Re: [asa] The empirical basis of knowledge

On 3/20/07, Glenn Morton <glennmorton@entouch.net> wrote:
>
> For Iain, Merv, David Siemans, David W.
>
> Iain Strachan wrote:
>
> >>>What empirical basis is there in the decision to become a Christian?
> At the end of the day, one may see evidence that pulls you in that
> direction, but the crucial deciding factor was (I always understood)
> conviction by the Holy Spirit. How do you measure that empirically? How do
> you measure a "leap of faith" empirically? <<<
>
> In my personal case, it was empirically obvious that the Christians were
> happy, I wasn't and I wanted what they had.
>

Yes, but that doesn't answer the question. Yes, it's empirically obvious
that Christians are happy, but that observation doesn't lead logically to
the KNOWLEDGE that Christianity is true. People can be happy because of a
self-delusion. In the end you had to make a step of faith (as did I)
because you believed that the reason they were happy was because
Christianity was true - that the difference it made in their lives wasn't
just a placebo effect.

Some will say that the empirical data for the resurrection is good enough
for them, for indeed, with out that empirical claim of a risen Lord,
Christianity would have been still borne.

Yes and I've read books on the evidence for the resurrection, and I've read
atheist websites dissing the whole concept as a myth. At the end of the day
you have to decide which one you're going to believe, and that belief is
based on conviction and the work of the Holy Spirit, and not on empirical
evidence alone, although it's true that empirical observations may incline
one towards belief.

Iain

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Received on Tue Mar 20 04:01:15 2007