No Sacred Cows

[DialecticMaterialist]

The latest commentary seemed to ignore one of the most important tenets of skepticism.


That one tenet being that in skepticism there are to be no Sacred Cows.

But I notice skeptical theists wish to take reason out of religion, say the "truth" of their claim is not succeptible to evidence.

However isn't that just establishing a Sacred Cow? Why should we be willing to examine ESP, UFOs etc, but God is out of the question?


Now here's what I'm not saying:

-I'm not saying theists cannot be skeptics.

Technically Raelians, scientologists, and even people that believe in ghosts can be skeptics.

-I'm not saying theists cannot be rational.

I believe a) you can be wrong and rational.(So even as an atheist I can think the theist is wrong but still rational) b) You can be rational in some ways and not others.


What I am saying is that by saying skepticism cannot comment on religion, you are making a "Sacred Cow". And that I believe goes against the purpose of skepticism, to explore all claims in a no holds bar kind of way.


To say paranormalists must submit their claims to evidence but not the religious seems a bit hypocritical imo.

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by DialecticMaterialist

-I'm not saying theists cannot be skeptics.

I will say that they can be skeptics, but fail to be skeptical towards their god.


-I'm not saying theists cannot be rational.

They just happen to suspend this trait when it comes to "god".


To say paranormalists must submit their claims to evidence but not the religious seems a bit hypocritical imo.

Religious claims ARE paranormal in nature, and thus should be viewed as one and the same. An atheist is simply one who doesn't believe in a god. I happen to be atheist because I'm skeptical of the god-claims. Theists are not skeptical of their gods.

[NoDeity]

However isn't that just establishing a Sacred Cow? Why should we be willing to examine ESP, UFOs etc, but God is out of the question?
It seems to me that a sacred cow is exactly what it is.

[BillyJoe]

Sceptical Deist: Believes, in proportion to the evidence, that which is testable but allows himself a belief in something which is not testable - God

True Sceptic (;) ): Believes, in proportion to the evidence, that which is testable and ignores/regards as irrelevant/disregards everything that is not testable.