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Old 06-18-2006, 11:37 AM
Copernicus Copernicus is offline
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Default Re: Would this be evidence for God?

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If there was some fact that was found common in all world religions would this be evidence for God?

Obviously it wouldnt be proof as it could have arisen through some fundamental human trait, just evidence of some sort. Also, I mean clearly recognisable facts, not poetically worded extracts which can be interpreted as similar.

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I think the answer is that it depends.

If the common belief is held in place by a connection with the truth of the belief then it would be impressive. If its held in place by coercion or indoctrination then it would be meaningless.

Its unlikely precisley because religous beliefs are held independently of the truth of the belief so there's nothing to stop the beliefs being high, wide and fancy free.

chez

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I was thinking about some universal prophesy for which the truth was not (yet) testable. (See my eclipse example above). Would it's mere presence in all religions be any evidence to you as a non-believer?

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If the prophecies were specific as to the event and the time, so that the future event couldnt be retrofitted into some vague prediction (National ID cards? gimme a break), and the prophecies arose independently it would give me reason to examine the evidence. The independence requirement would be quite difficult to satisfy though. At least one of the major religions making the prediction would have to have been totally isolated from the rest of the world at the time of the prophecy, and I dont know if thats ever been the case since language was developed.
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