When I say the possibilities of an afterlife are very real as opposed to real, I feel that Jesus could have come back from the dead and there could be a heaven or a hell like the Bible says. It could have happened and is a very real possibility, not like kind of sort of real.
To say we are more than sophisticated animals does have to deal with an afterlife because it suggests we have an immortal soul unlike other animals, possible anyways, unless there is something to other animals getting reincarnated.
When you say "it sounds like a false dichotomy can you think of other options?" After, I said I don't think billions of theists are wrong about their being an afterlife. Another option is theists are all wrong, but you can't know that it is a huge mystery and I think that is where common ground can be found.
What is the point of asking you questions that I feel is beyond your expertise? I feel these debates on the philosophy section of Christian forums are interesting to have, thought provoking, but ultimately prove nothing. There could have been a strange divine revelation to humans a long time ago and God is just waiting for the right time to come back, but again that isn't knowable, just kind of interesting to discuss.
"How do we deal with claims that define their subject into the unknowable? Is metaphysics the subject of philosophy that lets your creativity and desires juices just off the hook, you could live with that." I could live with that too, I feel people are entitled to their own opinion on this issue and I am open to other interfaith discussions. However I feel religious beliefs should not be thought of as delusions. Theists, agnostics, ignostics and atheists can find common ground in the real fact we are not made to know.
I understand your metaphysical hopes may be quite different from mine, but let us not get too convinced when they may prove to be false in the future. God could still reveal himself to you in the future you never know. For example He, She or it could come floating down from the heavens to save us from global warming, it is possible.[/QUOTE]
If we accept metaphysics to be about the unknowable and thus the playing field for our fantasy, wishes, desires, creativity, the fact that many people believe similar things tells us nothing about the accuracy of this belief but merely about the frequency and deepness of a desire for it to be so.
Given the premise "unknowable", there´s absolutely nothing that could possibly be evidence for one belief over another.
There
could be a lot of things in the realm of "the unknowable". I wouldn´t know how to tell such beliefs apart, in terms of accuracy. They are all
possible (provided they are logical consistent) - so I see no basis whatsoever for even starting to discuss or debate them.
However, eeing that we are talking about that which people
desire, religious beliefs can be a great subject for psychological studies.
However I feel religious beliefs should not be thought of as delusions.
Well, you were the one who came up with the false dichotomy "they are either right or brain dead". Go figure.
As far as I am concerned, I don´t think that "delusion" is an appropriate term in the declared realm of fantasy, power of imagination and wishful thinking.
Anyway, I have no problem whatsoever to say "I don´t know" when it comes to metaphysical questions. Also, I don´t take my hopes regarding the "unknowable" not very seriously.
