Starting at the top level are assumptions about dogmas to be believed regarding Christianity that are answered primarily by bible verses and views about bible verses.
Below that strata are assumptions about the value and authenticity of bible verses.
This is the deepest that clergy wish you to go. This is what is taught at theological colleges and all that you will learn in church but there is more.
Below that strata there are assumptions about items such as Jesus. It assumes that such a person lived and is still alive although many bible scholars doubt he ever did exist and there is no medical or scientific evidence that he is alive today. Unless you have the assumption that Jesus lived and is still alive then you cannot function in the top two layers with bible verses and dogmas about Jesus. There are many such asumptions made of a historical and scientific nature on thousand of items which lie outside the realm of theology.
Below that strata are assumptions about the human need for holy books and why such things are central to religions.
Below that strata are assumptions about need for God and the so called " God-shaped hole in one's heart".
Below that strata are the primary assumptions made about God and philosophic investigations of God (not tied to dogmas or theology).
Below that strata are assumptions about the human psyche /soul / spirit and its nature and function tying in both philosophy and psychology.
Below that strata are assumptions about being and the whole field of ontology.
These strata are explored through theology, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, history, science, psychology, etc and are not the sole role of theologians or clergy.
REVERSE STRATA - How the dogmas of Christianity are built ....
1st. Assumptions about being and the whole field of ontology.
2nd. Assumptions about the human psyche /soul / spirit and its nature and function tying in both philosophy and psychology.
3rd. Assumptions made about God and philosophic investigations of God (not tied to dogmas or theology).
4th. Assumptions about need for God and the so called " God-shaped hole in one's heart".
5th. Assumptions about the human need for holy books and why such things are central to religions.
6th. Assumptions about items such as Jesus and other dogmas.
For each assumption value judgements are made about whether they are true or false. All claims are not considered equal. It is my assertion that most claims made by Christians, in defending Christianity, are based mainly upon the subjective interpretation of bible verses ( and ultimately neverending circular reasoning based upon bible verses) without external verification and that such claims, by their very nature, are not open to falsification. They must thus be held as suspect for similar claims can also be made of any religion or nonbelief. Christian apologetics is thus, in fact, a type of pseudo-science - a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status. It is often characterised by the use of vague, exaggerated or unprovable claims, an over-reliance on confirmation rather than rigorous attempts at refutation, a lack of openness to evaluation by other experts, and a general absence of systematic processes to rationally develop theories. Christians like to place revelation, theology, and spirituality as beyond empirical enquiry (and not a science) and thus water it down to nothing more than a subjective choice that is equally valid for any other religion or nonbelief.
1st. Assumptions about being and the whole field of ontology.
2nd. Assumptions about the human psyche /soul / spirit and its nature and function tying in both philosophy and psychology.
3rd. Assumptions made about God and philosophic investigations of God (not tied to dogmas or theology).
4th. Assumptions about need for God and the so called " God-shaped hole in one's heart".
5th. Assumptions about the human need for holy books and why such things are central to religions.
6th. Assumptions about items such as Jesus and other dogmas.
For each assumption value judgements are made about whether they are true or false. All claims are not considered equal. It is my assertion that most claims made by Christians, in defending Christianity, are based mainly upon the subjective interpretation of bible verses ( and ultimately neverending circular reasoning based upon bible verses) without external verification and that such claims, by their very nature, are not open to falsification. They must thus be held as suspect for similar claims can also be made of any religion or nonbelief. Christian apologetics is thus, in fact, a type of pseudo-science - a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status. It is often characterised by the use of vague, exaggerated or unprovable claims, an over-reliance on confirmation rather than rigorous attempts at refutation, a lack of openness to evaluation by other experts, and a general absence of systematic processes to rationally develop theories. Christians like to place revelation, theology, and spirituality as beyond empirical enquiry (and not a science) and thus water it down to nothing more than a subjective choice that is equally valid for any other religion or nonbelief.
