A hypothetical question for theists

Frank 013

Suppose you were somehow transported into an alternate universe where everything was almost the same except when you met your alternate self they were believers of Horas, the Egyptian god of the sun. This is the common belief system in their western civilization. The other you practices animal sacrifice, gives monetary offerings to Horas and indulges in all manners of sinful behavior.

Our universe’s major religions still exist but are considered less popular.

This other you is as staunchly firm in their belief as you are in yours and is concerned about your false belief as you are in theirs.

How do you convince the other you that they are wrong in their belief?

What makes your belief so right and theirs so wrong?

Non theists can feel free to answer this as well.

Later

Frank 013

Ill add a little description of the alternate universe that the other you lives in.

It is a mostly Egyptian style society, slavery still exists, the state runs everything through the Horas/sun religion, women’s rights are non-existent, and the other you is very involved in and supportive of this lifestyle. The sciences remain at their current levels.

Later

Edited by: Frank 013 at: 3/16/07 11:09 am

MadArchitect

Frank 013: This other you is as staunchly firm in their belief as you are in yours and is concerned about your false belief as you are in theirs.

Well, there's the catch. I'm not terribly concerned about his "false belief". So, all other things being equal, I think we'd probably get along pretty well. Or pretty badly, since I think most people would tend to dislike themselves if they met them as another person.

It is a mostly Egyptian style society, slavery still exists, the state runs everything through the Horas/sun religion, women’s rights are non-existent, and the other you is very involved in and supportive of this lifestyle.

And there's another catch. Is this alternate universe supposed to be "almost the same" as ours, or isn't it? And if this alternate me is so involved in a society that is actually quite radical from my own, then religion isn't really our only difference, is it?

Frank 013

Almost the same as far as technology, the people you know, the other you's general demeanor, and level of reasonability.

But since you don’t care about the other you’s viewpoints I am sure the two of you would get along famously.

Later

MadArchitect

How, ultimately, does this little hypothetical differ from, say, you've got a friend who's Hindu...? Difference in belief is difference in belief. It doesn't matter all that much whether the person is, in some abtruce philosophical sense, "supposed" to be me. If anything, the fact that this other me's belief operated in a society entirely removed from my own makes me less apt to feel like it effects me.

Edited by: MadArchitect at: 3/18/07 4:50 pm

LanDroid · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject: It's you

Knowing the other person is actually you would add a dimension of creepiness I'd think, much different than a friend of a different persuasion. I'd think this would clarify how religious beliefs are formed by society, not supernatural experience. :242

Frank 013 · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:25 am Post subject: Re: It's you

I am curious as to the ability of theists to recognize the possibility of their religion not being the only one possible for them to have accepted.

I am also curious about the level of certainty theists have about their belief. How motivated is a theist when confronted with saving themselves from a potentially false belief?

Later

MadArchitect · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: It's you

Frank 013: I am curious as to the ability of theists to recognize the possibility of their religion not being the only one possible for them to have accepted.

Okay, but you do realize that you're asking a pretty unorthodox group of theists any time you address the theists that participate on BookTalk, right? I think most of us would admit right away that our religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are the contingent result of social and cultural accidents. So I'm not sure what the point would be.

I am also curious about the level of certainty theists have about their belief. How motivated is a theist when confronted with saving themselves from a potentially false belief?

It probably varies a great deal.

LanDroid · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: Horas

Well I wonder what an atheist would think seeing himself worship Horas, the Egyptian god of the Sun, in an alternate universe? Especially if Horas actually existed in that universe! ::51

That would be a kettle of fish... ::04

Frank 013 · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: Horas

I have actually been giving this some thought, I would be disturbed and wounder what events brought the other me to their conclusion.

If Horas actually existed then my question would be answered.

All hail Horas!

Later


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