Accuracy of beliefs?

Question

Nice answers to my other questions by the way...

Why do we (as people in general) have to debate the accuracy of our own beliefs if it is our freewill to believe and do whatever we want?

Namaste

Answer 1

I respectfully disagree with answers 1 and 2. Through debates, I've often heard something that I wanted to reserach, a new way of looking at something. If you can't do that, then your belief is shaky, not the other way around.

Answer 2

Extend your question into any other area besides religion, and you will have your answer. Your "free will" allows you to believe anything you want about what is edible. But if you decide to eat poisonious mushrooms, the inaccuracy of your belief could have fatal consequences.

Move back to the area of religion, and you will find the same thing holds true. In spite of your "free will" or your own beliefs, there either is or is not a God. Your belief will not change that, any more than your belief will change what is edible.

So you can believe what you want about religion, but it will not change the facts. It is not possible for Christianity, paganism, Hinduism, atheism and Scientology all to be true. One religon (and atheism is considered a religion in this agrument) is right. The rest are wrong. They may contain some truth - or even most of the true - but in the end only one of them can be completed right. Would you want to go mushroom hunting with a guidebook that is only 75% correct?

So since there is an "ultimate truth", which should we not be seeking it? In what other area would be willing to just let people believe whatever they want and never study or debate it?

What parent would want their child to be left to discover mathematics on his own? No one human on their own has ever discovered numbers, counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, place values, fractions, ratios, decimals, algrebra, geometry, trig, calculus, statistics, etc. all on their own. They have had to learn from books, lessons, tables, facts, etc left by earlier generations. Why should the far more complex subject of who God is and how to relate to him be any different?

So we should be "debating" the accuratcy of our religious belief. Partly because we are unlikely to be able to figure it all out on our own. And because, depending on what the right answer is, it could have fatal consequences if we do not.

Answer 3

Sure you can believe and do whatever you want, but with no regard as to what is true? You have to determine for yourself, how much does the truth matter? For me the truth absolutely matters. I realize that there is much that I will not understand, but that which is within my reach, I grasp for.

I do not mind reading about other beliefs, other interpretations, other doctrines, other philosophies and then doing a comparative analysis. Sure consider other viewpoints, other arguments and then analysis. Think about and do research on the hard to answer questions, because you are going to learn more, and acquire more truth in the process. I believe in God and the evidence is completely backed up in my mind and heart.

To say just anything goes in the sphere of religion or spirituality is as detrimental as it would be to say the same for science.

Answer 4

You don't. Most times, it's best to just let it go. You can put forth your best argument, debate, and analysis in defense or explanation of your belief(s), and all the moron wants to do is ask stupid questions that are of no relevance whatsoever, and contribute nothing to you or your belief. Even if your understanding of your belief or faith is marginally "off kilter", a minor flaw on your part in no way renders it meaningless. It simply means you're still learning. As for the accuracy of a belief, if what it claims runs parallel with reality, as Christian prophecy undeniably does, it's best to give heed to it. The accuracy of a belief is determined by its historical record and the historical method canon of proof. It's called Legal/Historical Apologetics and uses the same method of establishing proof as in a court of law. That is why historical analysis and interpretation is so very important in determining the veracity and authenticity of any historical manuscrpits.

Answer 5

With a normal sane person, a belief is not something he arbitrarily chooses according to taste, as he would select a brand of beer.

A belief is chosen because it is held to be the truth by the person - that is, it is chosen because it is believed to be in accordance with the way things are.

Even if mistaken in his beliefs, the intellectually honest person believes something because he thinks that it is the matter of fact.


Only the intellectually dishonest person holds to an idea because it will facilitate some personal goal of his, disregarding the principle of truth altogether.





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Answer 6

we can do what we want if you have to debate an accuracy in your beliefs it just means that you are not following your religion properly or you are not sure bout things in your religion. If you arent aure go see someone 4rom da same religon as you and ask them .

Answer 7

When we have to debate the accuracy of our own beliefs it is:

1) because our faith is shaky; or
2) simply because there are aspects of our belief-system that are partially unknown and are required to be strengthened or modified.

Answer 8

The moment any religious belief system starts having a political agenda.

Answer 9

menastey to you too!


You don't have to debate Your own beliefs to anyone.

but, if you want others to believe Your beliefs, then You need to provide proof of Your beliefs...

that's what religion does ----->
believe in OUR religion - BUT - we DON'T have ANY proof


D'oh !

You want to make sure that Your beliefs are valid and True, not some mumbo-jumbo religious BS, right?

Answer 10

I think debating them shows your insecurity