Is Belief in God Justified by Anecdotal Evidence?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the justification of belief in God through anecdotal evidence, sparked by a debate between a Mathematics student and a friend aspiring to become a priest. The friend claims that both belief in God and belief in the universe lack absolute proof, positioning them as equally valid theories. The Mathematics student seeks counterarguments to challenge this perspective, expressing discomfort with the equivalence drawn between the two beliefs. The discussion highlights the complexities of religious belief and the need for careful navigation of philosophical arguments within the forum's guidelines.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of anecdotal evidence and its implications in philosophical debates.
  • Familiarity with basic philosophical concepts regarding belief and proof.
  • Knowledge of the forum's religious discussion guidelines.
  • Awareness of the distinction between subjective belief and objective evidence.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research philosophical arguments against the validity of anecdotal evidence.
  • Explore the works of philosophers such as David Hume on belief and skepticism.
  • Study the principles of logical reasoning and fallacies in argumentation.
  • Examine the guidelines for discussing sensitive topics in online forums.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for philosophy students, individuals interested in religious studies, and anyone engaged in debates about belief systems and their justification.

Dumbfish1
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I've been debating (In a pub, where all of life's problems are solved) with a friend of mine, who's planning on becoming a priest after he finishes university, on his justification for believing in a god. He admitted that he had no proof for the existence of a god that isn't anecdotal, but that since we can't know anything absolutely for certain other than that thoughts exist, my belief in the existence of a universe is just as unfounded as his belief in a god, that they were both equally valid theories.

I'm a mere Mathematics student, so I'm not that well versed in philosophical arguments and I was unable to counter him, but something about his point dosn't sit right with me. I was wondering if any of you had counter arguments, or wether his point was valid.
 
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I am almost certain this violates guidelines.

Religious Discussion Guidelines:
Discussions that assert the a priori truth or falsity of religious dogmas and belief systems, or value judgments stemming from such religious belief systems, will not be tolerated. As a rule of thumb, some topics pertaining to religion might be permissible if they are discussed in such a way so as to remain neutral on the truth of, or value judgments stemming from, religious belief systems. However, it is essential to use good judgment whenever discussing religious matters to ensure that the discussion does not degenerate into a messy dispute. If in doubt, err on the side of caution.

Because of the complexity and ambiguity of this subject matter, there are no hard and fast moderation rules that apply over all possible cases. Ultimately, it is up to the administrators and mentors to decide what is appropriate and what is not on a case-by-case basis. Discuss religious matters at your own risk: Administrators and mentors retain the right to lock or delete any religious thread or post at any time without warning or explanation. All administrator and mentor action taken with regard to religious discussions will be final and will not be up for dispute.
 
As Dave has already mentioned this thread doesn't fit the guidelines, nor does it fit the rules for posting in philosophy which are posted at the top of the philosophy forum.
 

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