Here is a quote from a believer.. "Its not important for us to know why, or it would be in the bible." Does it strike you that the foundation of dissent between atheists, agnostics and other non-believers and those who believe could lie in the fact that one group seeks to know the why of everything and the other group disregards such a pursuit of knowledge? How can the question "Why?" ever be irrelevant, it should be the driving force in our progress as a society, as a culture and as a species. If we do not strive to uncover the "why" of things how can we ever move forward? What purpose is there in life besides curiosity and learning? I know myself I can never agree to something no matter what it is until I know and fully understand the Why of it. Perhaps religion supresses this innate curiosity of our species and promotes stagnation as far as progress is concerned... what do you think?
2007-09-27 08:51:21 · 14 answers · asked by Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I didn't try to pin it upon the whole, that is why I said "some" please understand that I an well aware that each person is an individual and stereotyping is something we should all strive to avoid. However there is such thing as majority and minority and it is easily observable that certain schools of thought either attract distinct personality types or create certain personality types. You must admit that Nurture has a significant impact on ones character, and when you admit that you have to concede that religious doctrine is a form of nurture.
2007-09-27 09:08:06 · update #1
Yes I do understand the basic principals of how a boeing 747 works, the difference is I am willing to look it up and question rather than just "accepting" it works and being content with that. See the difference?
2007-09-27 09:12:20 · update #2
I totally agree with you- historically, the people asking these "whys" were prosecuted and silenced. Sometimes the answer was "I don't know" and people can't admit that sometimes. I think the suppressors were also cowards b/c asking, thinking about, and answering these 'whys' shook the very foundation of their world of beliefs. Some people just can't handle it. Progress has stemmed from curiosity and searching for something more.
2007-09-27 09:11:33 · answer #1 · answered by spydergirlwants2know 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The funny thing is, as postulated by Richard Dawkins in "The God Delusion", that the susceptibility to religion is an unintended side effect of a trait that evolved to let humans learn MORE quickly!
He suggests that a "blind acceptance of what authority figures tell you" gene would be a good rule of thumb for passing along valuable survival skills (e.g.; "Don't eat those berries, they'll make you sick," or "Stay in the cave when it gets dark, there's predators out there,"). But now it seems to have locked certain people's brains in a fixed state, incapable of accepting new knowledge...
2007-09-27 15:59:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It isn't just some believers who are not curious. There are just some people who are not innately curious about things. Those people show up in all categories of life.
By the same token there are people of great faith who are intensely curious and constantly questioning everything. Just as there are in every other aspect of life.
An honest dialogue about people of faith must first accept that they are people, just like everyone else. They represent the same personality traits that people without faith do. It is an intellectual dishonesty to try to pin a particular trait exclusively upon a single group in society. Human beings cannot be boxed in like that. That's why in sciences like Psychology and Sociology there are 'rules' not 'laws'. A lot of the fundamental findings in those fields are recognized to apply in many cases but not all cases, and that that range is normal for human beings.
2007-09-27 15:58:22 · answer #3 · answered by Saphira 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on the "why" you are speaking of. It is our calling as believers to have heart knowledge instead of head knowledge. The reason why atheists, agnostics and non-believers have a problem with accepting the gospel as Truth is because they let their mind get in the way of what their heart is speaking. God speaks to the heart and not the mind. The people who are the hardist to reach for Christ are the "intellectualists" who think that they know it all.
The word says "My people perish, for lack of knowledge" We must get the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that only the Holy Spirit can lead us to through the Word of God. I've found that when God speaks to my heart, what he asks could be easily reasoned out with my mind. Being a believer is about a relationship with the Abba Father. When you have a relationship with God, believing and trusting in Him, your question is irrelevant. He will grow you up in everything that you need to know for where you are at and if there are and "why's" all you have to do is ask and He will give you a revelation of it. Sometimes our why's are not always answered when we think they should be but God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He holds are destiny in His Hands and I trust Him because I know that He loves me and only has the best of everything in mind for my life.
You are right about the religion part. Religious people cannot grow because they believe that they have to do something in order for them to be accepted in the Kingdom of God. The only love that religious people know is conditional love. You cannot grow up and mature with conditional love. God is Not a God of conditional love, His love is unconditional. He loves me even if I make a wrong choice. Don't put all believers into one category because I am a believer but am NOT religious.
2007-09-27 16:10:30 · answer #4 · answered by Christina L 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lot of Christians are like that - once they believe that's it. And most church leaders will not take them beyond that point. As for me, I'm having a tough job just answering a few of the religious questions here.
2007-09-27 15:57:45 · answer #5 · answered by cheir 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course they do. The dogma taught in the Christian church does not stand up to close scrutiny by the curious mind. If even wilts from mild observation from the casual passerby.
2007-09-27 17:50:24 · answer #6 · answered by Lady Morgana 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One does not have to know how a Boeing 747 works to take a flight from New York to Los Angeles
Without Googling do you know how a Boeing 747 works!
Be honest, GOD is watching you!
2007-09-27 16:01:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
You cannot judge an entire group based off what ONE person said. Geez, don't you know anything?
Read this statement and tell me if you agree. (and if you do, you are as stupid as I think you are)
My grandfather was killed by a white man. Therefore, all white men kill people.
Doesn't make sense does it? Neither does your generalization.
2007-09-27 16:00:42 · answer #8 · answered by Chief High Commander, UAN 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I saw that!
It caught me as the answer of a brainwashed and diluted individual. Curiosity is my most favorite quality. If you don't ask or seek to know and acquire knowledge, what is the point of life?
2007-09-27 15:56:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Following an unbeliever's pursuit of knowledge would be... "evil". Once they are captured in their doctrines, its evil to stray... those thoughts are of the devil ;)
2007-09-27 15:58:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋