Why do nonbelievers seem to think they hold some high ground on education or learning?

Question

After all they are only accepting what another man tells them.I remember when science told us many different things than they tell us today.Many were in direct opposition to todays beliefs.Tomorrows will also be different,that is the nature of science,there seem to be no solid truths.

Answer 1

Please show one case where modern science has been flat wrong. There is a vast difference between saying "here is what we know based on teh evidence we have" and "here is what we know and there is no need to look any further."

Answer 2

Well, you are globalizing.

I do not, that simply seems to be the case fairly often.

No, there aren't any solid truths. Nothing tabboo and no subject that is not to be approched.

That's the GOOD part about science, if it's wrong we'll find out and correct the problem.

Instead of going to insane lengths to force the Universe into what we used to think about it.

Science once believed the Earth was the center of the Universe. Someone proved it's not and Science followed. Religion jailed the man who proved it, when it could have simply addapted.

Much of what we know today may be wrong or at least only a partial truth, but at least I know that when that's discovered Science is man enough to admit it.

Knowlege becomes greater and more diverse every day.

Religion often becomes more distant and stagnates, not because it has to, but because it chooses to.

The Pope could easily make a statment tomorrow and say 'Alright, we might have been wrong about women being inferior and maybe queers aren't so bad. I guess we don't have to be so whack about it. Maybe the Universe is older than my book says and I guess evolution does make some sense. But I still think Jesus was the only begotten son of God who died to cleanse my sins.'

Does any of that really change the meaning?

Is any of it really so important?

Or should it be about Jesus?

Isn't that the point?

Answer 3

Every individual should feel they have the ability to seek answers based on first hand knowledge. If I can personally test something I was taught about science I become more than just a recipient of information, I become a participant. I am not able to the same thing in testing the validity of what the Bible tells me. To seek new information for enlightenment or enjoyment is something society surely shouldn't discourage. If we all approached life with your perspective we would surely be worse off. If science can bring us understanding and a potential cure for something like Tourettes Syndrome then we should all feel better off as a society. If, however, we had continued to believe the symptoms of Tourettes were a manifestation of demonic possession we would not have made any advances in its treatment. Thankfully, we don't all think like you do.

Answer 4

That's really kind of the point. There are no solid truths in science, only probabilities. Mathematicians study laws. Scientists just look at tendencies. This open-mindedness and admission of fallibility is what keeps science alive, what allows us to continue learning. I would argue that the ability to say, "I don't know" is the progenitor of all scientific inquiry. This is in contrast to most religious beliefs, which claim absolute knowledge. Such beliefs do not have the ability to adapt to accomodate new information and quickly become obsolete.

Answer 5

because Christianity relies on a blind faith, that athiests believe to be folly. nonbelievers rely on reason to guide their actions and because Christianity is not (technically speaking) "reasonable", they criticize Christians for believing in "fairy tales" when really, science has its own gaps (just look at evolution and how it contradicts the modern fossil record). Really, both rely on faith to believe in what it is they believe because gaps are found in both (whether or not there actually is a God or whether or not there is something wrong with the fossil record...or evolution).

But, back to the original question...

Atheists do not have any obligation to recognize or tolerate any other thinking method that is contrary to their own (as do any other group) and they also have no obligation to adhere to a benevolent code towards others which Jesus taught of and which a majority of the conservative right also ignore (everybody is pretty pompous, annoying, and upfront these days. It's a shame...

Answer 6

Perhaps that is the point... that there is no high ground. There are many highly educated and intelligent believers and non-believers alike. Looks like a draw to me. I could no more talk a jihadist out of his beliefs than he could convince me what he is doing will give him a ticket straight to heaven.
But to you... the person living inside your head (and by that, I mean everyone) your beliefs and experiences and intelligence and education all roll up to that belief you are right... it has to. So, we all will think we have the high ground. And we generally socialize and participate in activities that strengthen and enfore these views... seems rather hopeless! Conveniently enough religion has this conundrum covered... faith... and rewards for being right... and compassion for those that aren't right... good luck!

Answer 7

There are no "solid" (religious) truths in the reality-based world. Even gravity and electricity are 'theories' (just like evolution).

Your lack of education in, and knowledge of, science and the epistemology of knowledge is obvious.

We (nonbelievers) think we are better educated because, generally, we are.

We also have purer souls and are better looking; and that is what really bothers you, isn't it?

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socialdee...

Science did not follow. It saw the problem – found the solution – answered the question – and LED the way.

Answer 8

Science and religion should be in harmony. Believing in the Bible is a good thing, but believe in science as well. The earth is NOT only 6,000 years old and human beings were not just made out of literal dust or clay and there was no literal Garden of Eden. Simple reason is enough to understand this.

Let religion and science go hand in hand. They are two methods of understanding reality, which explain different aspects.

Answer 9

That is the way it always has been and always will be. This best thing to do is educate yourself in your religion along with science and other religions. That will you will not be as ignorant as most others. You can know in your heart - and your head that you are right. The facts are there (or in some cases not there) if you look for them. It is up to you.

Answer 10

I remember when they used to teach us that the sun went around the earth and the church killed people who didn't believe it. Now everyone knows that the earth rotates around the sun.

I remember when they used to teach the earth was flat. Now they teach that it is round.

I remember when they didn't have the idea of gravity, but when the church heard about it for the first time was in an awful state, wondering what to do with these godless unbelievers who wanted to change our idea of the world.

I remember when all Christians thought that the earth was created in six days. And then came evolution. If they had the power, some Christians would be killing people who believe in evolution.

Yes, things certainly do change. It's a mad mad mad world.

Answer 11

education has been steered by roman catholic teachers for centuries

this is the habit of educational heriarchy
jesuits and apoligist in protestant and baptist camps have followed the pattren

while there is a up side to this pharicee-ism in christianity it does keep at bay the gnostics and kabbalist and mormons who seek to redefine christanity as etherial and intangeable.

there is no breaking the mold
you must be like a little chicken and
chip away at the now useless shell to become free

the sky is falling