Why are do so many people hate hypothetical questions in R&S? Isn't EVERYTHING about religion hypothetical?

Question

Shut up, Dave, I've only had one 2-liter of Coke so far this morning.

Answer 1

Well, it isn't to the ones who believe it is true. :o) But yes, I agree with you. And I don't hate hypotheticals. I'll entertain any concept long enough to answer a question about it.

Answer 2

The problem I have with hypothetical questions is from my experience as a legal secretary. In order to use a hypothetical in court, you must obey certain rather strict rules about how it is used. First, it must be possible in view of the facts already established. Second, you must provide all the hypothetical facts (that is, those which have not been established) in a sufficiently complete form that the person (usually an expert) can make an informed response. Third, it must consist of hypothetical facts that you believe to be true, and that you would prove up if you could. Generally, it is when you don't have all the evidence you need, but your hypothetical is the best you can do. A lot of times you have the evidence, but it is inadmissible in court.

So when someone puts up a hypothetical that I know to be impossible, or does not provide enough context and facts for a reasonable response, it bugs me.

I remember one where the question was if you could save your child or ten other children, but not both, what would you do? Clearly, you'd need the facts in order to see whether it was really the case that you could not save all of the children, or whether there was someone else who could save your child or the other children, etc. I doubt whether a situation would arise where such a decision would be really necessary.

Answer 3

I will admit to being one of the ones complaining about the hypothetical questions, but only when (in my opinion, obviously) they get SO hypothetical that I feel like I'm answering the question "if your grandmother had wheels, would she be a wagon or a bicycle". Get far enough out into the hypotheticals and the answers stop making any difference to anything.

Answer 4

I don't hate hypothetical questions. Who says many people do? But yes, everything about religion is hypothetical.

Answer 5

I like hypotheticals. I do get annoyed by the people who can't think that way and still answer the question with a rant....

Answer 6

Because to hypothesize means imagining something often in a very different situation than you feel it actually is.

If you are dealing with something fixed... that's fine (we can all imagine for a moment that they speak German in France, rather than french...)

However when you are imganing something imganinary in a different imaginary way, things get tied in knots and fuzzy ideas get even fuzzier, so people don't even like to go down that road, especially if they are not so sure of their origional idea.

Answer 7

Of course it is all hypothetical. Although many will refer to their little books which were written a couple thousand years ago as evidence that they hypothesis is correct. But there are other hypotheses surrounding that little book too which they look past.

Answer 8

i admire them. I try, on each occasion attainable, to respond to them as customary; with out qualifiers. And confident, i've got confidence each thing approximately faith is hypothetical. whilst somebody has concrete information of any of this, then i will start to verify how any question must be "frivolous" or "blasphemous."

Answer 9

I like hypothetical questions.

I am confused though, how any person could feel attacked by the question you posed here??

Answer 10

Nothing's wrong with hypothetical questions. Those that don't like them should not attempt to answer them.
And you shouldn't give a damn.