What could disprove your religious beliefs?

[Hitro]

Well, obviously this question goes out to those who have religious beliefs, wise a*s answers like "nuttin', I ain't got no religion" are therefore already given.

There are numerous threads in this OT forum alone about Evolution vs. Creation as loads of other religion vs. science topics.
I, like others, usually don't take much part in them because I regard it as futile to discuss things that appear to be on completely different levels. In other words, I've never seen someone saying "oh damn, you're right, my belief makes no sense".

But maybe I am wrong. Maybe there are things that could make religious people change their mind.

So do they exist?

Can someone believing in Creation even imagining seeing a solid proof for a different truth (like Evolution)?

Would the discovery of extraterrestrial life (not necessarily intelligent life!) change your views?

Which other views would be changed by what?

Or is it not imaginable at all?

Oh my, I started a religious thread...

 

[jpowers]

Well, I don't have religious beliefs, but if a gigantic hand/disembodied head/voice came out of the sky with lots of reliable witnesses, including myself, and performed some sort of miracle, I would have to at least consider the idea.

 

[FredLC]

I can say what could change my religious disbelieves; Psalms of fire written in the surface of the moon, giving a prophecy that in three days the whole Europe would change it's shape and become just like a giant cross, and all that actually happening.

I'd praise the Lord forever after that.

Regards .

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by FredLC
I can say what could change my religious disbelieves; Psalms of fire written in the surface of the moon, giving a prophecy that in three days the whole Europe would change it's shape and become just like a giant cross, and all that actually happening.

How could you rule out a scientific explanation for that?

And funny that both replies came from people with "disbelieves".

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Even if such a hand would come out of the sky, it must have a scientific explanation. It must be much, much more than that to convince me. Perhaps brainwashing chemicals.

 

[FredLC]

Originally posted by Hitro
How could you rule out a scientific explanation for that?

And funny that both replies came from people with "disbelieves".

Well, because the psalms would say: "beware of the false explanations".

And well, really, only non-believers answered so far, but the thread is young. Besides, once FearlessLeader listed what could convince him that he is wrong, so wait a little, I say that probably at least him will play along.

Regards .

 

[jpowers]

Originally posted by Hitro

How could you rule out a scientific explanation for that?

If science were able to explain something like that, then science would have proven itself just as arbitrary and faith-based as any religion. Thus, who cares what you believe? It's all true.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Originally posted by jpowers

If science were able to explain something like that, then science would have proven itself just as arbitrary and faith-based as any religion. Thus, who cares what you believe? It's all true.

How would science become "arbitrary" if that were to be proven? You are contradicting yourself.

 

[jpowers]

Originally posted by Aphex_Twin


How would science become "arbitrary" if that were to be proven? You are contradicting yourself.

The only scientific explanation for burning letters in the moon correctly prophesying the transformation of the Earth into a cross would indicate that the only thing we know about science is that everything we know is completely false. Thus, A = ~A and anything follows. Read your logic before telling me I'm contradicting myself.

 

[floppa21]

I don't think this is a good question... NOTHING will take away a person's beliefs on religion. Well, they will say anyways. And unfortunately, it is probably true. It is difficult to get someone to even QUESTION this faith they have let alone change their mind on it. Good thing I don't listen to that God fellow who says I have to preach to everyone else.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Originally posted by jpowers

The only scientific explanation for burning letters in the moon correctly prophesying the transformation of the Earth into a cross would indicate that the only thing we know about science is that everything we know is completely false. Thus, A = ~A and anything follows. Read your logic before telling me I'm contradicting myself.

Why would a scientific explanation for such a thing be false? Well, since it did happend...

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by floppa21
NOTHING will take away a person's beliefs on religion. Well, they will say anyways. And unfortunately, it is probably true. It is difficult to get someone to even QUESTION this faith they have let alone change their mind on it. Good thing I don't listen to that God fellow who says I have to preach to everyone else.

Agreed. That is exactly the point and why I think it is a good question.

Originally posted by FredLC
Well, because the psalms would say: "beware of the false explanations".

Originally posted by jpowers
The only scientific explanation for burning letters in the moon correctly prophesying the transformation of the Earth into a cross would indicate that the only thing we know about science is that everything we know is completely false. Thus, A = ~A and anything follows. Read your logic before telling me I'm contradicting myself.

The disproval of the current theories in science would hardly make it arbitrary. It is the nature of scientific theories.
And if one theory is disproven that doesn't make science in general wrong.
Furthermore there could be explanations for it within our current knowledge (mightly aliens having a prank on us, etc. ).

 

[nihilistic]

Originally posted by Aphex_Twin
Why would a scientific explanation for such a thing be false? Well, since it did happend...

Precisely. It won't be false. If such evidence appeared, then the fundamental assumptions will have to be re-assessed and new and more inclusive theories must be formulated

 

[jpowers]

Originally posted by nihilistic


Precisely. It won't be false. If such evidence appeared, then the fundamental assumptions will have to be re-assessed and new and more inclusive theories must be formulated

I restate my original example: The set of events that would be necessary to make me believe in something other than science would be exactly those events that would require contradictions to the fundamental methods of science. IE, no possible consistent set of theories could explain them, no matter how 'inclusively reformulated' they are. IMHO, 1000-foot high flaming lunar letters correctly prophecying entirely inappropriate geological alterations would qualify. This is coming without a degree in the Earth Sciences, but I'd be willing to believe that more than a few folks down at the USGS would walk away from their jobs.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

 

[andrewgprv]

For someone to stop believeing in a religon they must be able to look at it objectivly, but most will not look at their religon objectivly. Anything that reafirms their own beliefs is God speaking and anything that does not is Satan's trickery.

 

[Double Barrel]

Q: What could disprove your religious beliefs?

A: Nothing

p.s. I like Aphex_Twin's reply.

 

[Sh3kel]

The second coming of Christ would prove me Judaism is wrong.

 

[Hitro]

What would prove the second coming of Christ to you?

 

[floppa21]

Originally posted by andrewgprv
For someone to stop believeing in a religon they must be able to look at it objectivly, but most will not look at their religon objectivly. Anything that reafirms their own beliefs is God speaking and anything that does not is Satan's trickery.

I like andrewgprv more and more with each post I read. He says what I want to say, but he says it with eloquence.