If I find the text of Moby Dick suitably encoded (whatever that means) into the foundation of a building, and I don’t find other texts encoded into that building, it seems reasonable to take seriously the theory that there exists some process or entity which has a special relationship both with that building, and with the text of Moby Dick, different from the relationship it has with any other text.
If I find the text of the Koran suitably encoded into the fundamental constants of the universe, it seems equally reasonable to take seriously the theory that there exists some process or entity which has a special relationship both with that universe, and with the text of the Koran, different from the relationship it has with any other text.
You’re right, of course, that it doesn’t follow from that that either the Koran or Moby Dick is true. Neither does it follow from the truth of the Koran (whatever that means) that Islam is true (whatever that means).
OTOH, converting to a belief in Islam on the basis of that evidence seems more justified than remaining indifferent to Islam in the face of that evidence.
Of course, those aren’t the only options.
Granted, it’s not really clear to me what is a reasonable response to that evidence. “Investigate the Koran,” of course, but I have no sense of what such an investigation might even look like.
If I find the text of Moby Dick suitably encoded (whatever that means) into the foundation of a building, and I don’t find other texts encoded into that building, it seems reasonable to take seriously the theory that there exists some process or entity which has a special relationship both with that building, and with the text of Moby Dick, different from the relationship it has with any other text.
If I find the text of the Koran suitably encoded into the fundamental constants of the universe, it seems equally reasonable to take seriously the theory that there exists some process or entity which has a special relationship both with that universe, and with the text of the Koran, different from the relationship it has with any other text.
You’re right, of course, that it doesn’t follow from that that either the Koran or Moby Dick is true. Neither does it follow from the truth of the Koran (whatever that means) that Islam is true (whatever that means).
OTOH, converting to a belief in Islam on the basis of that evidence seems more justified than remaining indifferent to Islam in the face of that evidence.
Of course, those aren’t the only options.
Granted, it’s not really clear to me what is a reasonable response to that evidence. “Investigate the Koran,” of course, but I have no sense of what such an investigation might even look like.