Is Theism arrogant?

Both are arrogant.However the statement "everyone should believe that the ToE is the best scientific explanation for the diversity of life we have at this time" is not arrogant. It is a definitional issue and appraisal of facts in relation to that definition. Whether one believes that the best science has to offer at this time is the actual explanation, is different than whether something is in fact the best science has to offer at this time. The first is arrogant, unless it is changed to almost everyone feels something which many take (describe) to be the presence of God.The second is almost arrogant. It depends on what one means by secret and fear. Unknown to onesself? Fear of something in particular?The last is certainly arrogant. If a person said they believe that such people are deluded, or that they could be deluded is one thing. To make a statement as if that were knowledge is beyond their actual capability.In levels of arrogance, telling a person what they ought to believe is only slightly more arrogant than telling them what they do believe.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

It appears we have a slightly different definition of arrogance, or perhaps a different read on the situation.To me arrogance is the assertion of one's position as being greater than it actually is. Thus to believe you think you know it is raining outside, when you've been indoors all day without any ability to see outside or get info from people outside, is arrogance.Essentially it is the position "I, being me, am better at knowing than you, being someone other than me."You can always believe you are right,and you are correct all claims carry that idea, but to the degree you advance to another that you must be right, or they cannot be, without any qualifiers is (to my definition) arrogance.Thus telling a person what deity they ought to believe in means you are a better judge of reality than them. And telling a person what they do believe is such a pretense to omniscience that I am at a loss how that is not arrogance. That is about the height of hubris. No one can know truly what is in another person's head, or how they experience the world.This message has been edited by holmes, 10-31-2005 05:10 AM

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

Note that in my post #19, I lay out how that very thing is a hidden premise in the claims under discussion.Just because a person doesn't explicitly say I am like a God, does not mean the argument made by that person does not actually include that as a logical requirement.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)