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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Worship of multiple human-like invisible intelligent powers arises from attempts to control what humans fear and do not understand

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Rudolf Otto's phenomenological analysis shows religious awe (the 'numinous') involves fascination and attraction, not merely fear of the unknown.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If polytheism were primarily fear-driven, we would expect uniformly malevolent deities, yet pantheons consistently include benevolent and aesthetic divine figures.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.E.E. Evans-Pritchard's ethnographic work on the Azande demonstrates that ritual propitiation coexists with sophisticated causal reasoning, not ignorance.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Hume's account conflates the genetic origin of a belief with its epistemic or functional content, committing a version of the genetic fallacy.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Humans hope to control unpredictable events they do not understand by propitiating invisible intelligent agents
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.This process is shaped by human fears and ignorance
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The projection of human-like qualities onto these unknown causes populates the world with objects of worship
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.