Do you think it is helpful to ask and answer questions?

Question

Do you learn from answers? Do you learn from the answers you get from other people? Do you learn from your own answers? If you ask a question, do you ask because you want to learn? I know this looks like several questions, but what can I say? I'm looking for opinions about questions, answers, Yahoo!, open forums, beliefs and whether you think it all does some good for you and for the larger community. I see some polarization happening here, but I also see a growing tendency toward respect and tolerance. I want to know what YOU think. Does it help to have an open forum?

Thank you. Lots of good answers here. I don't want to underrate any of the other answerers, but I'm especially glad to hear from Don H, because I've enjoyed so many of his other answers and I'm happy to have gotten some of his wisdom here. It will be hard for me to choose a "Best". Blindfold? Eenie-meanie?

Answer 1

It helps because many people have never heard anything but the lies that religion tells about God.

It exposes people to the possibility that God may not be the conditionally loving, judgmental, punishing jerk that religion makes Him/Her out to be.

I was one of these people. I had never imagined that there could be another way of looking at God that wasn't so contradictory.

People who have been raised with the good people bad people sin paradigm are often mired so deeply in this thought system that any other world view seems absurd, but not always.

Some start to see the truth and begin to think independently. They start to see that the thought system they have been given talks about love but is more likely to breed hate.

Many see these types of forums as an opportunity to save Christians and Muslims and other judgment based religions, and bring them into the light of an unconditionally loving God.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

I do think it is helpful - in more ways than one. It can be used as a good educational tool. People who are so inclined can use it as a spring board to do further research on subjects that interest them. Since you have posted this in the R&S section, I will just keep to that venue - there are so many different religions mentioned within this forum, many that I didn't know much about. After reading people's questions and answers, I did more in-depth research and learned quite a bit more about many of the religions listed. I think the more we know about issues that tend to divide people, the better we can get along with those who have different beliefs than we do. If we form prejudices from things we have heard, or people that we have known (such as our parents or teachers) but we really don't know the facts before forming opions, we tend to be narrow minded.

Besides being a good educational tool, it also gives us the opportunity to intereact with people of different cultures and religions, which hopefully has made us a bit more comfortabe with people outside of the inner circle we tend to hang with, and we can go out into the world and continue to interact with people who are "different" than we are and be a bit more tollerant in doing so. So yes, I do feel it helps to develop respect and tolerance in a larger community.

I do learn from answers, though not from all as not all people answer seriously, though I suppose I learn from those people also, that not all people are willing to open their minds to hear thoughts of others. I also learn from my own answers, since it causes me to think about different situations and put my thoughts and feelings into words for others to read. At times I also learn from the research that I do to answer a question, though most of the time I am writing answers just from what I have stored in my brain.

The questions I ask have been for different reasons. Some were asked because I wanted answers, or at least opinions to help me to form answers. Some were asked out of frustration. I remember one that was asked to try to get someone's attention - hoping a friend would see it.

Yahoo Answers is a good thing - but like all good things, I think the key is moderation. If it takes all your free time to ask and answer questions, then it could be a problem instead of a benefit.

Answer 3

I absolutely LOVE Yahoo! Q&A. Yes; I learn from the answers from other people, I learn from the research I do on my own answers, I've had some very helpful answers to my questions, I think it does me, and probably others, a LOT of good. For one thing, I get so many laughs--so many clever (and not so clever) people on here. How beautiful that you're seeing a growing tendency toward respect and tolerance. I think this is one of the best things that's happened to humanity.

In the Bayán it had been forbidden you to ask Us questions. The Lord hath now relieved you of this prohibition, that ye may be free to ask what you need to ask, but not such idle questions as those on which the men of former times were wont to dwell. Fear God, and be ye of the righteous! Ask ye that which shall be of profit to you in the Cause of God and His dominion, for the portals of His tender compassion have been opened before all who dwell in heaven and on earth.

THE UNIVERSAL CYCLES

160
Question.—What is the real explanation of the cycles which occur in the world of existence?
Answer.—Each one of the luminous bodies in this limitless firmament has a cycle of revolution which is of a different duration, and every one revolves in its own orbit, and again begins a new cycle. So the earth, every three hundred and sixty-five days, five hours, forty-eight minutes and a fraction, completes a revolution; and then it begins a new cycle—that is to say, the first cycle is again renewed. In the same way, for the whole universe, whether for the heavens or for men, there are cycles of great events, of important facts and occurrences. When a cycle is ended, a new cycle begins; and the old one, on account of the great events which take place, is completely forgotten, and not a trace or record of it will remain. As you see, we have no records of twenty thousand years ago, although we have before proved by argument that life on this earth is very ancient. It is not one hundred thousand, or two hundred thousand, or one million or two million years old; it is very ancient, and the ancient records and traces are entirely obliterated.
Each of the Divine Manifestations has likewise a cycle, and during the cycle His laws and commandments prevail and are performed. When His cycle is completed by the appearance of a new Manifestation, a new cycle begins. In this way cycles begin, end and are renewed, until a universal cycle is completed in the world, when important events and great occurrences will take place which entirely 161 efface every trace and every record of the past; then a new universal cycle begins in the world, for this universe has no beginning. We have before stated proofs and evidences concerning this subject; there is no need of repetition.
Briefly, we say a universal cycle in the world of existence signifies a long duration of time, and innumerable and incalculable periods and epochs. In such a cycle the Manifestations appear with splendor in the realm of the visible until a great and supreme Manifestation makes the world the center of His radiance. His appearance causes the world to attain to maturity, and the extension of His cycle is very great. Afterward, other Manifestations will arise under His shadow, Who according to the needs of the time will renew certain commandments relating to material questions and affairs, while remaining under His shadow.
We are in the cycle which began with Adam, and its supreme Manifestation is Bahá’u’lláh.

Answer 4

I study the Way of the Warrior. It says that warriors ask
questions. However, I am an INDEPENDENT THINKER.
I rarely ask questions, because then you give all the power away to the other person.
Zen teaches that all the questioning and answering is an EGO
TRIP. That's why Zen masters ask stupid riddles, to try and get
the student to stop trying to figure everything out. Once one
strips him or herself of EGO. Then they learn to relax and
ENJOY THE MOMENT, and LIFE in general.
But WISDOM, which our Creator bestows on us if we simply
ask for it. Has taught me mans wisdom tends to go to extremes.
And we all need to learn to be fexible in this world. No one
way of thinking and doing works with every individual and in every situation. BE FEXIBLE!
Like the tree that bends with the wind. Or the rock that
forces the ocean to part.

Answer 5

i do learn I have to formulate my ideas in a comprensible way. (even though I have no lamp to see my keyboard well!)I see outrage and pure hatred pouring forth.I see a lot of ignorance and those unaware that they are victims of propaganda. Those that no longer read but rely solely onTV/radio for knowldedge and Im not talking the discovery or history channel. I see disillusionment and hopelessness and rebellion aginst religion which many feel is too restrictive and old fashioned. I see those holding fast to their religion , but many who haven't even explored their religious beliefs deeply. Those who have a my team is best attitude and cannot engage others in an intelligent way. Tolerance is there, but often it can't be expressed everytime against those who spew hateful ignorant comments.
We get burned ot of reading it and hence it sits there on its own and draws more hatred (remember the family movie "monsters?)We want to reach out but get tired and wonder if its even worth it.

Answer 6

Yes, I think we learn, the serious ones of us. There are some that come just to insult and mock, and there are a couple who are just plain silly. There are two who are ugly and full of poison, but the majority really want to learn about others and share beliefs. This is a good place except for a few "rotton apples", and you know what happens to rotten things.

Answer 7

It is very helpful for me.
I try to answer legitimate questions in this forum with biblicaly based answers.
I keep my bible and concordance on hand.
I enjoy this very much.

One thing that bugs me about this forum is the crude, insulting non R & S questions or bashing of any kind. But this is the world we live in, so I wade through all of that and search out genuine seekers.

Answer 8

it can never be a bad thing to reach out to other people, no matter what the method is. yes, there are some on this site who have nothing positive to say, or are just trying to provoke or shock, bu the majority of people are good, and just want to be heard. and if someone gets some good adive along the way, or gets a peice of knowledge they didnt have before, then whats the harm

Answer 9

Oh yeah, I've had some misconceptions which I held cleared up for me, and writing my thoughts helps me to better figure them out.

Yeah, there will always be people here who try to pass statements of opinion for questions, but for the most part, I think it's been a good thing.

Answer 10

Yes, I do. I think I have learned something from the experience here.

Have you read the excerpt in this week's Time Magazine from Barack Obama's new book? It's a very well-written piece that applies quite well to our situation here.