Rational Agnostic
Well-Known Member
Nearly all religions involve supernatural claims, and thus adhering to them involves belief in the supernatural. For instance, Christians believe Jesus was born of a virgin, turned water into wine, walked on water, and rose from the dead, along with other "miracles," which seem to be indistinguishable from magic. These same individuals who believe that it is perfectly reasonable to believe that a virgin got pregnant, or that water can magically turn directly into wine, or that the laws of physics can be violated by walking on water, also reject all the supernatural claims of other religions, and dismiss them without even examining them. They also dismiss the supernatural claims made by believers in Santa Claus (to use a common example).
Many Christians have told me that comparing the miraculous claims about Jesus made by the bible to the miraculous claims about Santa Claus made by those who believe in him is like comparing apples and oranges. They typically point to the claim that Jesus had eyewitnesses (even though the gospels are actually not eyewitness accounts). Even if the gospels were eyewitness accounts, this would of course not make them trustworthy, as studies have been done showing that eyewitness testimony is one of the least reliable forms of evidence available, and is rarely even accepted as evidence in a court of law.
Consider the fact that your belief does not differ much from belief in the miracles of Santa Claus. Millions of people around the world (particularly young people, but some adults as well) believe that Santa Claus is capable of performing the miracle of descending a chimney even though he is too obese to fit inside of the chimney according to the laws of physics. They also believe that it is possible for him to travel to billions of homes around the world in a single night, by his miraculous powers. They also believe in miraculous reindeer who have the miraculous ability to fly by the miraculous power of Santa Claus. And their beliefs are not without evidence. Many people have had real, spiritual encounters, and eyewitness testimony of observing Santa Claus. For instance, check out these eyewitness testimonies of mystical experiences with Santa Claus. https://www.americaninno.com/boston...aim-paranormal-santa-claus-sightings-as-fact/
So, as one can clearly see, there is a problematic double standard with religion. A Christian, for instance, readily accepts the supernatural claims of "miracles" (magic) found in the Bible, yet immediately dismisses the supernatural claims made by those who believe in Santa Claus, even when presented with eyewitness testimony of Santa Claus, mystical experiences of Santa Claus, and equally strong "evidence" of Santa Claus that they also used to legitimatize their own supernatural beliefs.
Many Christians have told me that comparing the miraculous claims about Jesus made by the bible to the miraculous claims about Santa Claus made by those who believe in him is like comparing apples and oranges. They typically point to the claim that Jesus had eyewitnesses (even though the gospels are actually not eyewitness accounts). Even if the gospels were eyewitness accounts, this would of course not make them trustworthy, as studies have been done showing that eyewitness testimony is one of the least reliable forms of evidence available, and is rarely even accepted as evidence in a court of law.
Consider the fact that your belief does not differ much from belief in the miracles of Santa Claus. Millions of people around the world (particularly young people, but some adults as well) believe that Santa Claus is capable of performing the miracle of descending a chimney even though he is too obese to fit inside of the chimney according to the laws of physics. They also believe that it is possible for him to travel to billions of homes around the world in a single night, by his miraculous powers. They also believe in miraculous reindeer who have the miraculous ability to fly by the miraculous power of Santa Claus. And their beliefs are not without evidence. Many people have had real, spiritual encounters, and eyewitness testimony of observing Santa Claus. For instance, check out these eyewitness testimonies of mystical experiences with Santa Claus. https://www.americaninno.com/boston...aim-paranormal-santa-claus-sightings-as-fact/
So, as one can clearly see, there is a problematic double standard with religion. A Christian, for instance, readily accepts the supernatural claims of "miracles" (magic) found in the Bible, yet immediately dismisses the supernatural claims made by those who believe in Santa Claus, even when presented with eyewitness testimony of Santa Claus, mystical experiences of Santa Claus, and equally strong "evidence" of Santa Claus that they also used to legitimatize their own supernatural beliefs.