Bazooka wrote:Santa is slightly more believable than, say Moroni.
For instance, I have incontrovertible proof with my own eyes from when I was a young man, that Santa visited me. Oh sure, I never actually saw him, but he left more tangible evidence of his existence than the Nephites did....
Well, you know what? I did see Santa. He came to our home one snowy Christmas eve, asked me if I had been a good boy, and gave me some presents. I didn't get a chance to see the reindeer, but I did hear the bells on their harnesses as they shuffled about anxious to get on to the next house.
Wait a minute....I think we're on to something Horse = Tapir Reindeer
That said, with the Book of Mormon, we are not dealing with a civilization with no written record. What we are dealing with is a written record with no civilization. (Runtu, Feb 2015)
One of the ways in which people reasonably come to their beliefs is through networks of trust in credible knowledge networks. That there aren't basically any adults advocating that Santa Clause really exists while their are massive social institutions filled with seemingly learned people who assert there is good reason to think God exists put these in very different areas. I say this as a person who thinks the existence of God is more dubious than the existence of Santa Claus, but you have to appreciate how people develop confidence in knowledge.
EAllusion wrote:One of the ways in which people reasonably come to their beliefs is through networks of trust in credible knowledge networks. That there aren't basically any adults advocating that Santa Clause really exists while their are massive social institutions filled with seemingly learned people who assert there is good reason to think God exists put these in very different areas. I say this as a person who thinks the existence of God is more dubious than the existence of Santa Claus, but you have to appreciate how people develop confidence in knowledge.
This.
Besides, usually people deserve basic respect anyway.
when believers want to give their claims more weight, they dress these claims up in scientific terms. When believers want to belittle atheism or secular humanism, they call it a "religion". -Beastie
yesterday's Mormon doctrine is today's Mormon folklore.-Buffalo
EAllusion wrote:One of the ways in which people reasonably come to their beliefs is through networks of trust in credible knowledge networks. That there aren't basically any adults advocating that Santa Clause really exists while their are massive social institutions filled with seemingly learned people who assert there is good reason to think God exists put these in very different areas. I say this as a person who thinks the existence of God is more dubious than the existence of Santa Claus, but you have to appreciate how people develop confidence in knowledge.
EAllusion wrote:One of the ways in which people reasonably come to their beliefs is through networks of trust in credible knowledge networks. That there aren't basically any adults advocating that Santa Clause really exists while their are massive social institutions filled with seemingly learned people who assert there is good reason to think God exists put these in very different areas. I say this as a person who thinks the existence of God is more dubious than the existence of Santa Claus, but you have to appreciate how people develop confidence in knowledge.
This.
Besides, usually people deserve basic respect anyway.
Even when they believe in ideas that are easily demonstrably false?
And defend them in public forums?
New name: Boaz The most viewed "ignored" poster in Shady Acres® !
My own philosophy includes having respect for all, regardless of their beliefs. Could this fit with majority rule here at Mormon Discussions? Probably not, but that is why we do not have majority rule.
Not only is it "possible" to have such respect - but if this respect is present, it says a whole lot more about the person extending it than it does about the belief holder.
