Except most classical religions claim exactly that.
Just one of the things religions are wrong about. Meaning, I think there is some sense in distinguishing among theistic claims—that is, if theism were true; some theistic ideas are more reasonable than others. (I would expect that) the claim that ‘my particular religious beliefs are true and all others is false’ is not frequently maintained by thoughtful theists, and I could find references for specific examples if that would be helpful. (I know there are numerous examples to the contrary as well.) But religious people often (sometimes?) do allow for equivalence among different forms of worship. [edited for a softer, more reasonable argument]
While I think it is more likely than not that he did exist, judging that he was a “pretty amazing personality” is not something that one can reasonably conclude based on the evidence.
I’m not too concerned about an exact person. I see ‘Jesus’ as a historic phenomenon, with a very distinctive meme, that came from somewhere. It may have been a set of ideas that collectively developed over a couple hundred years (or, even more likely, was recycled from earlier philosophies.) But I also think it is likely there was a person that catalyzed or focused this particular paradigm shift.
And as for Mohammad- Muslims believe that he was a prophet, not an avatar or divine vessel. Saying that Mohammad was divine is one of the biggest heresies in Islam.
I’m sincerely sorry, since I didn’t intend to be offensive. When writing the comment, I felt a twinge of anxiety wondering if I might be overstepping but disregarded it. I’m not familiar with Islamic views.
Tangentially, Agora is a movie about early Christianity and early epistemology/science that Less Wrong readers might find interesting. I recall it because the movie reminded me that Christianity has echoed similar things regarding the importance of these divine/non-divine distinctions.
Pascal’s Wager though is only relevant for those religions generally. There’s not much in the way of religions that believe God will torture you forever or reward you forever based on your belief and don’t believe that believing in exactly the right version is really important. For purposes of this discussion, the moderate religions don’t matter much.
I’m sincerely sorry, since I didn’t intend to be offensive.
The point isn’t an issue of offensiveness or not. The point is that your imagined proposal doesn’t work.
religions that believe God will torture you forever or reward you forever based on your belief and don’t believe that believing in exactly the right version is really important.
There’s still logical room for the possibility that you are rewarded for having belief in any religion verses being atheist, but that would be overreaching. Because torture-or-reward-forever is one of the details, like the rule that you have to believe in this particular religion, that my imagined proposal wanted to dismiss.
Just one of the things religions are wrong about. Meaning, I think there is some sense in distinguishing among theistic claims—that is, if theism were true; some theistic ideas are more reasonable than others. (I would expect that) the claim that ‘my particular religious beliefs are true and all others is false’ is not frequently maintained by thoughtful theists, and I could find references for specific examples if that would be helpful. (I know there are numerous examples to the contrary as well.) But religious people often (sometimes?) do allow for equivalence among different forms of worship. [edited for a softer, more reasonable argument]
I’m not too concerned about an exact person. I see ‘Jesus’ as a historic phenomenon, with a very distinctive meme, that came from somewhere. It may have been a set of ideas that collectively developed over a couple hundred years (or, even more likely, was recycled from earlier philosophies.) But I also think it is likely there was a person that catalyzed or focused this particular paradigm shift.
I’m sincerely sorry, since I didn’t intend to be offensive. When writing the comment, I felt a twinge of anxiety wondering if I might be overstepping but disregarded it. I’m not familiar with Islamic views.
Tangentially, Agora is a movie about early Christianity and early epistemology/science that Less Wrong readers might find interesting. I recall it because the movie reminded me that Christianity has echoed similar things regarding the importance of these divine/non-divine distinctions.
Pascal’s Wager though is only relevant for those religions generally. There’s not much in the way of religions that believe God will torture you forever or reward you forever based on your belief and don’t believe that believing in exactly the right version is really important. For purposes of this discussion, the moderate religions don’t matter much.
The point isn’t an issue of offensiveness or not. The point is that your imagined proposal doesn’t work.
Oh, I see. Pascal’s wager depends upon:
There’s still logical room for the possibility that you are rewarded for having belief in any religion verses being atheist, but that would be overreaching. Because torture-or-reward-forever is one of the details, like the rule that you have to believe in this particular religion, that my imagined proposal wanted to dismiss.
Funny enough, in “City of the Sun” this is the official stance: any religion (they have to be compatible with general peace) is better than atheism.