Does it matter what X is in a debate about theism?
After reading some very amusing posts about the Flying Spaghetti Monster on a God debate, I was wondering whether the pronoun is important in the debate. God, Allah, Zeus, Invisible Pink Unicorn, or my own God, Alsp (more info on Him soon). Here's what I mean:
"I am a Christian. I believe that God is the creator of everything, and the source of all goodness. I have felt his presence. Amen." Whilst some would contend this, it is generally seen as an acceptable position, and doesn't require that they seek medical attention. Compare this to:
""I am a Pastafarian. I believe that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the creator of everything, and the source of all goodness. I have been touched by his noodly appendage. Ramen." Now normally, this would have you locked away in an asylum, and you wouldn't be allowed cutlery on your own.
Yet it seems that both points are equally probable. So: does it matter which God you're talking about in a debate, or is it just a distraction from the key points?
Yes
Side Score: 1
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No
Side Score: 3
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We've been bred into a society where critical thought is not encouraged. Slowly, and on this site more than most places, we're edging back towards it, but as a collective group, we aren't there yet. To me, we, again as a group, haven't applied this new found logic to religion. Therefore, it's considered inappropriate to question the mental facilities of someone who claims to be in communication with spiritual entities, as long as those entities have a popular following, aka, God's. I don't think that it's a good idea to automatically assume that theists are mad, and personally I don't judge anyone as long as they can justify their beliefs to themselves, but it's definitely an interesting point to make. But, I do think that it is somewhat illogical to use such a claim as proof of a supernatural being as a whole, and in that regard, no, it doesn't matter what that supernatural being is. Side: No
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