Empiricism

[firstfloor]

Would you agree with something like this definition of evidence: 'X is evidence for Z if it is something that makes belief in Z more rational and reasonable' ?

[seer]

Well I'm glad to hear that you are open to the God of scripture.

Belief in a Deity fits this model only in the sense that it is a tool used by Clergy to control their flock. It is a psychological method (theory) for producing conversions (facts). It works as long as you give it money.

Really FF, this is inane - even for you.

The cost of religious tax exemptions in the USA was recently estimated to be 71 Billion Dollars yearly. It is an industrial scale psychological experiment.

That is because we have a First Amendment i.e. freedom of religion. And the power to tax is the power to control.

[firstfloor]

And yes we learn a lot from the night sky - foremost the power and majesty of our Creator.

Yes indeed, the Universe is incomprehensibly majestic and yet, even though we are the tiniest speck by comparison, we have the equally majestic ability to comprehend what we see. It is astonishing what mindless atoms can do.

[firstfloor]

Well I'm glad to hear that you are open to the God of scripture.

But I do not think you can ignore the following two thousand years of social and scientific development up to the present day. There are cracks appearing.

[seer]

But I do not think you can ignore the following two thousand years of social and scientific development up to the present day. There are cracks appearing.

Really? Where?

[seer]

Yes indeed, the Universe is incomprehensibly majestic and yet, even though we are the tiniest speck by comparison, we have the equally majestic ability to comprehend what we see. It is astonishing what mindless atoms can do.

This is the bottom line FF. I say that the universe proves or points to a Rational source. What do you say it points to - a non-rational source?

[firstfloor]

This is the bottom line FF. I say that the universe proves or points to a Rational source. What do you say it points to - a non-rational source?

[firstfloor]

Really? Where?

[Darth Executor]

Ah! So you are joking.

No, I am quite serious. I don't mind you ignoring most of my post but I would still like for you to explain what's so good about the average person "thinking for themselves".

[seer]

Our lives are so short on the cosmic scale that it is practically futile to worry about much beyond our local circumstances and what we want to cook for dinner...

Sure, then let's be more selfish and cruel - if it gets us what we want.

[firstfloor]

No, I am quite serious. I don't mind you ignoring most of my post but I would still like for you to explain what's so good about the average person "thinking for themselves".

[firstfloor]

Sure, then let's be more selfish and cruel - if it gets us what we want.

If that was our true nature, why would we have written The Bible and many other great works of life affirming literature? The story of the fall is about our aspiration to be great.

[Darth Executor]

[Darth Executor]

If that was our true nature, why would we have written The Bible and many other great works of life affirming literature? The story of the fall is about our aspiration to be great.

The story of the Fall is about what happens when Sapiens Manboons decide thinking for themselves is a good idea.

[seer]

If that was our true nature, why would we have written The Bible and many other great works of life affirming literature? The story of the fall is about our aspiration to be great.

Because FF, there my be something more than mere nature informing our ethical reasoning.