What reason is there to believe that any writing is the word of God?

I mean, surely we do not believe that this or that book is the word of God simply because it says so, for if that were enough to assent to such a belief, then we would believe all of the ones that make such claims.

So, there must be more to it than that.

You're FREE to CHOSE to believe whatever you want or not.

So is everyone else.

May I take credit for this thread too?

It is humanly impossible to knowingly believe a falsehood. For example, none of us could choose to believe that our fathers gave birth to us if we already know how that works.

You may attempt to take credit if you like, based upon whatever reasoning you may have for asking. However, the act of taking credit is not satisfied unless credit is given. I mean, without both parts, taking credit for anything becomes rather nonsensical.

For instance:

One may 'take credit' for inventing the automobile, even though they were not alive when it took place; one may 'take credit' for stopping the holocaust even though they were an active participant; one may 'take credit' for that which happened and/or would have happened regardless of whether or not they were ever born. So we can see that it is clear that in order for taking credit to mean something more than just someone overestimating their own effect/affect, the taking of credit must also be accompanied by a giving of credit.

With all this in mind, I'm sorry Pan, but I cannot give you credit for the topic any more than I can give it to Bertrand Russell, Epicurus, Wittgenstein, Austin, Davidson, Kant, Spinoza, or Alice in Wonderland. In fact, there is no single entity that such credit could be attributed towards. However - if pressed hard enough and in the right kind of way - I would have to admit and offer credit to the aforementioned source(s), Russell in particular.

So, do you have any comment and/or thoughts regarding the subject matter set out in the OP?

Yeah, my thought is that you created this thread 4 minutes after posting in the other thread I was in.

I see a pattern in that the subject of something I comment on is recreated by you in a new thread. Numerous times I might add...

No worries though, I know I inspire you. You're right, "An evolution of thought/belief is upon us" and I know I'm responsible for at least some of it.

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week. :-Þ

They do so because they want to and they do not need proof of anything. Someone told em, is all they need. They call it faith.

There is no logic to it. There is no worry of healthiness to it. There is not concern of the crimes committed in it's name.

Again it is faith.

One of the worst conditions permeated through our societies....

Faith is unquestioned trust in the truthfulness of a source. I would agree that it can be very dangerous, especially when it is unshakable and having it in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary is part of it's appeal.

Post hoc ergo prompter hoc

Citing a "perceived" fallacy does not make it one. Only you can publicly verify if it is truly a fallacy or not. I know what I know, deal with it...

By your logic the KKK can take credit for the civil rights movements.

The irony is thick.

This clearly says that only I can verify whether or not the grounds that support your taking credit are fallacious. Roughly, to verify is to confirm. I am doing just that, yet you are still arguing the opposite.

I'm not arguing, that's where your perception of me fails you.

I'm stating a fact that I firmly believe. I said only you can publicly verify it, and I'm sure you know what I mean by that...
(not that you will admit to either though)

Do you have something interesting to say regarding the topic at hand?

What does it take for you to assent to the belief that any particular piece of writing is the word of God? I mean, how do you distinguish between all of the ones that make that claim?

You're not going to like what I have to say.

Take everything I said here and how I said "I know what I know".
Kinda the same thing... (again, only you can publicly verify if I'm correct or not)

"I know what I know" does not say anything at all. It certainly does not explain what sort of criterion one can use(or you yourself use) to distinguish between different writings which make the same claim of being the word of God.

The word of god is the truth and leads only to the righteous path. So with your brain you should be able to tell. And what stops you from asking god himself for guidance if you truly want it that is.there is one book That I myself can bare witness too that it is no other than the word of god. The Qur'an. It was giving to me in prison by an inmate who was let free. It makes the hairs on my body stand, it brings tears to my eyes, it makes my heart tremble , it gives me hope, peace and guidance. It informs me of events that are taking place today yet this book was revealed in stages to a prophet centuries ago. I've recited the Qur'an 10 times and everytime I read it, I learn something new . It is the word of god that it will remain pure and unchanged, under his protection. Name me just one book that is as old as this one that has not been polluted or changed.

Homer's The Iliad

Analysis of the Quaran demonstrate it to be composed of old Jewish and other Semitic common folktales.

faith is larger than people like to admit

much of our knowledge is believed by 'faith' mixed with logic and experience

we take what is given, apply it to life and experience, and use logic to determine how probable/likely it is to be true

this is how we determine truth,, we take FAITH in what we are taught and in the integrity of those teaching it,,,,and we use logic to apply what we are taught and see if it makes sense to us,,,

I believe the bible to be the inspired word of God, because it makes sense to me that it would be,,,,,and because I have faith in the integrity of the books, those who teach them, and those who follow them

my experience causes me to determine what is in the bible is logical and probable, especially compared to alternative theories,,,