If I have a closed box, the belief that some cookies are in the box and the belief that there are some goblins in the box both technically lack evidence.
Only if you ignore every single piece of objective evidence we have ever established about the reality of cookies and goblins respectively. I see no reason to do this. Why do you?
Obviously, cookies are more likely to be in the box because cookies exist elsewhere.
Overly simplistic summation. But you seem to have got the general gist.
But by your argument, one of these arguments is no more rational than any other, as they both have no support.
WHAT!?!?
Then you have not understood a word I have ever said on this subject to anyone ever at EvC. My entire argument is based on the fact that in practise there never ever is a complete vacuum of evidence in which any claim is made. Ever. Goblins and cookies are not evidentially equivelent by the terms of any argument I have ever made. It is the theists who insist that I consider their ambiguous proclamtions of god, the soul etc. etc. as if there were a complete absence of human psychology or history of supernatural gap filling on which to make any assessmnet of likelihood regarding such claims.
I understand, and largely agree with, your assertion that there cannot be a "one true way" where unevidenced beliefs are concerned. Yet I disagree that all these beliefs are on common ground; some are obviously more far-fetched than others.
"Obviously"? Since when was subjective "obviousness" a meaningful criteria for anything? You are on seriously thin ice with that one.
Most "obviousness" comes from objective evidence regarding possibility and likelihood of any given claim. Thus claims of having seen cats cross roads are more evidenced, more mundane and more "obviously" likely to be true than claims of T-Rex sightings. Or god experiences. I continue to despair at this insane notion that unless you look in a box all conceivably possible things that could be in the box are equally objectively unevidenced. This is a truly insane assertion.
Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.
Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.