swinburne's principles

• Swinburne proposed 2 principles:

  • principle of credulity
  • principle of testimony
• principle of credulity:

  • how things seem to be = good grounds for belief for how things really are
  • it cannot be shown that all claims about religious experience are unreliable, so religious experiences are probably true
• principle of testimony:

  • if reliable witnesses report religious experiences, we should probably believe them
• arguments FOR Swinburne's principles:

  • lifestyle changes = good evidence for truth
  • supported by other peoples' claims
• arguments AGAINST Swinburne's principles:

  • we can't see the reliability of senses, let alone religious experience
  • religious experience = private; we can't see people's thoughts to confirm
  • no proof that God is even involved in experiences; could have other explanation