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Exploring Christianity
Evidence other than hearsay
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<blockquote data-quote="Gumph" data-source="post: 73455784" data-attributes="member: 358578"><p>I have had to give this some thought because these sort of examples keep coming up - and I must add that I think yours were really good ones. For convenience and practical reasons, we will accept the word of people for a host of minor interactions on any particular day. When deciding which ones to accept we will evaluate each of them superficially:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How significant are the consequences of this acceptance?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">What does the other person have to gain by making a misrepresentation?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How qualified is that person likely to be, to be able to make their statement?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">How unusual or grand is the statement.</li> </ol><p>There are probably a few more but these are the ones that came to mind first. If any of the above don't sit comfortably, more data is required. So in our examples:</p><p></p><p>My Birthday:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Insignificant. If I was born on the 24th or the 25th, or 1998 or 1999, there are no major consequences of me believing either.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">My folks have no gain to make by lying to me about my birth date, unless its to save face and move it by 9 months, but then back to point 1.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">My folks would likely be very qualified.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Fairly minor and common statement. If they said I was born in 1835, it would require some more investigation.</li> </ol><p>Decision: Accept their statement as reasonable fact and move on.</p><p></p><p>My Folks:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Some significance in that I might want to spend some time searching for my biological folks, but as a child there isn't as life goes on the same either way. Its only as an adult when I could investigate that there may be some.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">They could be lying to prevent emotional upheaval. Certainly something to consider.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">They are well qualified as they have ended up being by parents - biological or not.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Common statement for a parent to say they are the parent.</li> </ol><p>Decision: There are certainly possibilities that they may be wrong, but without some sort of indication otherwise, it seems reasonable to accept as fact for now.</p><p></p><p>Now lets look at the claim that the Bible is the written word God:</p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Hugely significant. I would need to change my lifestyle, my beliefs and adjust my moral views.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The persons originally writing the bible could have done so for political control or as a means to source funding. There is a potential for them to gain - whether or not it is established yet.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">They are writing decades after the events and were not witnesses themselves and it seems its not even clear exactly who some of the scribes were. That is not well qualified.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The claims are out of this world. Miracles, other worlds, after life, etc.</li> </ol><p>Decision: I would be reluctant to accept at face value. Further investigation required.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Gumph, post: 73455784, member: 358578"] I have had to give this some thought because these sort of examples keep coming up - and I must add that I think yours were really good ones. For convenience and practical reasons, we will accept the word of people for a host of minor interactions on any particular day. When deciding which ones to accept we will evaluate each of them superficially: [LIST=1] [*]How significant are the consequences of this acceptance? [*]What does the other person have to gain by making a misrepresentation? [*]How qualified is that person likely to be, to be able to make their statement? [*]How unusual or grand is the statement. [/LIST] There are probably a few more but these are the ones that came to mind first. If any of the above don't sit comfortably, more data is required. So in our examples: My Birthday: [LIST=1] [*]Insignificant. If I was born on the 24th or the 25th, or 1998 or 1999, there are no major consequences of me believing either. [*]My folks have no gain to make by lying to me about my birth date, unless its to save face and move it by 9 months, but then back to point 1. [*]My folks would likely be very qualified. [*]Fairly minor and common statement. If they said I was born in 1835, it would require some more investigation. [/LIST] Decision: Accept their statement as reasonable fact and move on. My Folks: [LIST=1] [*]Some significance in that I might want to spend some time searching for my biological folks, but as a child there isn't as life goes on the same either way. Its only as an adult when I could investigate that there may be some. [*]They could be lying to prevent emotional upheaval. Certainly something to consider. [*]They are well qualified as they have ended up being by parents - biological or not. [*]Common statement for a parent to say they are the parent. [/LIST] Decision: There are certainly possibilities that they may be wrong, but without some sort of indication otherwise, it seems reasonable to accept as fact for now. Now lets look at the claim that the Bible is the written word God: [LIST=1] [*]Hugely significant. I would need to change my lifestyle, my beliefs and adjust my moral views. [*]The persons originally writing the bible could have done so for political control or as a means to source funding. There is a potential for them to gain - whether or not it is established yet. [*]They are writing decades after the events and were not witnesses themselves and it seems its not even clear exactly who some of the scribes were. That is not well qualified. [*]The claims are out of this world. Miracles, other worlds, after life, etc. [/LIST] Decision: I would be reluctant to accept at face value. Further investigation required. [/QUOTE]
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