gjm comments on Questions on Theism - Less Wrong

23 Post author: Aiyen 08 October 2014 09:02PM

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Comment author: gjm 16 October 2014 10:46:42PM *  2 points [-]

I am, as it happens, aware that Christianity and Judaism allegedly worship the same god! (Islam, too.) But it seems to me that if Christianity is right then present-day Judaism is importantly wrong and vice versa.

Of course it's perfectly possible for one religion to be right and adherents of another religion to see miracles happen when they pray (or perform religious rituals, or whatever). Whatever god(s) exist might be broad-minded; or there might be deceitful evil spirits associated with wrong religions; or the miracles might actually be wrought by worshippers' latent psychic powers, or something.

But the idea that if Christians experience what they think are miracles, then that's good evidence for Christianity seems to me to be somewhat weakened if it turns out that miracle claims occur at comparable rates in other religions.

[EDITED to add: I see this was downvoted, and it doesn't look as if all my recent comments are being downvoted so presumably whoever did it actually meant something by it. But it still looks OK to me; if whoever downvoted me would like to explain why then I'd be grateful. Thanks!]

Comment author: Unknowns 19 October 2014 04:15:56PM 0 points [-]

I suspect it was downvoted because it contains the words "it's perfectly possible for one religion to be right".

Comment author: gjm 19 October 2014 08:54:09PM 1 point [-]

That would be sad; I think I have a higher opinion of the LW readership than that. Still, I guess anyone can have a bad day.

Comment author: lackofcheese 20 October 2014 07:41:16AM 0 points [-]

It's a rather small sample size, isn't it? I don't think you can draw much of a conclusion from it.