TITLE:
The Epistemological Double Standard Inherent in Christian Metaphysical Beliefs
AUTHORS:
Randall S. Firestone
KEYWORDS:
Comparative Religion, Hinduism, Christianity, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Philosophy of Religion, Christian Metaphysics, Problems with Christian Metaphysical Beliefs, Hinduism vs. Christianity, Comparing Hinduism and Christianity, Comparing Hindu and Christian Metaphysical Beliefs
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Philosophy,
Vol.4 No.3,
August
6,
2014
ABSTRACT: This paper uses comparative religion to critique Christian claims of
possessing exclusively true metaphysical beliefs. In so doing, this paper takes
a different approach than most other challenges to Christian metaphysical
beliefs. Instead of directly responding to Christian arguments supporting their
views, this paper challenges the Christian by pointing out that their grounds
for rejecting the metaphysics of other religions will necessarily undermine the
grounds of their own beliefs. Specifically, the paper takes the metaphysical
beliefs of Hinduism, which has a metaphysics that appears both significantly
different from and contrary to Christian dogma, and demonstrates that the same
types of epistemological arguments that a Christian would almost certainly have
to use against a Hindu can just as fruitfully be used to demonstrate the
weaknesses, inconsistencies, and lack of evidential foundation that are
prevalent in Christian metaphysical beliefs.