Critiquing: If Christianity Had a Goddess to Worship, I Might Consider It

January 12, 2023 | #STRask – Stand to Reason

Patriarchal Defense — Emotional Reasoning — Power Dynamics — Belief Mapping — Reality and Truth

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Introduction

The content presents responses to questions about Christianity’s patriarchal nature and how to persuade someone who is extremely pro-choice due to significant trauma. The primary goal is to provide answers from a Christian perspective, addressing objections based on gender representation and emotional barriers to accepting pro-life views.

Logical Coherence Analysis

Logical Consistency

1. Defense of Patriarchy:
   • Claim: “The world that God set up and the way things are in the Bible is a patriarchy.”
     • Critique: The assertion that the world as described in the Bible is patriarchal is stated as an unquestionable fact. However, this claim does not consider the evolving nature of societal structures or the existence of diverse cultures where patriarchy is not the norm. The explanation lacks historical and cultural contextualization, presenting an oversimplified view of societal dynamics.
2. Representation of God:
   • Claim: “God identifies himself as a father. Now he’s not a man…he has kind of characteristics that classically can be identified as male and female.”
     • Critique: The content attempts to reconcile the patriarchal depiction of God with modern sensibilities by suggesting God embodies both male and female characteristics. However, it fails to address why, despite this duality, God is predominantly referred to using male pronouns and roles. This selective representation is logically inconsistent with the claim of inherent gender duality.
3. Authority and Power:
   • Claim: “You can’t, it’s not a democracy. You don’t say, okay, mom decides one thing, dad wants something else. So the kids break the tie.”
     • Critique: The analogy of family decision-making as inherently undemocratic and patriarchal is problematic. It assumes that hierarchical power structures are the only effective organizational model, ignoring alternative, egalitarian family dynamics. This presents a false dilemma, suggesting that the only options are strict hierarchy or chaos.

Cognitive Biases

1. Confirmation Bias:
   • The content consistently reinforces existing beliefs about the patriarchal nature of Christianity without critically examining alternative viewpoints. For example, the dismissal of the questioner’s desire for a goddess to worship as irrelevant to “what reality is” showcases a bias towards maintaining the status quo.
2. In-group Bias:
   • The content frequently references shared beliefs and values among its audience, creating an “us versus them” dynamic. This is evident in statements like, “For those of you who can see the world as it actually is,” which implicitly devalues dissenting perspectives.

Unsubstantiated Claims

1. Nature of Reality:
   • Claim: “It doesn’t matter how a person wants reality to be. What matters is what reality is.”
     • Critique: The content does not substantiate what “reality” is in the context of religious beliefs, especially given the subjective nature of spirituality. The assertion assumes a singular, objective reality that aligns with the speaker’s interpretation, without considering the pluralistic nature of religious experiences and understandings.
2. Role of Women in Christianity:
   • Claim: “The person in power came and died to serve the person he was over.”
     • Critique: While this references the Christian narrative of Jesus’ sacrifice, it does not address the broader implications of gender roles within the church and religious communities. The claim oversimplifies complex theological and social issues, presenting them as universally accepted truths without supporting evidence.

Methods to Test Alleged Promises

The content includes implicit promises about the nature of God and the benefits of adopting certain beliefs. Testing these promises could involve:

1. Empirical Observation:
   • Investigating communities that adhere strictly to the described patriarchal model to assess social and psychological outcomes compared to more egalitarian models.
2. Psychological Research:
   • Conducting studies on the effects of belief systems on individual well-being, particularly examining the impact of hierarchical versus egalitarian religious structures on mental health.

Degree of Belief and Evidence

The content emphasizes aligning beliefs with “reality,” yet it does not provide empirical evidence for its claims. Mapping one’s degree of belief to the available evidence involves critically assessing:

1. Historical and Cultural Contexts:
   • Examining the historical development of patriarchal structures within Christianity and comparing them to other cultural and religious frameworks.
2. Philosophical Inquiry:
   • Engaging in philosophical debates about the nature of reality, truth, and belief, considering diverse perspectives and the evidence supporting each.

Conclusion

The content from “If Christianity Had a Goddess to Worship, I Might Consider It” lacks logical coherence in several areas, primarily due to unexamined assumptions and biases. It presents patriarchal structures as inherent and unchangeable, dismissing alternative views without adequate substantiation. The responses to questions about gender representation and pro-life arguments are rooted in confirmation bias and fail to critically engage with dissenting perspectives. For a robust belief system, it is essential to map the degree of belief to the degree of evidence and consider empirical, historical, and philosophical contexts.

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Feel free to discuss these arguments further in the comments section.