Nonsense Is Not To Be Believed Or Argued About
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
22 March 2025
This pertains to the article, "Six Million Muslims Convert To Christianity in Africa Alone Each Year." Though a rather old article, it remains relevant because the followers of both Christianity and Islam continue to spar over the perceived greatness of their respective faiths. There's a passage in this article that states, " One of the most dramatic developments is that many Muslims — including Shiites in Iran and Iraq — are seeing dreams and visions of Jesus and thus coming into churches explaining that they have already converted and now need a Bible and guidance on how to follow Jesus. This is the fulfilment of the Biblical prophecy of Joel, “in the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days….And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (Joel 2:28-32)." But these are all religious, scriptural and metaphysical propositions that cannot be verified. Metaphysical, scriptural and religious propositions and claims are inherently meaningless because they cannot be verified. According to this perspective, metaphysical statements deal with abstract concepts or entities that transcend empirical evidence and cannot be proven through scientific observation or logical reasoning.
Therefore, since metaphysical propositions lack empirical verification, they are deemed meaningless in the realm of logical positivism. This line of thinking highlights the notion that meaningful statements must be verifiable and falsifiable through empirical methods, ultimately questioning the validity and significance of metaphysical claims within the framework of language and logic. Science is the only legitimate source of knowledge. The scientific method, which relies on empirical evidence and logical reasoning, is the most reliable way to acquire knowledge about the world.
Science is systematically structured to test hypotheses, gather data, and draw conclusions based on objective evidence, making it a highly credible source of information. While other forms of knowledge, such as personal experience or intuition, may have value in certain contexts, science is considered the most rigorous and dependable method for understanding the complexities of the universe. Ultimately, we cannot deny critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning in our pursuit of truth and understanding. Here comes the role of logic. Logic is the foundation of all rational thought. Logical reasoning plays in the process of forming rational beliefs and making sound judgments. Indeed, without a grounding in logic, our thoughts and beliefs would be subject to inconsistency, contradiction, and irrationality. By adhering to the principles of logic, we are able to critically evaluate arguments, identify fallacies, and arrive at conclusions that are coherent and justified. In this way, logic serves as the cornerstone upon which rational thought is built, providing a solid framework for understanding the world and making informed decisions. Yet, logic and rules of physics will not be able to convince those who're struck by metaphysical propositions.
The great modern-day English philosopher A J Ayer aptly said in his book 'Language, Truth, and Logic ' that 'nonsense is not to be believed or argued about.' It's sheer waste of time and energy on ideas or statements that lack rationality or coherence. By refusing to believe or argue about nonsense, one can maintain logical and meaningful discourse, focusing on ideas that are grounded in reason and evidence. This serves as a reminder to prioritize critical thinking and logical reasoning, rather than getting caught up in meaningless or absurd debates like which religion is the best or which one is the world's fastest growing faith or will a devout Hindu be able to go to heaven. The last question is a classic example of "begging the question" fallacy (also known as petitio principii). It occurs when an argument's premises assume the truth of the conclusion, essentially arguing in a circle by using the conclusion as a premise to support itself. The question presupposes that a Hindu is unable to go to heaven.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/christianity-bible-islam-conversion-/d/134944
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