OFF: reply to the truth is out there

[M Holmes]

blyoung writes:

> >> Where are
> >>your scientific proofs that Satan does not exist?
> >
> >That's not how it works, though. The burden of proof is on the
> claimant.
>
> OK, I'm not the claimant.  I'm not standing there saying that the
> devil is real or false.  I gave my opinion and said it was only
> an opinion.
>
> He's the one claiming there is no devil.  Therefore, he should
> prove it.  If he gets proof, then my opinion will be easily
> swayed.

Not that I think this argument is remotely interesting or anything but
it might as well stick to normal rules of logic if it's going to happen
at all.

1) It's *impossible* to prove the nonexistence of anything. A few
seconds actual thought should be enough to provide anyone with the
reasons for this.

2) The person claiming the existence of something is merely making a
claim unless they can back it up with actual evidence.

3) Extraordinary claims warrant extraordinary proof. It's one thing to
claim that you saw a boat go over a waterfall. This accords with normal
experience and the known laws of physics. Finding a few boat parts at
the bottom of a waterfall should be enough evidence. Claiming to have
observed faeries, martian visitors, or demons requires that little bit
extra.

Absent the body of a dead faery, actual unearthly machine parts, or your
favourite god or devil actually appearing for a TV interview, people
with even a smidgin of rational skepticism aren't going to give such
claims the time of day.

The existence of god and the devil are therefore up there with the
existence of L.Ron Hubbard's visits to Heaven and previous lives asa
Clam In Charge of the Universe. When they appear on TV it'll be time to
re-evaluate this assessment. Until then it's just another faery story.

On the other hand, people are entitled to believe what they like. Some
people believe that MI5 are watching them throyugh their television,
some believe that God talks to them from bushes, and some believe that
Stan is the primary cause of their drinking problem. These beliefs
involve the suspension of rational skepticism and all too often a missed
dose of prescribed medication and are unlikely to change in the face of
simple logic. Attempting to do so is a waste of everyone's time and bandwidth.

FoFP