2007-06-21 11:25:16 · 15 answers · asked by ? 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
@ Sophie: I'm sure you think that my freedom, my integrity, and the 100,000,000,000 neurons that make up my brain are indeed a _small_ thing to ask. I beg to differ.
2007-06-21 12:01:58 · update #1
You should not. Test all things. Do not take for granted that there is an Egypt with Pyramids; it could all be an elaborate lie made to trick the world. There was a German short story back in the 1800s called "Amerika Gibt Es Nicht" (There is No America) about how Europeans were packed onto boats, taken out into the ocean, and told to go back and tell lies of this great "Amerika". In fact, we cannot even trust our own senses because they are subject to distortion. Different people remember the same event differently, when we are tired or overly hot or cold we see and hear things, we dream things and wonder if they really happened, we could be dreaming right now... There will never be any empirical evidence that you or I ever existed, therefor we may not really exist now. How can I respect anyone's claim that they are who they say they are or that they even ARE? It could all be a figment of my imagination, or I could be a figment of someone else's.
2007-06-21 11:40:30 · answer #1 · answered by Jonathan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what your instincts are for, just too few people trust them. Most things we trust as truth have little or no evidence for them, that's what fact is. And I never cease to be amazed at how often people confuse the subjective truth with the objective fact.
2007-06-21 18:35:16 · answer #2 · answered by Taliesin Pen Beirdd 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Can you back up with evidence the implied claim that only those claims that can be backed up with evidence should be respected? Is it possible that a statement could be true even if one cannot prove that it is true?
2007-06-21 18:37:33 · answer #3 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
....and how are people supposed to back up their claims? By the word of an author? nope just HIS opinion, HIS word. By the word of a respected movie maker? nope, again, HIS opinion, HIS word. By a scientist? nope, HIS opinion, HIS word. By the words of the media? Nope, their opinion, their word. By a musician? Nope, their opinion, their word. By someone whom claimed to have witnessed something? nope, HIS opinion, HIS word. By our Parents? Nope...their opinion, their word......etc.,. etc.,. etc.,.
So....how do we know when people LOVE us? Because they TOLD us so? Why would someone believe anyone? After all....that's just their opinion, their word....and if it WAS true....was it only for the moment it took to say the words and then gone? How do we KNOW?
Because sometimes we have to look beyond the words... and have to walk out in faith to see if it's true.
Peace be with you :)
2007-06-21 18:47:23 · answer #4 · answered by ForeverSet 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because organized religion tells you to park your logic and reasoning at the door, and just follow the teachings like lambs.
2007-06-21 18:33:35 · answer #5 · answered by smallbluepickles 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree. What is so special about these mass delusions that we are automatically expected to respect? No one seems to be able to answer that question unfortunately
2007-06-21 18:29:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You're right. You shouldn't. That would be madness.
Pretty unlikely scenario, though, when you think about it.
2007-06-21 18:28:27 · answer #7 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You shouldn't
2007-06-21 18:29:40 · answer #8 · answered by Alan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't! I don't, and I think anyone who does is a bit mental.
2007-06-21 18:29:07 · answer #9 · answered by Ginger Ninja 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You shouldn't. That's a bad idea
2007-06-21 18:29:01 · answer #10 · answered by renamed 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋