Is to maintain an open mind in the face of ignorance not the logically alternative.
2007-09-07 22:35:08 · 23 answers · asked by Barbara Doll to you 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
An open mind in the face of ignorance is indeed the logical alternative. That's why as an atheist I would never say that I strongly believe there's no god. It's certainly possible that there is a god. But without any evidence to support such a delusion I continue to look to concepts other than religion to find answers to the universe. Can't imagine a more open mind than that. Anything is possible. I'll look at any evidence that anybody want's to offer in support of anything. It seems to me that the ones who are closed minded about the issue of god are those that insist that their belief is the only correct one and everybody else must be wrong. Sounds like a made up mind to me doesn't it to you? And when your mind's made up, it's no longer an open mind.
2007-09-07 23:01:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In some cases, yeah, but usually not.
Most theists claim to know a little bit about everything because of their faith in God-- how people should behave, what they should eat, what words they should use, how man and the universe came to be, and so on.
The atheist usually views each of these things as a separate question, and the only thing he believes is that there is no god.
also, it is usually better to not believe in something before the evidence has presented itself than it is to believe under the same conditions-- because you are very rarely going to be right about something just by guessing-- which is what most religious people do at the end of all their studying, praying etc, whether they'll admit it or not.
2007-09-07 22:45:58 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Basically you have your whole life to decide if there is indeed and existence of a god.
Technically we are ignorant to the fact of a God existing, theres no conclusive proof, that's where the faith comes in.
Personally i'm in the open minded category otherwise none as "agnostic" . I don't believe in the existance of a God but I can't deny the possibilty one exists.
2007-09-07 22:45:23 · answer #3 · answered by D.W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if you know alot, or have no faith in anything (in contrast to the above) things continue to be a mystery.
We can postulate proofs of things concerning the physical universe that we call 'tangible' because they take up space and have mass.
We can only speculate of the intangible world such as GOD and thought. The brain takes up space and has mass, and there is electrical activity in the brain, but, thought itself is an illusive deamon. Frankly, I don`t know of a single person that fully understands the Physical world, let alone the intangible one. Wheather there is or not a GOD can not be proven by scientific or factual methods, and yet, difficult to deny that there must be a designer of our universe.
2007-09-07 23:09:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You only know nothing if you reject science.
The truths of science are repeatable tests that prove the knowledge.
I am as likely to believe your proclamation of your god as I am to believe that someone saw a ghost, fairy, unicorn, leprechaun, Loch Ness monster, yeti....
Since you think the burden of proof lies with the disbeliever you must believe in all these things as there are hundreds and thousands of sightings, people with faith in them, "evidence" for them.
Is your mind open to all these things too? Do you believe in all the gods of world religions?
I use common sense to decide which beliefs are worth pursuing, I research them for myself and come to a conclusion. I was brought up a Christian and went to church, Sunday school, youth fellowship, monthly meetings, you name it I was there.... the leaders actually used to think I was a trouble maker because of my inquisitive nature and because I am not built to blindly accept so I would ask questions. These questions all lead to me become an happy atheist who lives morally out of choice, not fear.
☺
2007-09-07 22:54:23 · answer #5 · answered by Fiona F 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No problem.
Believing is hard, not believing is easy.
The logical alternative is to not believe.
The faith based alternative is to believe and practice what you have learned, and comforts you in time of crisis.
That is the worth of Religion!
2007-09-07 22:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not 'believe' there is no god. Atheism is not an act of faith, and I do find it irritating when people assume it is. My world view does not require faith or acceptance of the unproven. I do not accept the existence of a god or creator because there is not one iota of evidence for such a hypothesis, and the universe as observed does not require such an explanation.
2007-09-07 22:39:39 · answer #7 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Faith is misused here. Faith is loyalty, that's what faith is. Nobody is loyal to not-a-God, so no.
Example: "My wife has been faithful"
Somewhere along the line faith has come to mean "Strong believe without evidence." That's really not what it means.
So I'd have to disagree. Keeping an open mind is always good though.
2007-09-07 22:41:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I fail to see the real-world relevance of this question. But if you know nothing except the language to hold and express such a thought, yes, you should seek greater knowledge to decide one way or the other.
2007-09-07 22:45:03 · answer #9 · answered by Voyager 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not about faith its about knowledge. In the mean time an open mind will do.
2007-09-07 22:39:33 · answer #10 · answered by billie 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋