Please give evidence for all religions except Christianity

[joobz]

I beat you with Buddhism . I intentionally used a non "abrahamic" religion to avoid him pretending it is still the same god as the christian or whatever.

I missed that, sorry.
I was hoping that the same types of arguments could be used for all religions so that we can move on to the special pleading.

I choose Judaism because it is substantially smaller than many other religions, yet have had a tremendous influence on western society.

 

[Naddig74]

Hi, I currently have the below thread in the History and Literature forum.

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124603

In that thread which has over 14,000 posts I give some historical and other evidence why I believe Christianity is true. That thread has been closed temporarily. Until the thread is reopened I've decided to have a different thread. In this new thread I would like members of religions "other than Christianity" to give evidence why you believe your religion is true. Thanks

Once again please do not post evidence for Christianity in here.

Religion, schmeligion. They are all bunk.

 

[I Ratant]

Originally Posted by Filippo Lippi View Post
In my just over 0 posts in this thread I have shown that

1/ some people were prepared to die for religion x
2/ somebody famous believed it
3/ somebody famous said it was quite good
4/ umpteen presidents of country y believed in x
5/ I can't believe that x isn't true

Now DOC, what is wrong with my evidence?"

To which DOC replies, as usual, unaware of anything outside his very narrow viewpoint: "What religion are you talking about?? "
.
The answer, DOC, is ALL of them!
And all of them can't be right.
But all of them can be (and are) wrong!
As figmental as the FSM (I hope! )

 

[zooterkin]

Are you saying Muslims, Scientologists, Mormons, God believing Jews etc. don't come in this religion thread?

No, she's saying that we don't get many believers of any religion on this forum (the JREF forum). The sub-forum is 'Religion and Philosophy'. This thread is the one you started.

Given that a substantial number, probably a majority, of the posters here are atheists or agnostics, and most of those who are religious are Christians, the chances of finding people of other faiths willing to defend in just the way you want them to is pretty small. Hence the suggestion to start a thread on a board where you're more likely to find the people you're looking for. If you're trying to prove that Christianity is unique (and therefore true) because of the way that its adherents will defend it, then this thread is not going to do it, and it would be dishonest to pretend otherwise.

 

[Toke]

As we all know, whenever Thor drives across the sky there will be sparks struck from the wheels of his chariot.
Lightning is a common phenomenon, need I say more??

Tomorrow, at dawn, the Aten will appear on the Eastern horizon.

I win.

Well, ok I guess there can be more gods. Just remember who put it there.

 

[sadhatter]

"Hey atheists, prove religion right. "

Seriously op, do you not see the inherent problem with asking for this? How about i ask you to prove Christianity wrong? Or maybe we can ask Obama to prove America is the worst country on earth. Or ask superman to prove that lex luthor is a nice guy.

You understand what an atheist is right?

 

[Toke]

Sadhatter,
Are you insinuating that the OP is somehow flawed??

 

[Lucian]

As we all know, whenever Thor drives across the sky there will be sparks struck from the wheels of his chariot.
Lightning is a common phenomenon, need I say more??



Well, ok I guess there can be more gods. Just remember who put it there.

I would like, if I may, to put in a word for Odin. Scores of people were not only willing, but keen to die for Odin, after killing a bunch of other people first dedicating many others to Odin first. People were horrified at the thought of not dying for Odin. What a horrible, shameful thing, to die peacefully in bed!

And why were they so keen to die for Odin? Why, so the could join him in Valhalla and die for him some more--over and over, on a daily basis (plus the perpetually renewing barbecue and the valkyries. What's 72 virgins compared to some ale-bearing, experienced battle-maidens? Oh, and did I mention that half the slain actually went to Freyja, goddess of love, beauty and general sluttery?).

Sure, their methods of evangelism were a bit quirky: "Hi, I'm Thorgils, and these are my weapons. I just wanted to stop by today and pillage your monastery and perhaps bash in some tonsured heads. Don't make me berserk. You wouldn't like me when I'm berserk."

Okay, no Odin-worshipers have been president as far as we know, but I'm pretty sure the Illuminati/NWO is made up of his followers. In fact, are any of the Bilderbergers elderly one-eyed men?

In conclusion, I'd just like to say: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Please think about it, won't you?

 

[shawmutt]

DOC is still trying to Google "variables".

 

[Lord Emsworth]

In this new thread I would like members of religions "other than Christianity" to give evidence why you believe your religion is true.

Does this evidence have to be only as good as what you try to pass off as evidence in that other thread?

 

[Astreja]

I think that Scandinavian religion is based on various real heroes and community-builders who moved to northern Europe some time ago. My guess is that the Æsir (e.g. Oðinn, Frigga, Thor, Tyr) came on the scene via ongoing migration from India, Mesopotamia, Greece and the Etruscan lands, and that the Vanir (e.g. Njord, Freyr, Freyja) were leaders of the indigenous Scandinavian people (still extant as the Saami). "Tyr" may actually be "Tiu Pater" (Jupiter); the Futhark runes bear at least a superficial resemblance to the Etruscan alphabet; and Snorri Sturluson is of the opinion that the Aesir came through or from Troy. There's also a cosmic cow myth and various poems that suggest a familiarity with Hindu culture and religion.

I don't think that any of them were gods in the supernatural sense, but that their deeds were indeed the stuff of legends. That, in my opinion, is the source of virtually all religions -- Stories that keep getting bigger and bigger until someone turns into a god.

(Disclaimer: As I have Scandinavian ancestry on the maternal side, I believe that I am literally descended from one or more of the actual people who achieved apotheosis via the village storyteller.)

 

[Akhenaten]

As we all know, whenever Thor drives across the sky there will be sparks struck from the wheels of his chariot.
Lightning is a common phenomenon, need I say more??

Tomorrow, at dawn, the Aten will appear on the Eastern horizon.

I win.

Well, ok I guess there can be more gods. Just remember who put it there.

No problem, my friend.

The Reformed Church of the Aten is more than happy to acknowledge Thor.

And Valkyries.

Any religion that has Valkyries in it must be true.

 

[Akhenaten]

I think that Scandinavian religion is based on various real heroes and community-builders who moved to northern Europe some time ago. My guess is that the Æsir (e.g. Oðinn, Frigga, Thor, Tyr) came on the scene via ongoing migration from India, Mesopotamia, Greece and the Etruscan lands, and that the Vanir (e.g. Njord, Freyr, Freyja) were leaders of the indigenous Scandinavian people (still extant as the Saami). "Tyr" may actually be "Tiu Pater" (Jupiter); the Futhark runes bear at least a superficial resemblance to the Etruscan alphabet; and Snorri Sturluson is of the opinion that the Aesir came through or from Troy. There's also a cosmic cow myth and various poems that suggest a familiarity with Hindu culture and religion.

I don't think that any of them were gods in the supernatural sense, but that their deeds were indeed the stuff of legends. That, in my opinion, is the source of virtually all religions -- Stories that keep getting bigger and bigger until someone turns into a god.

(Disclaimer: As I have Scandinavian ancestry on the maternal side, I believe that I am literally descended from one or more of the actual people who achieved apotheosis via the village storyteller.)

Well, OK then, but can Valkyries still be real. Please.

 

[Lucian]

I think that Scandinavian religion is based on various real heroes and community-builders who moved to northern Europe some time ago. My guess is that the Æsir (e.g. Oðinn, Frigga, Thor, Tyr) came on the scene via ongoing migration from India, Mesopotamia, Greece and the Etruscan lands, and that the Vanir (e.g. Njord, Freyr, Freyja) were leaders of the indigenous Scandinavian people (still extant as the Saami). "Tyr" may actually be "Tiu Pater" (Jupiter); the Futhark runes bear at least a superficial resemblance to the Etruscan alphabet; and Snorri Sturluson is of the opinion that the Aesir came through or from Troy. There's also a cosmic cow myth and various poems that suggest a familiarity with Hindu culture and religion.

I don't think that any of them were gods in the supernatural sense, but that their deeds were indeed the stuff of legends. That, in my opinion, is the source of virtually all religions -- Stories that keep getting bigger and bigger until someone turns into a god.

(Disclaimer: As I have Scandinavian ancestry on the maternal side, I believe that I am literally descended from one or more of the actual people who achieved apotheosis via the village storyteller.)

Snorri was euhemerizing and he was wrong in many ways. He was a Christian explaining how people came to hold these false beliefs. He was also legitimizing the Scandinavian royal houses that traced their descent back to Odin, Thor, Frey and the gang. Having a pagan god as an ancestor isn't that great if you're a Christian, especially as Christians tended to view the pagan gods as demonic, not merely fictional. On the other hand, having an ancestor who was such a great hero that he ended up being worshiped as a god was kind of cool. Moreover, in the Prose Edda, Snorri was about to discuss pagan mythology in depth and explain why it was still valuable (it essentially forms the vocabulary of Norse poetry), so again, it behooved him to legitimize it through euhemerization

The etymologies on which he bases his arguments are absurd (Aesir/Asia; Thor/Tror/Hector).

I also have Scandinavian ancestry, but I doubt very much that I am descended from a hero-god. In the extremely unlikely event that there was a historical Odin or Thor, I suspect my people were Thor's lowly hammer polishers.

 

[Lucian]

Well, OK then, but can Valkyries still be real. Please.

Don't worry, Valkyries are totally real, no man-made parts at all.

 

[DOC]

There are a lot of non-religious folk on this forum.
The next biggest group is Christians, which you've explicitly barred.

So, why would the majority of people on this board go and give you evidence for a religion they don't follow?

If you want apologetics for other religions, then I suggest you find forums for those religions and post your query there...

Yes, I want apologetists for other religions, where are they? Are there any Jewish, Morman, Islam, Scientologist, etc. apologists on Randi.

 

[DOC]

If x doesn't exist, as you claim, then you should be able to disprove my evidence pretty easily. If you cannot disprove x then I shall add an extra proof.

I'll tell you what, when my other thread is reopened I'll respond to the points you brought up, your points seemed somewhat related to that other thread. If the points you brought up apply to other religions then tell us which ones.

 

[DOC]

DOC someone recently taught me what a variable is: are you familiar with the concept and are you aware that it is often denoted by an x?

Yes I'm aware, but this whole x business is just a round about way of talking about material brought up in that other thread. This thread is not about that thread it is about evidence for religions other than Christianity. Don't use x, use specific examples from other religions.

 

[zooterkin]

Yes, I want apologetists for other religions, where are they? Are there any Jewish, Morman, Islam, Scientologist, etc. apologists on Randi.

What makes you think there would be?

 

[Naddig74]

Yes, I want apologetists for other religions, where are they? Are there any Jewish, Morman, Islam, Scientologist, etc. apologists on Randi.

Scientologists? Here? You are having a giraffe aren't you?