Instigator / Con
7
1494
rating
4
debates
75.0%
won
Topic
#5220

Is the belief in God/Gods reasonable?

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
3
0
Better sources
2
2
Better legibility
1
1
Better conduct
1
0

After 1 vote and with 4 points ahead, the winner is...

baggins
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
5
Time for argument
Three days
Max argument characters
7,000
Voting period
One week
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Pro
3
1500
rating
5
debates
30.0%
won
Description

The Burden of Proof would be on both participants.
The participant who agrees with the statement needs to present a hypothesis explaining why believing in God is reasonable or more probable than not.
The participant who disagrees with the statement needs to prove that the hypothesis does not meet the criteria of being reasonable .

The statement being a positive claim would require the one who’s making it to start the process of BOP.
If the participant’s hypothesis does include sound arguments, logically entailed conclusions and strong evidence the hypothesis would be considered reasonable.

I have no preference in the way the other participant will choose to formulate their answers (formal / informal).

DEFINITIONS:
“belief”:
- a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in something
- something that is accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion
- conviction of the truth of some statement

“reasonable ”:
- having sound, sensible and rational judgment
- does not commit any logical fallacies
- of or according to the rules of logic

“God”:
- In this discussion/debate I will be referring only to the deistic and theistic version of God/Gods when I mention the term, and not pantheistic or other.
- a supreme being with ultimate powers/abilities that created existence and reality itself intentionally
- a thinking agent who created everything purposely

Criterion
Con
Tie
Pro
Points
Better arguments
3 point(s)
Better sources
2 point(s)
Better legibility
1 point(s)
Better conduct
1 point(s)
Reason:

Arguments: PRO says that reasonable and smart people believe in God. That's it, that's his argument. CON correctly points out how that isn't evidence for the belief itself being reasonable. PRO does not attempt to build a valid framework to prove that belief in God is reasonable. PRO also claims without proof that God helps one to understand one's surrounding.

Conduct:
-PRO makes new arguments in R5 when CON cannot respond to them:
---"Believing in God can provide a sense of purpose, confidence, comfort, and moral guidance, which can also promote beneficial development."
---"Also, religious beliefs often promote ethical principles and values, contributing to a moral compass that guides individuals in making decisions."
He also only provided sources in R5.