is religion merely an unproven theory, in particular the christian faith

Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
why are you arguing with me, when all you're saying is what i'm saying, in different words? that seems a pointless, profitless endeavor.
and it's not the point of the whole thread. the word we should be trying to define here is "theory", because i doubt most people are even aware of the actual meaning of the word. so let's visit merriam-webster again.
Definition of theory
plural theories
1 : a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena
  • the wave theory of light
2 a : a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action
  • her method is based on the theory that all children want to learn
b : an ideal or hypothetical set of facts, principles, or circumstances —often used in the phrase in theory
  • in theory, we have always advocated freedom for all
3 a : a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation
b : an unproved assumption : conjecture
c : a body of theorems presenting a concise systematic view of a subject
  • theory of equations
4 : the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art
  • music theory
5 : abstract thought : speculation
6 : the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another

so in the sense of 2b, 3b and 5, yes, all religions are unproven theories. in the broader scientific sense, i don't think religion really qualifies as a scientific theory, as there is no provable physical evidence, no observable phenomena to document, so it would seem that it depends on the sense of the word "theory" that you are trying to imply.
 
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thepenofareadywriter

thepenofareadywriter

Well-Known Member
Roger A. Shrubber said:
why are you arguing with me, when all you're saying is what i'm saying, in different words? that seems a pointless, profitless endeavor.
and it's not the point of the whole thread. the word we should be trying to define here is "theory", because i doubt most people are even aware of the actual meaning of the word. so let's visit merriam-webster again.
Definition of theory
plural theories
1 : a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena
  • the wave theory of light
2 a : a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action
  • her method is based on the theory that all children want to learn
b : an ideal or hypothetical set of facts, principles, or circumstances —often used in the phrase in theory
  • in theory, we have always advocated freedom for all
3 a : a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation
b : an unproved assumption : conjecture
c : a body of theorems presenting a concise systematic view of a subject
  • theory of equations
4 : the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art
  • music theory
5 : abstract thought : speculation
6 : the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another

so in the sense of 2b, 3b and 5, yes, all religions are unproven theories. in the broader scientific sense, i don't think religion really qualifies as a scientific theory, as there is no provable physical evidence, no observable phenomena to document, so it would seem that it depends on the sense of the word "theory" that you are trying to imply.
Click to expand...
What is a Theory?
In everyday use, the word "theory" often means an untested hunch, or a guess without supporting evidence.
 
Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
Back to the original Q. Is religion an un proven theory? No, as its not a theory. The Bible, as an example is just a violent novel.

Hubbard wrote a novel to and we now have Scientology.... Its not a theory either.
 
Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
no, that seems to be a fact to me. religion is not scientifically quantifiable, so it cannot be a theory according to the definition of the word.
it's a theology, not a theory.
 
Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
by reading the definitions of theory and faith that i already posted. why don't you read them? maybe they'll clear up some of the confusion you seem to be having
 
Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
yes, i have read the bible, from cover to cover, more than once. no, i do not pray to god through Jesus. I'm not a christian. I'm not a member of any organized religion. I've slowly developed my own ideas, and i try to stay true to them.
I'm not sure what your point is, what point you're trying to make? the original question of the thread is "is religion an unproven theory?"
i think we've pretty much answered that, we defined what a theory is, and religion does not fit that definition.
so what are you trying to get at? what point are you trying to make? that most of us aren't good Christians? i can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not any kind of christian. i'm a heathen, i have a faith, but i made it up myself. it has very little mythology attached to it, no trappings, and no Sunday services (no services of any kind)...and yet, it is as real to me as your faith is to you. the tenets of my religion are simple.
treat people the way you want to be treated.
mind your own business.
if you see someone truly in need of help, help them.
try to be tolerant of others, and if you're having trouble at it, walk away.
that's about it.....pretty easy to understand, yet hard to achieve sometimes.
i just explained my whole religion in one paragraph...how about you explain what you're trying to get at?
 
thepenofareadywriter

thepenofareadywriter

Well-Known Member
Roger A. Shrubber said:
yes, i have read the bible, from cover to cover, more than once. no, i do not pray to god through Jesus. I'm not a christian. I'm not a member of any organized religion. I've slowly developed my own ideas, and i try to stay true to them.
I'm not sure what your point is, what point you're trying to make? the original question of the thread is "is religion an unproven theory?"
i think we've pretty much answered that, we defined what a theory is, and religion does not fit that definition.
so what are you trying to get at? what point are you trying to make? that most of us aren't good Christians? i can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not any kind of christian. i'm a heathen, i have a faith, but i made it up myself. it has very little mythology attached to it, no trappings, and no Sunday services (no services of any kind)...and yet, it is as real to me as your faith is to you. the tenets of my religion are simple.
treat people the way you want to be treated.
mind your own business.
if you see someone truly in need of help, help them.
try to be tolerant of others, and if you're having trouble at it, walk away.
that's about it.....pretty easy to understand, yet hard to achieve sometimes.
i just explained my whole religion in one paragraph...how about you explain what you're trying to get at?
Click to expand...
Ok...maybe I chose the wrong word [theory]...the point I am getting at is has anyone tested the book not just read it...but gotten down to the nitty gritty of it...I not a religious person either...I may not be the brightest light in the room but I'm sure as hell not the dimmest.
 
NanoGadget

NanoGadget

Well-Known Member
thepenofareadywriter said:
Ok...maybe I chose the wrong word [theory]...the point I am getting at is has anyone tested the book not just read it...but gotten down to the nitty gritty of it...I not a religious person either...I may not be the brightest light in the room but I'm sure as hell not the dimmest.
Click to expand...
So you want someone to actually follow all the teachings in the bible to the letter? That person should be prepared to go to prison for the rest of their life. Pretty sure most modern societies frown upon things like stoning your children to death for disobedience, selling and owning slaves, and cutting off a woman's hand if she touches a man's privates without permission, selling one's daughter as a sex slave.... The list goes on....
 
thepenofareadywriter

thepenofareadywriter

Well-Known Member
NanoGadget said:
So you want someone to actually follow all the teachings in the bible to the letter? That person should be prepared to go to prison for the rest of their life. Pretty sure most modern societies frown upon things like stoning your children to death for disobedience, selling and owning slaves, and cutting off a woman's hand if she touches a man's privates without permission, selling one's daughter as a sex slave.... The list goes on....
Click to expand...
Only the new testament!!!
 
Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
thepenofareadywriter said:
Ok...maybe I chose the wrong word [theory]...the point I am getting at is has anyone tested the book not just read it...but gotten down to the nitty gritty of it...I not a religious person either...I may not be the brightest light in the room but I'm sure as hell not the dimmest.
Click to expand...
i tried "testing" God when i was younger...didn't work out. "if you're real, do this"....if God is real, he has very little to prove to any of us.
i'm not sure how you would test the bible? what is it you want to test? anything that's not ordinary and mundane is a miracle, and it's pretty hard to reproduce genuine miracles. they've proven that some of the events in the bible have occured, and as far as they can prove, others didn't. i'm even pretty satisfied that a real man named Jesus lived, and had a following, i'm just not convinced of his divinity.
you're going to have to be more specific, what exactly is it you want to test? what are you trying to prove or disprove? it's a big book, you gotta narrow it down some.
 
Roger A. Shrubber

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
as far as following the book to the letter, as nano said, thats's pretty much impossible in this society. the closest thing to biblical law that i can think of is sharia, and i'm not impressed with them at all. i think God, if he exists, realizes that we change and grow as people, and the rules in a 2K+ year old set of instructions don't apply anymore. i highly doubt he'll be disappointed that we aren't stoning people that don't agree with us anymore.
i'm curious, what would you expect to happen if someone could follow the book to the letter, without legal consequences? what result would you expect? some kind of enlightenment? spiritual purity? communion with God? not asking that in a snarky way, either, i'm really curious what you would expect to happen
 
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