Falsification and Religious Language
Antony Flew's critique of religious language: if believers cannot specify conditions under which God's existence or goodness would be falsified (disproven), then the claim is not a meaningful assertion. Religious statements function as pseudo-assertions—they appear to make truth-claims but actually express commitment unfalsifiable by evidence. Believers risk reducing religious claims to meaninglessness through unwillingness to admit defeat.
Real World
When the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed 230,000 people, many believers maintained God is good and all-powerful by appealing to mystery or free will — exactly the move Flew argues drains 'God is good' of meaningful content.
Exam Focus
For 'assess' questions, use Hare's 'blik' or Mitchell's 'Partisan' as direct scholarly responses to Flew before reaching your judgement.
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