What Do You Make of Our Recent Poll?

Here are the results...

The question was this:

How probable is testimonial evidence in history (TE) relative to repeatable scientific evidence (SE) when it comes to assessing the claims of Christianity if they contradict each other?

TE = 0%; SE = 100% - 74 (61%)

TE = 20%; SE = 80% - 21 (17%)

TE = 40%; SE = 60% - 3 (2%)

TE = 50%; SE = 50% - 3 (2%)

TE = 60%; SE = 40% - 0 (0%)

TE = 80%; SE = 20% - 3 (2%)

TE = 100%; SE = 0% - 16 (13%)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe I should provide test cases here. Ancient superstitious writers tell us that Balaam's ass and a snake talked. They also tell us a woman was turned into a pillar of salt, and that an axe head floated. They also tell us Jesus walked on water and that Peter healed a man who was crippled from birth.

Anonymous said...

I think the poll question is poorly written, or at least incomplete. I am assuming it meant to ask about the probability of each type of evidence revealing the most accurate explanation of a phenomenon. As far as I know, evidence can't be probable.

I answered "TE = 20%; SE = 80%" because I think TE can still be somewhat useful. Take, for example, an anecdote that can't be confirmed at the time it's presented. Later, SE may become available that relates to previously presented TE, and the two may be examined together to provide the best understanding.

I can't completely dismiss anyone's account just because the available evidence contradicts or fails to support it. Some events simply won't have any SE, so TE is all we will ever get. This fact doesn't necessarily mean that the TE is useless or invalid. It just means that it may not lend itself well to scientific examination.

Anonymous said...

It was fun and thought provoking, but it didn't take bias into account. I suppose most of our readers are non-believers. If that were the case it would account for the high value placed on a mechanism for supporting our viewpoint.

Anonymous said...

John, don't forget the most remarkable wonder of all - they tell us that 5000 people in the Middle East trekked a couple of kilometers out of town to listen to a chap preach, and only *one* of them happened to have his packed lunch on him.

See how god uses one miracle to set up another? Glory! ;-)