Difference between revisions of "God did it"
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| − | The phrase [[God did it]] summarizes a large number of answers offered by monotheistic religion (especially [[Christianity]]) as alternatives to scientific explanations. As an answer, it is both a [[fake explanation]] and a [[curiosity stopper]]. | + | The phrase [[God did it]] summarizes a large number of answers offered by [[monotheistic]] [[religion]] (especially [[Christianity]]) as alternatives to [[scientific]] explanations. As an answer, it is both a [[fake explanation]] and a [[curiosity stopper]]. |
===Fake Explanation=== | ===Fake Explanation=== | ||
| − | The answer "God did it" [[fake explanation|does not explain anything]], and only opens up more questions: ''How'' did God do it? How do we ''know'' (or why do we ''believe'') that God did it? ''Why'' did God do it? How do we know that God didn't do it using methods (or leaving evidence) discoverable by science? Why do we believe that God did it if we have evidence of a more believable explanation? | + | The answer "[[God]] did it" [[fake explanation|does not explain anything]], and only opens up more questions: |
| + | * ''How'' did God do it? | ||
| + | * How do we ''know'' (or why do we ''believe'') that God did it? | ||
| + | * ''Why'' did God do it? (This question is typically answered with another [[fake explanation]], "[[God works in mysterious ways]]." | ||
| + | * How ''does'' [[God]] work, anyway? | ||
| + | * How do we know that God didn't do it using methods (or leaving evidence) discoverable by [[science]]? | ||
| + | * Why do we believe that God did it if we have [[evidence]] of a more believable explanation? | ||
===Curiosity Stopper=== | ===Curiosity Stopper=== | ||
| − | The answer "God did it" | + | The answer "God did it" [[curiosity stopper|stops curiosity]] because the obvious follow-up questions (see above) all fall into areas into which religion strongly discourages inquiry -- even if objective inquiry were possible, since no reliable method is known of detecting "God" (indeed, theists often use the idea that God is undetectable as a counter to [[arguments against the existence of God]]). |
| + | |||
| + | As an answer, it is equivalent to saying "that involves things which nobody was meant to understand" -- an idea sharply antithetical to curiosity and the spirit of scientific investigation. | ||
Revision as of 21:12, 23 August 2010
Overview
The phrase God did it summarizes a large number of answers offered by monotheistic religion (especially Christianity) as alternatives to scientific explanations. As an answer, it is both a fake explanation and a curiosity stopper.
Fake Explanation
The answer "God did it" does not explain anything, and only opens up more questions:
- How did God do it?
- How do we know (or why do we believe) that God did it?
- Why did God do it? (This question is typically answered with another fake explanation, "God works in mysterious ways."
- How does God work, anyway?
- How do we know that God didn't do it using methods (or leaving evidence) discoverable by science?
- Why do we believe that God did it if we have evidence of a more believable explanation?
Curiosity Stopper
The answer "God did it" stops curiosity because the obvious follow-up questions (see above) all fall into areas into which religion strongly discourages inquiry -- even if objective inquiry were possible, since no reliable method is known of detecting "God" (indeed, theists often use the idea that God is undetectable as a counter to arguments against the existence of God).
As an answer, it is equivalent to saying "that involves things which nobody was meant to understand" -- an idea sharply antithetical to curiosity and the spirit of scientific investigation.