Isn't it high time that we recognize spiritual beliefs for what they are... just theory?

Question

A belief may be understood and accepted by some as if it were fact, even in the absence of verifiable fact. Spiritual beliefs in "god" "after-death life" and "creation" are all precisely in this category - they are all unproven theories.

Shouldn't we be talking about the theory of "God's existence" rather than using the words "belief" and "faith"? Wouldn't it be more accurate to discuss the theory of after-life rather than faith or belief in after-life?

I know it's a small point, but there is a difference of connotation involved. "Belief and faith" tend to suggest that there is no question yet to be resolved while "theory" tends to invite the challenge of questions.

Your thoughts please:

Answer 1

*NO!!!* ... A theory is based on evidence, investigation, tests and retests, prediction, the Scientific Method, peer review...

Religions are based on (often) one single book.

An "IDEA", or "HYPOTHESIS" is the best religions can do.

Answer 2

No! Because putting the "fantastic" concept of god into a theorectical model only gives credance to the idea that god has some validity. The point is that we should not put the untestable and non-scientific notion of a god - who created man in his own image - in a scientific context. That is part of the problem we currently face with this issue, that people do not understand what a theory is, nor do they understand science. I think it is high time we put God in his place, ---- it's called the folklore and mythology section. Scientists have only been truely looking for answers to questions like evoulution etc for the last 150 years - scientifical at least. The religious peoples of the world have had millineums and all they have been able to due is switch gods as they pleased. Ra, Zuse, Yahweah, Um Boo Too, and never ever have they given one ioda, one scrap, of testable earthbound evidence. Lets put these ideas back where they belong on the shelf of ancient myths which set out to answer what seemingly at one point had no answer. Now we know the truth, we can test it, see it, and as days pass we have a better and more clear understanding of it. In the last 150 our findings about early human evoultuion and the nature of the world have only been verified. We have never found a sceintific piece to the puzzle that conflicts with our notions about natural processes, if we did we would test it and acknolwedge whatever findings came of it. As such evoultion is a fact. We can test it. Faith and God are not facts, have no proofs as to there existance, and in short have no scientific bearing; thus no reason to use scientific terms when talking about them. Faith and God has nothing to do with science and so let us just keep it that way.

P.S. John whatever your name is right above me, you need help, please if anyone knows this man take steps to get his brain checked out.

Answer 3

No, the word theory assumes a lack of evidence. There is no lack of evidence for the existence of God.

There is a lack of education on what evidence is. Most people seem to have been educated on the rules of evidence by watching "Law and Order" on television. Pretty lame.

Belief indicates acceptance of a proved ideology where some people refuse to accept the available evidence.

For example, Atheists tend to be as open minded about religion as Inquisitors were about science. Atheists and Inquisitors are the same kind of people, same ability to ignore evidence contradicting their ideology, same dependence on ridicule of ideas.

Galileo believed the earth was round. Inquisitors refused to accept the evidence in spite of the Bible referring to the earth as being round.

Religious people accept the available evidence and develop a belief.

Faith is the idea that acceptance of a belief will result in something.

Ignorance is not know what evidence is, what a theory is or what a belief is.

Answer 4

"Spiritual beliefs in "god" "after-death life" and "creation" are all precisely in this category - they are all unproven theories."

If it was a belief, but I know God exists from direct personal experience - actually many.

I don't know much about "creation" but I really don't need to know...it is not that important to now.

"life after death" - it exists...that is as much as I know. I know "I" did not begin with the body and have lived before in other bodies.

Of course, this doesn't do much for you...as this is not the kind of proof that works for other people (nor should it). But do not assume that it is theory because most people do not KNOW.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 5

Some of the ethical teachings attributed to Jesus are beautiful excellent. I suppose it will be a step up for humans to be sincere and deal with him as a non secular instructor as a substitute than as a deity. Oh, and that hoary old C.S. Lewis quote about the one options being "Lunatic, Liar, or Lord" only makes sense when you anticipate an inerrant Bible--which of course begs the question within the first place. Regard the Bible as a human booklet (or as an alternative collection of human books) written through human beings for human purposes, and edited countless times over centuries of copying, and it is handy to peer at the least one other alternative: Any claims that may contradict Jesus being with no trouble a human non secular instructor just might had been invented with the aid of later authors and editors, merchandise of cultural and religious evolution, not claims sincerely spoken by the historic Jesus himself.

Answer 6

lol now the creationists are going to mix this theory up with scientific theory and say that creationism and evolution are on the same boat! :P


jeanmarie:
"Evolution is also a "theory"."
†

LOL! see i told you....they are simply too funny for words sometimes :P

ok people read this :SCIENTIFIC THEORY=In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it can in everyday speech. A theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a related set of natural or social phenomena. It originates from and/or is supported by experimental evidence (see scientific method). In this sense, a theory is a systematic and formalized expression of all previous observations that is predictive, logical and testable.

so evolution and creationism are FAR from "on the same boat"!there is a DIFFERENCE between the day to day word theory we use and SCIENTIFIC theory :P

Answer 7

Faith and belief are the very things God wants His people to have. If you had children and someone came along and said to your kids, "Lets not do do what your father wants, lets do this instead.", how would you feel about that?
I, personally, would tell you to mind your own business because what goes on in my family is our business and none of your concern. You, however, can carry on and do what ever you like. BUTT OUT! Thanks.

Answer 8

This is one of the sillier arguments I've seen on this forum in a long time. . .and that's saying a lot. You're welcome to theorize all you want about God, but those of us who believe in Him and are convinced of His existence aren't going to change just to suit your terminology.

As far as I'm concerned, there is no question about God left unresolved. He is the sovereign Lord of the universe -- end of subject. Like I said, you can nit-pick and theorize about God until the cows come home, but I have no intention of changing my beliefs into theories just to make you happy.

Answer 9

Right, since we're talking about science here... belief without evidence is called superstition.

If there was observable evidence which corroborated the hypothesis that could be verified by others and consistently reproduced, then it would be a theory.

Answer 10

Ha! I actually like that :D.

This is what happens to people who try to force the Bible to be a science book. Eventually, their own terms will come and bite them in the butt. Yet another good example of the implications of misusing Scripture.

Answer 11

Nope, because then people will confuse the word 'theory' with a 'scientific theory' (which is very, very misunderstood). The post above me is a perfect example. I'm all for calling religion superstition, though.