I asked ChatGPT “What is intellectual honesty?”
This is what it told me:
Intellectual honesty refers to the commitment to truthfulness, accuracy, and fairness in one’s thinking, reasoning, and communication. It involves being truthful with oneself and others, acknowledging and addressing biases and assumptions, and being open to revising one’s beliefs and opinions in light of new evidence or reasoned arguments. Intellectual honesty is essential for effective critical thinking, rational discourse, and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. It requires humility, integrity, and a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue even when it challenges one’s preconceptions or beliefs.
According to that definition, it is my belief that there is not a SINGLE theist who regularly posts here who is intellectually honest.
“Ouch, Andy, that’s a broad and sweeping generalisation and how could you know?”, I hear some people ask (but I only stated a belief); “Prove it/explain yourself” say others (but I have neither the time or the inclination to plough through people’s histories to demonstrate each case)… but, okay… let’s play a game…
If you are a theist and you are of the opinion that you are intellectually honest, pipe up in the comments and:
1. Say “Hi, I’m ____; I’m a theist and I’m ready to take your challenge”.
2. State which deity you believe in and which religious tradition you adhere to (being as specific as possible – i.e. “Southern Baptist” is a better answer than “Christian”)
3. State clearly your position on what your deity has/had to do with any holy texts
4. Say “Bring on your questions, I will do my utmost to answer them with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”
So, for instance, if I were participating as an earlier version of myself, I might make this comment:
Hi, I’m Andy; I’m a theist and I’m ready to take your challenge. I believe in the Judeo-Christian God; I was brought up in the United Reformed Church (after the Presbyterian and Congregational traditions) but confirmed (at college) in the Church of England tradition. I believe that God inspired the words in the Bible; I do not believe that every single word is literally true, but I do believe that God put the words there in order to teach spiritual lessons. Bring on your questions, I will do my utmost to answer them with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I’m looking forward to this!
To complete the challenge, you must make it through a barrage of ten questions. If I feel that you have clearly demonstrated that you are not intellectually honest at any step I’ll say so (and ask you no more questions)… but importantly, I’ll explain my reasoning. Ultimately, of course, my personal judgement is completely irrelevant; I am not conceited enough to think that my opinion counts for much… but there is a community here who can pile in… judging both your intellectual honesty and mine.
The first question will be based on your introduction, but will basically be about what good reason you have to believe as you do.
Anybody care to play?