Pro/Forums - Religion: Pros and Cons

Pro/Forums (http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/index.php)

- Random Nonsense / Geek Stuff (http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?f=15)

- - Religion: Pros and Cons (http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=6594)

Quote:

Originally posted by utabintarbo
One must question what is being asked of him/her, eh?

Yup, even if it gets your thrown out of your cult/church. If they have problems with asking questions like "why", then you shouldn't be involved with them IMO.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k

... It's the basis of all forms of Mysticism, and goes back thousands of years.

Mysticism here is the problem, of course.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k

It's not hard to see why it happens, and it doesn't make it correct, but it's there, it's been around for a very long time, and it's going to stick around for a while.

That's right, it doesn't make it correct. But correctness is a goal to be strived for, no?

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k

Personally, I believe that most leaders of people understand this very well. Further, I also believe that these leaders don't commonly share that understanding, and that a few very perceptive people are able to pick up on this, and come up with a whole bunch of wild conspiracy theories, of secret or underground societies or groups of elite people, that control the world.:rolleyes:

I am not a conspiracy advocate. I think it is more a matter of inertia. People prefer their ignorance because it is easier than asking the hard questions. Especially of themselves!:shrug: "Leaders" tend to take advantage of this inertia, and use it to achieve their agenda. Hitler is a perfect example of this.:mad:

Bob

Quote:

Originally posted by utabintarbo
Mysticism here is the problem, of course.

That's right, it doesn't make it correct. But correctness is a goal to be strived for, no?

I am not a conspiracy advocate. I think it is more a matter of inertia. People prefer their ignorance because it is easier than asking the hard questions. Especially of themselves!:shrug: "Leaders" tend to take advantage of this inertia, and use it to achieve their agenda. Hitler is a perfect example of this.:mad:

Bob

Well, mysticism isn't quite a "problem", but it is starting to impede on good science. Correctness is only natural, and I think that science will eventually prevail. We just need a better education system ;).

I'm glad we see it similarly. Leaders understand many things, but that doesn't automatically make then "good guys".:eek:

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k
Well, mysticism isn't quite a "problem", but it is starting to impede on good science. Correctness is only natural, and I think that science will eventually prevail. We just need a better education system ;).

The trend (back) toward mysticism is the most serious threat to human progress now extant. When you can hold non-reality (faith) as valid as reality (science), you threaten the very nature of knowledge itself.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k

I'm glad we see it similarly. Leaders understand many things, but that doesn't automatically make then "good guys".:eek:

It doesn't necessarily make them "bad guys" either. Opportunistic, perhaps..... e.g.: G. W. Bush after 9/11 for a more contemporary (and more benign) example... but that is a topic for another thread.:D

Bob

Quote:

Originally posted by utabintarbo
The trend (back) toward mysticism is the most serious threat to human progress now extant. When you can hold non-reality (faith) as valid as reality (science), you threaten the very nature of knowledge itself.

I don't know if I'd call it the most serious, but I will certainly agree that it's significant. It certainly isn't alone though! ;)

Quote:

Originally posted by utabintarbo
It doesn't necessarily make them "bad guys" either. Opportunistic, perhaps..... e.g.: G. W. Bush after 9/11 for a more contemporary (and more benign) example... but that is a topic for another thread.:D

LOL! Yeah, that just might be worth it!:eek:

I've picked up <i>Gödel, Escher, Bach</i> and have been reading industriously. So far, one of its central themes is the question of what it really means to *know* or *understand* something. It may give me a better bearing on this religion debate, though I doubt it will change my beliefs so much as change the way in which I look at my beliefs.

As a companion piece, I'm reading a collection of essays on Zen Buddhism.

I should probably put more effort into job hunting.

Alchemy

Quote:

Originally posted by Alchemy
I've picked up <i>Gödel, Escher, Bach</i> and have been reading industriously...

...I should probably put more effort into job hunting.

Fantastic book. Enjoy it.

There's always time for job hunting.