Are facts bad?

Question

I've noticed a disturbing trend in the religion section. People who cite studies and research, easily testable and repeatable facts, are often given the 'thumbs down' in favor of the more 'abstract' responses.

If your religion requires you to disregard reality, how far are you willing to take it? Do you ignore all of science because some of it seems to disagree with your dogma? Well, obviously not, since you're on the internet using a computer. Facts and evidence got you there, not faith.

So why ignore facts when they don't agree with what you think is true? Isn't it possible that you are demonstrateably wrong?

Actually, viks, the 10% of the brain idea is a myth. We use all of our brains.

Cultures knew the Earth was round for thousands of years by observing lunar eclipses. There was never in recorded history a consensus that the Earth was flat. Sure, then we thought it was round, and now we know it's a prolate spheriodal (or something like that) but round to prolate is much closer than flat to round. We're constantly learning more, but not contridicting what we learned before - just building on that knowledge.

Someone asked for an example. A few minutes ago, someone asked about the power of prayer as applied to world peace. The answers citing studies that showed prayer was unaffective didn't show up at first in my browser - yahoo had censored them out because they already had too many 'thumbs down'.

Answer 1

Facts are neither good or bad
It is what you do with them!

Answer 2

'Facts' can be manipulated. And it is a fact that people are in the habit of listing only the facts that agree with their beliefs (this goes especially for atheists).

The anti-theists on this board spout off about evolution as if it were a PROVEN FACT! But it is far from that. At best, it is a THEORY! And it is one that is in trouble because the facts don't fit with the theory. But those facts aren't mentioned too often; one has to dig to find them.

Others claim that science has proven this or that. The FACT is that science hasn't proven anything at all. It only poses theories. Who is it that chooses to disregard that reality?

It is a FACT that no human has the answers to everything. There is no theory of a unified everything that explains every detail and event or issue in life, proven or otherwise. Anyone who demands another to be able to explain everything by their beliefs is a corny looking for a mark.

Another fact about 'facts':Facts are good at telling you whether the grass is green or brown, but they aren't very good at telling you if it feels cool and refreshing to the touch. It is also a fact that facts are better at telling that something is, than at telling that something is not.

Facts aren't bad; but don't be duped by the facts. Always look for the hidden facts.

Answer 3

disregard reality? im sorry but a majority of the things people say as far as science goes is something they make up due to the fact that they'd rather not believe in the unseen because if thats the case i've bought to non believers attention (or have tried to) the fact that there IS some evidence out there pointing to the existance of God and still get thumbs down so it works both ways

Answer 4

I don't generally give alot of thumbs down, but I have no problem with facts! However, if your "fact" contradicts what God has said, it is not a fact. And if it implies a conclusion that contradicts the word of God, it may still be a fact, but the conclusion that it points to, according to the context in which it is used, is a false conclusion. As God has said, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways above your ways."

And as far as your stats on prayers not being answered, it is hard to sell that fact to those of us who have had prayers answered. (I say this with sincerity and not sarcasm)

Answer 5

Fact is, there is a oblong barge perched high on Mt. Ararat that has been visited by Armenian shepherds when it was permitted. It has the perfect dimensions as to not capsize during a flood. The Bible says that's where Noah's Ark is. Does everyone believe it's Noah's Ark?

Answer 6

are the facts really facts? How do you know they are true? What proof is there?

Everything we have discovered as men (and women) is based on theories we have created ... if we only use 10% of our brains like many experts suggest ... dont you think facts may be questioned if we started using the other 90%?

We used to think the world was flat ... then we changed our minds, now the fact is its round.

Answer 7

In order to keep their delusional religious beliefs intact fundies will disagree with well tested scientific theories. What I really hate are politicians who use these people for their political gain by telling them that evolution is false.

Answer 8

I asked a similar question to this the other day, and the best response I got was this:


"Facts scare people because they are unwavering...
Facts to some people are the equivalent of saying "because I said so." You just can't argue with them."

I think that sums up a good deal of it.

Answer 9

They ignore it because it says in Paul something or Peter something that anything that is not in the Bible is false or something like that.So, they basically live in a world that everything must be because of God and give no credit to man.Cars, planes, computers, medical science, TVs, and everything that we have today was created by God with a snap of his finger,

Answer 10

thank you - thank you - thank you!

no, facts are NOT bad. facts good. too often people disregard or discount the facts that happen to disagree with their beliefs. I'm sure you and I are also guilty of this, in our own way.

Let's all try to put facts first - and if the facts clash with what we think we believe, let's all think again.

Answer 11

What you have noticed is a few brainwashed fanatics.I am Christian,I study facts,with a open mind.