When " I am Okay, You are also Okay " or "Ekam Sath, Viprath Bahuda Vadanthi " meaning "There is only One Truth and Different people interpret THAT differently" policy is run in Life, Do you think Critical Thinking is relevent ? or Critical Thinking is also an aspect of Dialectical Dianetics ?
In case if u r nt fam with the term dial. dian.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AohyzxZttQTA12BcvSREFSkjzKIX?qid=20060824043121AAu4TpC
2006-10-31 14:41:04 · 10 answers · asked by jayakrishnamenon 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I went to the link, and it sort of makes sense, but as it's a little hard for the average guy to understand without thinking it through deeply, I'll just answer as best I can on the first part of your question.
While my esteemed collegues (the previous answer-ers) seem to be stuck in the idea that all religion is simply mind control and shutting down the old brain (and I don't deny that this happens), the basic "truth" of religious behaviour comes from understanding what one is doing based on their beliefs about the way things work - maybe this is from teachings, or from observations, or from reasoning. You see, I personally believe that I am not alone in understanding that "from a religious point of view" thinking critically is "good". Christians are taught in the New Testament to "test the spirits," to "study" or "give diligence"; some of them were commended for studying the things they were taught "daily, to see whether these things were so." I am not sure of the other faiths, but I do know that the Jewish religion has a great history of discussion and debate in order to find out what is true, and what is acceptable. From what I understand of Zen, as a religion, its adherants are also encouraged to seek out what is true. It is only in opening one's eyes to possibilities of other truths that one can see whether or not what is in their own mind and heart carries any weight. Those who simply shout down "religion" or a certain type of philosophy or science or fashion statement - whatever - have decided that they know everything. And since no one can know everything, they become foolish.
The religious people of the world are different, but also very alike those who are not religious - most people like to hold onto what is familiar, what they already "know", without looking around to learn something new. But not all religious people or non-religious people stop there in that comfort of "ignorance is bliss" and continue to learn and grow. Sometimes, they may find they need to alter their thinking, and sometimes they merely find further backing for what they thought already.
Perhaps this is not what you were looking for, but I thank you for asking the question, in order to help me to think further about the religious beliefs that I have attained up to this point, and those truths which I may yet discover.
2006-10-31 15:14:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Man is a rational being, so he can think freely, independently, critically, to make progress. But it is not rational at all, when he allows himself to claim to be all-knowing, while in reality he knows nothing.
If we knew everything, we were God, we didn't need critical thinking.
Each one of us sees only some aspects among billions of aspects of the world, so we should reasonably enter various conversations to broaden our vision. And we make progress this way by living in peace with each other through modifiable conventions. Any time we step off our limits, claiming ourselves to be all-knowing, we create disorder or even destruction.
2006-10-31 14:57:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Bible specifically frowns on thinking too much.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 - For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2006-10-31 15:10:10 · answer #3 · answered by DoctorScurvy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as through critical thought you can prove your religion is true, then you're good. If, on the other hand, this is an impossibility, trouble with the fundies will result.
2006-10-31 14:56:46 · answer #4 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Critical thinking is urgently important to relationship with God through Christ. It is good to evaluate and challenge the Bible. It is good to question the validity of one's faith. God gave us good minds for a reason. When I question, God answers. When I think, God joins in. His Word, the Bible is the ultimate authority.
2006-10-31 16:34:48 · answer #5 · answered by whiteparrot 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Critical thinking might result in many questions without answers or with unsatisfying answers which might distant you from religion and gradually become atheist.
God does not want you to think. God wants you to do as he orders. You are not to think by yourself, but make the holy books your thinking process and have faith eyes closed, mind closed, ears closed, on God's words and laws.
Thinking is dangerous for the existence of religions.
2006-10-31 14:50:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Critical Thinking is the mortal enemy of organizaed religions
2006-10-31 14:50:42 · answer #7 · answered by JerseyRick 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Bad, critical thinking often destroys religion.
2006-10-31 14:45:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Religion is not conducive to critical thinking. Or any thinking, actually.
2006-10-31 14:44:26 · answer #9 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 2⤊ 4⤋
When it comes to dogmas, ANY thinking is bad.
2006-10-31 14:45:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋