Self Selected Truths: the Atheist Ideology of the "Fortress of Facts"
So here's an argument based upon arguments atheists make a lot. (1) Empirical science has produced knowledge, technology, medicine, etc., etc. It's awesome. (2) Abstract philosophy has produced nothing at all; it appears to be mere navel gazing. (3) Therefore, we should base all of our beliefs on empirical science, not abstract philosophy. (4) The arguments for God are abstract philosophy of exactly the kind that has proven so worthless. (5) Therefore, we should reject all of the arguments for God. To me, this seems to be a powerful argument for non belief. It doesn't prove that there's no God, but it does provide a potential reason not to believe in God, which is the same thing for all practical purposes. The theist has two ways out, maybe. The first would be to muddy the distinction between philosophy and science. I think that this is probably doable to some extent, but I'm not sure how doable it actually is. The second would be to attack (4), a...