how can you have an intelligent conversation with someone that ends with...."Because thats the way it is." "It has always been like that." "Sometimes we are not meant to understand" "Anything is possible in the eyes of the scientist" Suppose you were doing a scientific experiment about turning lead to Gold. You wanted to show that it is possible to turn lead into Gold, then you showed a piece of Gold and just said poof look its done. Umm yes but we'd like to see proof, well sometimes you are not meant to understand. Umm thats not science or reasoning. Well that is the rules of alchemy its not my fault you dont like them, so that is the way it is. Can we really have intelligent conversations when we speak different languages? Science preaches investigation and experimentation, religion preaches (indirectly) to just accept what you are told and not to question anything. So, is it possible to communicate when different languages are being spoken?
2007-06-23 17:34:21 · 13 answers · asked by Ordin 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Newton and Einstein were both religious. Indeed Newton was
profoundly so.
Could they have an intelligent conversation with you?
2007-06-23 17:36:31 · answer #1 · answered by Elana 7 · 4⤊ 4⤋
Yes, under any of the following conditions:
(1) The discussion is not about religion (and probably not about politics either).
(2) The religious person understands that what he or she believes and follows is based on faith, and there is zero proof or scientific evidence that their religion is correct. They care only about what they and their family do, and don't have a problem with people of other faiths (or no faith) following different rules and doing things differently.
So for the most part, the answer is "NO". Some may claim "tolerance" of other religions, but just about all of them assume that their beliefs and lifestyle are "correct", and can't even comprehend the fact that others might disagree with them. You can't even have an intelligent conversation about something seemingly innocuous like the weather, how their family is doing, sometimes even sports, because somehow God will be factored into the conversation and it affects how they think about everything.
Please note that my answer refers more to the "fundamentalist" side of the various religions although it is true to some extent with anyone who is at least somewhat religious. The perfect example is people who automatically wish everyone a "Merry Christmas" despite the fact that there are many people who aren't Christian and may be offended.
2007-06-24 09:41:55 · answer #2 · answered by Alan S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the person with which you are speaking is effectively intelligent, you can speak about all, otherwise you are not possible becouse the blinders prevent to see beyond. I, after to have spoken about fossils and evolution for one hour, I have had this answer:
so: best wishes!
Ciao!
2007-06-23 21:40:06 · answer #3 · answered by rondone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but not a dogmatic or fundamentalist one if you're going to talk about "God" or "Religion". If you wish to have an "intelligent" conversation about the existence/non-existence of God, and by "intelligent" you mean to apply the scientific method, then I'd recommend you look up "scientific method" and apply it. I think you'll find that in order to "prove" the existence of God, you'll need to come up with a set of tests to "disprove" there is a God. If you are unable to do so, but are unwilling to accept the possibility of a God, then "you" are the one who refuses to have an "intelligent" conversation. Good luck.
2007-06-26 00:32:51 · answer #4 · answered by Kevin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"possible to have an intelligent conversation with a religious person" Yes : however stay away from the 3 taboo subjects:
Politics, Religion and Se# as there are neither polite dinner conversation nor worth the fight with a person of decided points of view,.
Stick with the weather or perhaps a nice game of chess and see wherre the conversation leads.
2007-06-23 17:45:52 · answer #5 · answered by Carl P 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. But you need to find an intelligent religious person. And, you need to make use of your own intelligence. They won't play the God card for every question for which they have no answer. But they will expect the same courtesy from you. Where science has no answer, don't make up one.
2007-06-23 18:39:45 · answer #6 · answered by Frank N 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe that when people study the bible they have it instilled into them to be scared of learning certain things cause of the very first book that says God cut mankinds life off short because of the fruit that eve ate cause she was told she would be like God and have his knowledges but I have put deep thought into this and I think it is impossible to have all of Gods knowledges and I think God likes people to be smart as then he can be proud of the creations that he made.I think it is good to ask God questions now and again besides what have we got to lose if we dont have eternal life at the moment anyway?
2007-06-23 17:51:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Try reading a book called the Genesis Record. It's about as thick as a dictionary, but I think you might gain some insight.
2007-06-23 17:48:13 · answer #8 · answered by Kathy H 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes you can, you just have to find the right person to talk to and not expect that they will be as you have described. If thats what you expect to hear, than thats all you will hear.
2007-06-23 18:00:57 · answer #9 · answered by cero143_326 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes....its possible to have an intelligent conversation. It just wont be what you want to hear. Im sorry that you feel this way.
2007-06-23 17:42:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋