I am a theist, ask me anything [Spirituality & Religion]
Please at least try to keep it about theism though. I will prioritize those questions but will try to answer other questions as well.
26-30, M
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TheMorningsStar · 26-30, M
@KelseyR
I can't speak for all theists, but for me it is because of personal experience.
I posted something about this a while back, but it is possible for people to know something without being able to share said knowledge.
If you have studied the philosophy of the mind I am sure you will have heard of something called a "P-Zombie". Now, I do not know whether YOU have consciousness or if you are a P-Zombie. YOU, if you have consciousness, do know the answer to this, it is something that you KNOW, but it is 100% impossible to share that knowledge with other people. Everyone would have to "take it on faith" that you are not a P-Zombie.
As such, I don't believe I have to ability to convince anyone of theism, though I do hold onto it due to anecdotal evidence.
I can't speak for all theists, but for me it is because of personal experience.
I posted something about this a while back, but it is possible for people to know something without being able to share said knowledge.
If you have studied the philosophy of the mind I am sure you will have heard of something called a "P-Zombie". Now, I do not know whether YOU have consciousness or if you are a P-Zombie. YOU, if you have consciousness, do know the answer to this, it is something that you KNOW, but it is 100% impossible to share that knowledge with other people. Everyone would have to "take it on faith" that you are not a P-Zombie.
As such, I don't believe I have to ability to convince anyone of theism, though I do hold onto it due to anecdotal evidence.
KelseyR · 26-30, F
@TheMorningsStar Mention of P-zombie reminds me of World War Z (the movie).
I find it odd that experiential knowledge is sometimes the reason- since a possibility is being overlooked here, too. It could be that the mind is just manufacturing these experiences in response to desire.
And everyone has an inner voice: it being the product of learnt language.
I find it odd that experiential knowledge is sometimes the reason- since a possibility is being overlooked here, too. It could be that the mind is just manufacturing these experiences in response to desire.
And everyone has an inner voice: it being the product of learnt language.
TheMorningsStar · 26-30, M
@KelseyR
While it is true that "experiential knowledge"/anecdotal evidence can be "bad evidence" due to a number of factors, it is still a form of evidence to the one having said experience. This is especially important considering how without relying on you "experiential knowledge" you wouldn't even be able to believe that there was a reality around you.
While anecdotal evidence is able to be mistaken it is the first line of evidence everyone must use in order to move beyond the viewpoint of solipsism. Hell, in order to even collect information in order to "test" your anecdotal evidence you still have to use your own senses.
It is quite literally the first line between you and reality, and thus it tends to have the greatest impact on oneself.
While it is true that "experiential knowledge"/anecdotal evidence can be "bad evidence" due to a number of factors, it is still a form of evidence to the one having said experience. This is especially important considering how without relying on you "experiential knowledge" you wouldn't even be able to believe that there was a reality around you.
While anecdotal evidence is able to be mistaken it is the first line of evidence everyone must use in order to move beyond the viewpoint of solipsism. Hell, in order to even collect information in order to "test" your anecdotal evidence you still have to use your own senses.
It is quite literally the first line between you and reality, and thus it tends to have the greatest impact on oneself.