"The beauty of religious mania is that it has the power to explain everything. Once God (or Satan) is accepted as the first cause of everything which happens in the mortal world, nothing is left to chance...logic can be happily tossed out the window."
[Stephen King]
"You see, one thing is, I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything and there are many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here... I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is as far as I can tell. It doesn't frighten me."
[Richard P. Feynman, "Genius, the life and science"]
do uagree?or NOT?
2006-09-06 09:06:21 · 20 answers · asked by White Man 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Absolutely agree.
"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" ~ Douglas Adams
2006-09-06 09:13:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Well, Stephen King's comment sounds like someone who took a pop philosophy class and never really studied actual logic and philosophy. You see, logical principles state quite clearly that everything has an explanation. There is nothing that is truly by chance in logic. Science states the same thing. The difference between the two is that science only has methods to view imperical evidence, while logic has the ability to take survey of both imperical and non-imperical evidence. For example, neither evolutionists nor creationists can claim science as their sole source for supporting their beliefs. The imperical evidence through the scientific method cannot be used, because the factors in both beliefs are based off of circumstantial evidence. In other words, they could be used to support the belief system, or they could be used to support something else.
Both of these viewpoints, then, rely on logic to further justify their views. Logic, unfortunately, is not nearly as simple as science. It has many more elements that go into a conclusion, and as such many different people will come to many different conclusions depending on what factors they take into account. Religion was the first practice of logic, so to say that it can be tossed out the window by religion is sheer nonsense and the uttering of a fool.
As for Feynman, I see another problem. He views uncertainty as a good thing. He sees the potential destruction of his soul as amusing. This is the attitude not of a philosopher or a logician, but of a gambler. Someone who will play the odds for the entertainment of it. This gamble that he takes, however, is not like the gamble of money, which can be earned and lost and earned again. There is potentially only one chance to get the question to the meaning of life right. Some people believe there are more, but if you do, you are also taking a gamble on that factor. Pascal also put forth a view of gambling on eternity, one which I also find rather unsettling. A search for knowledge is the most important thing a person can pursue, particularly where matters of actual importance such as eternity are held. Not being frightened of the future does not mean you are better off. Fear can be a bad thing, I will agree. However, fear of something that can actually do you harm is important. It keeps you from doing something stupid that could end in your destruction.
2006-09-06 16:20:55 · answer #2 · answered by GodsKnite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do agree. I feel secure in my beliefs. i know that God and"Satan" are not the cause of what happens in the world. I can believe in God and believe in chance. I can believe in God and know that evolution is a scientific proven fact. I can believe in God and be pretty sure that this is not the only planet in the universe with life. I have integrated all the worlds religions into one , or none. I have not found an "organized' religion that I care to join. It is not God that is the cause of the worlds wars, it is the believers in God that think they're way is the only way. He does not care which path, or no path, we take.
2006-09-06 16:15:36 · answer #3 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I disagree, here is why.
"Nothing is left to chance" in the statement implies religion has its own logic. Yet, "logic can be......tossed out...." in the statement
implies religion has no logic.
The statement has conflicting implications.
One can always choose to do things by uncertainty, or "chance",
but anyone with a common sense will tell you that everything in life need to have a plan, or a logical path.
An architect do not build a house without a blue print, so earth does not come into being by "chance".
"Chance" to me present no purpose, if no purpose, why we here?
2006-09-06 16:39:26 · answer #4 · answered by Wahnote 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I honestly don't know. That's what i have heard, and read, but the written/spoken word isn't always 100 percent right. I am religious, but still wonder about everything, and these questions will always be in the back of my head. The only thing in my mind for keeping me going insane over these questions are knowing that I will find all the answers the day I die.
I like the 2nd quote better...
2006-09-06 16:15:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did Stephen King write that about his book The Stand?
2006-09-06 16:29:22 · answer #6 · answered by theblackenedphoenix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree. It is fine to feel whatever you want and I can see your logic of "life being more interesting to live not knowing." But, my question to you is ... what if heaven and hell are real and you chose to not find out until it was too late? You must consider that as a real possibility as well. You must decide between a "more interesting life" or "better safe than sorry" philosophy. Also, the Bible says that spiritual matters are only understood by people who are spiritual. Otherwise it all seems like foolishness. You only "get it" once you choose to believe. That is why it is called faith!
2006-09-06 16:13:55 · answer #7 · answered by Mrs J 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I agree ,
We do not need to make up answers but our curiosity drives us to find them .
When people can`t prove beyond a doubt ,they quote the bible in which there is no proof .
Which means ,if you don`t know the answer for certain ,then make one up . LIE using the Bible .
2006-09-06 16:15:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My belief in God is not founded on fear of the unknown, but rather the fear that comes from recognizing that there is a God, a creator over all things. The Bible says "the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom". It is from there I start my search.
2006-09-06 16:16:20 · answer #9 · answered by zero 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Agree!
2006-09-06 16:12:29 · answer #10 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is some excellent stuff right there, especially the last quote, it really hits the spot where I'm at.
Thanks for posting this
2006-09-06 16:16:30 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋