It seems no matter how advanced we become there are still people who believe in illogical concepts. I mean, miracles, prophecies, visions, auras, saviors, virgin births, immaculate conceptions, resurrections, bodily ascensions, faith-healings, exorcisms, salvation, redemption, messages from the dead, voices from Atlantis, omens, magic, clairvoyance, spirit-signals, divine visitations, incarnations, reincarnations, second comings, judgment days, astrology horoscopes…the list is endless and all are completely without evidence just like Christian beliefs.
Will there ever be a time when we become so technologically advanced, so grounded in logic and reason that we will believe in only that which can be seen, heard, felt, tasted or touched?
2007-09-27 00:16:29 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sadly, yes. It seems that a portion of the population are too silly and scared to accept reality - which is, after all, rather bleak.
I believe this is what GK Chesterton meant when he said the the problem with people not believing in God is not that they believe in nothing, but that they believe in ANYTHING.
It seems that some people feel they have to have answers, but are simply too ignorant, stupid or frightened to accept the real answers. Such people are entirely happy to swallow any amount of mumbo jumbo in its place.
After all, if you can accept the absurd lunacy at the heart of most religions,swallowing New Age is easy - not to mention deeply comforting.
Perhaps one day children will receive a solid enough grounding in reality to reject such nonsense, but it may be a long time coming.
CD
2007-09-27 00:30:20 · answer #1 · answered by Super Atheist 7 · 9⤊ 5⤋
Do you really want to live in world completely grounded in logic and reason? I certainly don't. I too want to enjoy beauty and art just because they are beautiful or stir feelings within me. I love contemplating the art of Picasso or Dali although I find some pieces disturbing. Illogical? Sure. But I would have it no other way.
Maybe you think that appreciation for art is different from the spiritual things you speak of. In many important ways it is, however, who is to choose which "illogical" beliefs and actions are to be tolerated and which are not? If we deal in pure logic, so many things would just not exist. Play, fun, cookies, I could go on but I won't belabor the point more than I have already.
EDIT: The very next question I clicked on seems to make my point:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoUBJl0Q06OmzJ5J2VIjKb7d7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20070927063453AA8yKOI
2007-09-27 02:37:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, quite the reverse. I think science is actually advancing to incorporate more and more of these concepts which it previously did not seem to cope with.
Just because the bacteria in my stomach does not understand me, know who I am, where I am going, how I am feeling and what I am thinking, does not mean I cannot possibly exist.
That is the problem with some humans. They have the audacity to think that if there is something out there which they cannot comprehend or explain, then it can't be 'real'. A most unscientific concept in my mind.
Re Christianity - I thought it already had all but fallen out of favour. Don't know where you live, but I heard that the most commonly practised religion in Britain was Wicca.
2007-09-28 22:21:25 · answer #3 · answered by Susan S 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I agree with Deke, but I have to wonder if, as we learn more about the basic structure of the universe, if that knowledge might satisfy our need to belong. I mean, if M-theory is proven someday, and if we really are all made of the same stuff and connected by branes in 11 dimensions, it is something so bizaare that it will satisfy most of our needs for the ineffable. I think a society grounded in logic as you suggest will HAVE TO accept the presence of that which can NOT be seen, heard, felt, tasted or touched, but proof will be much more readily understood by laymen and math will become as God.
2007-09-27 02:23:50 · answer #4 · answered by ZombieTrix 2012 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think if we atheists stop being so nasty and insulting towards other people who don't agree with us, people will no longer believe illogical ideas about the world like the ones we atheists believe.
Most brilliant people in the world consider the idea that the universe started by itself, for no reason, extremely illogical. Same thing with life.
2007-09-27 03:28:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, that will never be.
Christian religion is "supposed" to be based on the way that Jesus Christ lived his life, and all christians are "supposed" to follow his example. But the teaching of pegan and demonic practices has infiltrated Chritendom making many of its teaching incorrect. But because the teachings are so prevalent and common place its no way to stop what Christianity as a whole is doing.
BTW, the things that you mentioned (messages from the dead, omens, magic, ect) is not just Christianity, in fact many of those things have nothing to do with religion at all but people practice them.
2007-09-27 00:40:05 · answer #6 · answered by J Mar 1 · 3⤊ 4⤋
I think as long as people have the capacity to imagine, then there will be beliefs of all types.
I hope, when and if we ever get that advanced, we would at least have discarded the violent and oppressive beliefs.
2007-09-27 01:26:44 · answer #7 · answered by hypno_toad1 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I think there'll always be at least 10% of the population that lives on dreams in delusions unable to deal with the reality of Death being The End.
2007-09-27 01:39:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I think things will improve. We have now all seen the "religious" in political leadership roles and where they have taken us, so I think people are ready for something better. Let's hope for the best.
2007-09-27 00:31:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't that mean we would stop believing in air? and for that matter all gasses! YES!!! Chemistry class just got a whole lot easier!
2007-09-27 02:00:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋