Losing My Religion by Gina
John Loftus has a chapter in his book called the “Outsider Test for Faith,” where you basically look at religion from a skeptic’s point of view. My ability to easily accept, and then abandon my religion with such ease, I believe, partly stems from this concept of the outsider test (and the theory of the accidents of birth)....I realized that once I began asking “outsider” questions, I was no longer capable of believing in what my peers believed. Link.
11 comments:
Outsider Test for Faith and John Loftus for the win!
I agree John... the outsider test for Faith is a good conversation starter too.
I knew I had passed the OTF when I could "blaspheme" w/o compunction.
Outsider Test for Faith and John Loftus for the win!
i can't say that i agree. i'm in the process of addressing the otf starting here:
http://thegdebate.blogspot.com/2010/08/l-41.html
hey trae...stfu. You address nothing. And to those of the audience that are clueless on this person's comments, this is not unprovoked.
@trae... Your post did not actually even address the Outsider test of faith, it simply rambled about how atheists have faith too, and proclaimed your method of taking the outsider test was to figure out the best way to answer the non-theist objections.. that's not taking the outsider test for faith.
I am probably wasting my breath... the outsider test for faith doesn't even have to be non-theist questions.
You yourself already do the outsider test of faith every day... you're not a Muslim, why? You're not Buddhist, why? You're not Hindu, why?... either because you've evaluated these belief systems and found them wanting, or because your Bible says they're bad. (I suspect the latter)
The outsider test for faith means you must step outside of all the presumed faith beliefs of Christianity (just as you don't presume anything about Islam or it's validity)... and from that perspective ask how reasonable it is.
This outside view doesn't have to be non-theist... the Muslims do the outsider test for faith on you just as you do on them, so pretend you're a Muslim and then look at Christianity.. just don't go killing anybody because of that idiot in Florida burning the Koran.
pink_monkey
hey trae...stfu
very mature
You address nothing.
Until you actually address the points that I make, your comment has very little meaning.
And to those of the audience that are clueless on this person's comments, this is not unprovoked.
i'm sure your kindred spirits appreciate the way you're representing the cause with class and dignity
Dan DeMura
Your post…it simply rambled about how atheists have faith too
That’s not all I did. I laid a case how in one sense, the otf is a sham. In another sense, it has merit.
and proclaimed your method of taking the outsider test was to figure out the best way to answer the non-theist objections.. that's not taking the outsider test for faith.
Again, that’s not all I said. The comment you are referring to is actually in agreement with mr. loftus to a degree.
You yourself already do the outsider test of faith every day... you're not a Muslim, why? You're not Buddhist, why? You're not Hindu, why?... either because you've evaluated these belief systems and found them wanting, or because your Bible says they're bad. (I suspect the latter)
Does my post say anything to the contrary? i have quoted Bible verses to mr. loftus that say christians are to embrace knowledge and intellectual discovery contrary to what loftus asserts. no response yet
The outsider test for faith means you must step outside of all the presumed faith beliefs of Christianity (just as you don't presume anything about Islam or it's validity)... and from that perspective ask how reasonable it is.
The question for mr. loftus is why he thinks Christians don’t do this. no response yet.
that idiot in Florida burning the Koran.
Are people who dedicate blogs and books to persecuting Christians just as idiotic?
trae said,
"...The question for mr. loftus is why he thinks Christians don’t [take the outsider test for faith]. no response yet."
He's not responding because there is nothing to respond TO.
We ALL observe that Christians don't take the OTF. Does it matter in the slightest to anyone what John's opinion is of WHY they don't take the test?
GearHedEd
We ALL observe that Christians don't take the OTF.
but you didn't respond to the point just like loftus hasn't. why do you think Christians don't because clearly, there are some who do.
What is the outsider test for atheism? What would be some example outsider questions for atheism?
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