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: April 26, 2024, 5:14 pm
Atheist Forums › Community › Philosophy v
Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Thread Modes
Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
Bahana Offline
Newbie
*
Religious Views: Atheist
Posts: 91
Threads: 24
Joined: August 14, 2017
Reputation: 3
#1
Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 8:23 pm
Can you test a hypothesis about the supernatural? I've heard people argue on both sides of this. I've heard you cannot because you can use a supernatural being as the the explanation for anything if you think it is all powerful. I've also heard certain things like an amputee growing a limb back after someone prays for them in the moment would be good evidence. Where do you forumers stand on this?
Find
Reply
Foxaèr Offline Donators
Faith's Nightmare
*****
Religious Views: Infidel Savant
Posts: 30821
Threads: 1382
Joined: March 15, 2013
Reputation: 152
#2
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 8:26 pm
What is there to test?
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
Find
Reply
The Valkyrie Online
Stabby Titz
*******
Religious Views: Outdated
Posts: 34734
Threads: 200
Joined: August 13, 2012
Reputation: 145
#3
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Can claims of the supernatural be tested?

Depends on the claim.

The Amazing Randi has a $1 million challenge for testing claims of psychic powers under lab conditions. So far no one has claimed it.

There are NO scientific papers which prove the efficacy of prayer in healing. In fact, several studies show the exact opposite, pointing to a psychological factor in healing.

Ghosts? Again, nothing but claims. Some of the pictures are fascinating, but beyond that they prove nothing.
Dying to live, living to die.
Find
Reply
vorlon13 Offline
Posting Freak
*****
Religious Views: agnostic 12 stepper
Posts: 30129
Threads: 304
Joined: April 18, 2014
Reputation: 92
#4
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 8:35 pm
(April 9, 2018 at 8:26 pm)Lutrinae Wrote: What is there to test?

Jesus said He would return during the lives of those around during His time.

2000 years later, they've ALL died off and still no Jesus.

Jesus made the prediction and failed to fulfill it.
 The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it. 




Find
Reply
The Valkyrie Online
Stabby Titz
*******
Religious Views: Outdated
Posts: 34734
Threads: 200
Joined: August 13, 2012
Reputation: 145
#5
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 8:37 pm
(April 9, 2018 at 8:35 pm)vorlon13 Wrote:
(April 9, 2018 at 8:26 pm)Lutrinae Wrote: What is there to test?

Jesus said He would return during the lives of those around during His time.

2000 years later, they've ALL died off and still no Jesus.

Jesus made the prediction and failed to fulfill it.

You're taking it out of context.
Dying to live, living to die.
Find
Reply
brewer Offline Donators
Are you with me Doctor Wu?
*****
Religious Views: atheist
Posts: 27241
Threads: 519
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation: 90
#6
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 9:10 pm
My hypothesis: God will give a cure for erectile dysfunction.

The Action: God gave us Pfizer. 

Thank you God!
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
Find
Reply
Neo-Scholastic Offline Donators
Donator
*****
Religious Views: Non-denominational Christian
Posts: 8709
Threads: 128
Joined: March 1, 2012
Reputation: 54
#7
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 10:28 pm (This post was last modified: April 9, 2018 at 10:29 pm by Neo-Scholastic.)
(April 9, 2018 at 8:32 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: The Amazing Randi has a $1 million challenge for testing claims of psychic powers under lab conditions.  So far no one has claimed it.

Randi is a fraud that refuses pay-up. Just ask Sheldrake...

Find
Reply
The Valkyrie Online
Stabby Titz
*******
Religious Views: Outdated
Posts: 34734
Threads: 200
Joined: August 13, 2012
Reputation: 145
#8
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 10:41 pm
Just a quick review of Sheldrake's background makes me immediately question the veracity of his claims.
Dying to live, living to die.
Find
Reply
Foxaèr Offline Donators
Faith's Nightmare
*****
Religious Views: Infidel Savant
Posts: 30821
Threads: 1382
Joined: March 15, 2013
Reputation: 152
#9
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 10:44 pm
Brilliant speech my ass.
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
Find
Reply
ignoramus Offline
wiggle wiggle
*****
Religious Views: n/a
Posts: 20476
Threads: 447
Joined: June 16, 2014
Reputation: 111
#10
RE: Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural
April 9, 2018 at 11:00 pm (This post was last modified: April 9, 2018 at 11:01 pm by ignoramus.)
Yes you can!

I have an invisible dragon in my basement.

Can I see it? No! Therefore it IS invisible
Is it a dragon? Yes! It's not my fault it is invisible Dunno

prove I don't have it.

*insert the same flawed logic for all things supernatural, paranormal, God, pixies, Santa, honest politician, etc
No God, No fear.
Know God, Know fear.
Find
Reply


Atheist Forums › Community › Philosophy v
Testing a Hypothesis about the Supernatural

Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Trying to simplify my Consciousness hypothesis Won2blv 83 13881 February 21, 2017 at 1:31 pm
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  A hypothesis about consciousness Won2blv 12 3928 February 12, 2017 at 9:31 pm
Last Post: Won2blv
  Supernatural isn't a useful concept Rhizomorph13 85 11570 November 12, 2016 at 3:15 am
Last Post: Ignorant
  If a supernatural intelligence did create the universe..... maestroanth 12 2062 April 20, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Last Post: bennyboy
  Let's play with the concept of 'Supernatural' ErGingerbreadMandude 13 2119 March 22, 2016 at 4:01 am
Last Post: BrianSoddingBoru4
  New suppositions about God and the supernatural entities A-g-n-o-s-t-i-c 30 10982 January 20, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Last Post: A-g-n-o-s-t-i-c
  What is Supernatural? ErGingerbreadMandude 50 9606 September 14, 2015 at 10:35 am
Last Post: robvalue
  One philosophical argument for existence of supernatural. Mystic 59 15782 July 20, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Last Post: Cato
  Open challenge regarding the supernatural robvalue 38 6046 May 20, 2015 at 11:53 pm
Last Post: Faith No More
  God of the gaps, magical hypothesis, philosophical meandering. schizo pantheist 36 8283 January 23, 2015 at 12:04 am
Last Post: SteelCurtain



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)