Assume for all these arguments that 1) God exists 2) Is ultimately great hence benevolent, loving, graceful, etc.
Argument from organization:
1) Society needs organization.
2) The best organization would come from God.
3) God being benevolent wants the best organization for society.
4) Therefore there is a religion that has the best organization for society.
Argument from clarification of (objective) morality.
1) Humanity although believes in (objective) morality, disagrees and is confused about much of it, and is following subjective morality that is wrong in many cases.
2) God wants humanity to have a way to recognize objective morality in a clear fashion.
3) Therefore there is a religion that proves itself and has clear moral detailed guidance.
Argument from relationship:
1) The more a sentient being loves someone, the more it is inclined to communicate to them in a relationship.
2) God's love towards humanity is higher then love then which all (other) sentient beings have when they are inclined to communicate to one in a relationship.
3) Therefore God would communicate to humanity and establish a relationship.
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 4:28 pm
(October 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: There is the following arguments for religion that I've made after being a Deist, that put's deism on the defense.
Assume for all these arguments that 1) God exists 2) Is ultimately great hence benevolent, loving, graceful, etc.
Even with these faulty premises, the arguments you make are not valid.
(October 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: Argument from organization:
1) Society needs organization.
2) The best organization would come from God.
3) God being benevolent wants the best organization for society.
4) Therefore there is a religion that has the best organization for society.
Except, as we have seen, currently the best "organization" in teh society does not stem from any religion but from the principles of secularism.
(October 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: Argument from clarification of (objective) morality.
1) Humanity although believes in (objective) morality, disagrees and is confused about much of it, and is following subjective morality that is wrong in many cases.
2) God wants humanity to have a way to recognize objective morality in a clear fashion.
3) Therefore there is a religion that proves itself and has clear moral detailed guidance.
Except
a) If that morality is dependent on god then its not objective morality and
b) If any morality is to be found to be objective, then then it must be found so by reasoned discourse - not divine command. Ethics is the domain of philosophy, not religion.
(October 23, 2012 at 4:01 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: Argument from relationship:
1) The more a sentient being loves someone, the more it is inclined to communicate to them in a relationship.
2) God's love towards humanity is higher then love then which all (other) sentient beings have when they are inclined to communicate to one in a relationship.
3) Therefore God would communicate to humanity and establish a relationship.
Except, the existence of so many religions would mean that he is extremely poor at communicating.
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 4:30 pm
(October 23, 2012 at 4:28 pm)genkaus Wrote: Except, the existence of so many religions would mean that he is extremely poor at communicating.
I think that was his whole point...
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RE: Why Yahweh? (Or Allah, or Zeus, etc.)
October 23, 2012 at 4:30 pm
(October 23, 2012 at 3:41 pm)Drich Wrote: religion is man's attempt to worhip and offer himself to God.
No one religion is right.
What God did to cover this gap is sacerfice His son to cover the 'wrong-ness' of our efforts. All He has asked in return is to take our efforts and acknoweledge the sacerfice made. This 'effort' is known as Christianity, or rather Biblically Based Christianity. Even in biblically based Christianity our religious efforts are incomplete. That is where His grace and mercy comes in. It forgives our short commings and leaves the expression of Love we show when we worship in our various religious practices.
So, basically, what you are saying is that no one religion is right, but yours is anyway.
I notice you still did not answer the actual question, just made bland assertions. Do you have a justification for your position?
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