How have you (or would you) approach form a rebuttle to the argument from personal experience?
Is it possible to convince someone they have not felt the presence of God?
2007-10-10 07:52:44 · 27 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It wouldn't bother me if someone thought that what they had felt was the presence of God. I'd just tell them that I would never consider their personal interpretation of something that only happened to them personally to be PROOF of ANYTHING. Plus, I might ask them how they know it was their "God" and NOT Satan, Zeus, Horus, the Tooth Fairy, leprechauns, dead Uncle Al, etc.
2007-10-10 07:58:21 · answer #1 · answered by gelfling 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I don't attempt to form a rebuttal against someone's personal experience. I simply point out that an unverified personal experience does not equal objective evidence. It doesn't matter to me if they believe they have felt the presence of their god any more than it matters to me if a person believes their house is inhabited by fairies. That isn't proof.
2007-10-10 19:41:24 · answer #2 · answered by N 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The proof of a thing is only in the thing itself. Which is of course why it's Completely ignorant for a human to try to convince anyone of the existence of god. And since 'if' there is an all knowing being that being would certainly know what would convince anyone. Right? Right.
2007-10-10 16:30:29 · answer #3 · answered by (♫ its the voice that kills ♫) 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think of all the things you have seen that aren't true.
I saw a guy cut a lady in a box in half.
I saw a guy make the statue of liberty dissapear
Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat
The reason so many people have seen "ghosts", "aliens" and been touched by "god" is that we are wet wired the same in our brains.
It may be hard to believe, but sometimes seeing isn't believing.
But to each his own. In my opinon if someone wants to believe in gods and dragons, go right ahead, as long as you don't try and teach my kids the "truth".
2007-10-10 15:05:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot convince someone that god doesn't exist unless they are questioning his existance to begin with. I used to think like that way until I opened my eyes. It is a very difficult choice to make to question your god/religion (serious questioning, not just looking at the bible). And then it took me 2 years of study before I would give up the label "christian" and admitted to being an atheist.
2007-10-10 15:02:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. It's impossible. People will associate whatever feeling they have to whatever deity they believe in...it's not logically possible to prove a negative.
But...knowing this...could you convince a 5 year old that on christmas eve, they haven't felt the presence of Santa Claus??? And if they claim they have...does this mean that Santa exists????
2007-10-10 14:59:33 · answer #6 · answered by Adam G 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Overactive Imagination. So active in fact, some folks actually become emotional and overwhelmed believing they have been touched by their god. Ever notice how the holiness folks work themselves into a frenzy? Or those who do the voodoo dancing? Nothing but emotions brought on by strong imaginations.
2007-10-10 15:04:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personal experience is meaningless unless corroborated by others. If the believer can give a clear characterization of their "relationship" (feelings, thoughts, etc.), then we can see if others agree. If so, then we look for any physiological changes that may correspond to that state. Once this is done, we have empirical evidence for their claim. until then, it amounts to no more than wishful thinking.
2007-10-10 15:07:30 · answer #8 · answered by neil s 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only way to rebut it is to give an equally unconvincing argument from personal experience, perhaps from a person of another religion.
Since the oringinal arguer accepts a fallacious argument as valid, the only way to rebut it is to give another fallacious argument and hope the person accepts that as well.
2007-10-10 14:59:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are millions of people who claim to have a personal experience with different gods. Shouldn't they all be experiencing the same god?
2007-10-10 15:02:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋