Why is what you believe better than anyone else's beliefs?

Question

What makes you so special that you actually believe you are right when you can't prove you are right?

Isn't it the height of arrogance to think that you know best for everyone? Isn't that what all the petty dictators throughout history believe also?

Atheists believe there is no God and (generally) those that believe in God are ignorant yet they only have their beliefs and no real proof that there is no God.

Believers believe in God and (generally) that those that don't are ignorant yet they only have their beliefs and no real proof that there is a God.

Why does most people here try and force their beliefs onto others? Can't you just live in peace and leave others alone in their beliefs?

THIS is what most wars have been fought over. Not religion. It's arrogant people thinking they are the only ones that know the truth and feel the need to force others to believe just as they do.

Demetri w, I didn't misidentify atheism. I think you need to look it up. What you are talking about is being agnostic.

From the American Heritage Dictionary:

Atheist: One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.

Atheism: Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods. The doctrine that there is no God or gods. Godlessness; immorality.

Theism: Belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially belief in a personal God as creator and ruler of the world.

Agnostic: One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

JD: Please show me your proof.

Sorry... J"P", please show me your proof.

David V: You are what I was talking about. Your arrogance has you believing you can know anything for a fact. 2000 years ago they knew for a fact that the Earth was flat and that everything in the universe revolved around it.

100 years ago they knew for a fact that if you went faster than 35 MPH you would suffocate from the lack of air.

75 years ago they knew for a fact that space travel was impossible.

50 years ago they knew for a fact that everything to invent was already invented.

What will they know in the next 50 years that will show your ignorance?

You can't even know YOU exist for a fact. You THINK you exist but have no absolute way to prove it. Any proof you come up with may all still be a dream you are having.

Lose the arrogance and your life may be better and you may just get that Porche.

Mable: Try reading what I wrote and not what you want to hear. I didn't single out Atheists or Believers. I said BOTH side are no different if they try and force others to their way by denouncing them.

Answer 1

I find what I believe is what's best for me, as I can understand it. What's best for you is what's best for you. It'd be arrogant to say what's best for me is better for everyone else.

_()_

Answer 2

I don't believe there is no god.

I know it for a fact, the same way I know where I parked ten year old Corolla, I know where my crappy house is, and I know that tomorrow will be Thursday.

Wishing, believing and hopeful thinking that a) I know where I parked my brand new Porche b) I know where my house on the beach is c) that tomorrow will be Saturday and d) there is a god doesn’t mean any of it is possible.

UPDATE:
So your argument is, because I use logic and cohesive thought patterns, that something that has been insbustantial and imaginary for the over two thousand years will be 'proven' within the next 50 years?

I don't WANT the Porche, even if I had the money, simply because I am capable of understanding all the negatives that come along with it. There are simply better ways to spend my money, or breaking down the analogy, better places to place my mental energy than on a fiction.

Your argument is interesting, but far too philosophical. You're right. I could be dreaming. I could also be the only conscious person in the entire world - maybe everyone else is just here to affect the world placed before me. You argument against my point of view isn't that of ideals or arrogance, but moreover asking 'what is existence?'. That's an excellent question, but not the one I was responding to, so you are wrong to try to hold that over my head. Invariably, my answer would be different had that been your initial question.

I don't claim to know what's right for everyone else, but I sure as hell know what's right for me.

And by the by, only the uneducated and foolish thought the world was flat two thousand years ago. Ever heard of Pythagoras? Eratosthenes? Ptolemy? Look them up.

Same goes for travelling over 35 mph. By the 1840's, the Crampton locomotive could easily achieve speeds of 70 mph.

Same goes for innovation 50 years ago. The laser was invented in 1957, the first integrated circuit in 1958, et cetera.

I can't speak on the matter of thoughts on space flight 75 years ago, simply because no one was really thinking about it. However, I will say that the U.S. sure was quick to launch the Mercury Seven after Sputnik went up. Doesn't seem like they did a whole lot of debating/debunking old ideals, honestly.

Answer 3

Well isn't that what this whole Y/A is. When people ask or answer questions, are they not both other people's beliefs or opinions? Sure there are people out there trying to force their beliefs. But isn't our whole society, our whole world holding together based on large groups of people with similar believes, and leaders leading these groups. I don't think what one person believes can ever be completely right. There will always be a times where one person comes and challenges the belief's of many and changes what many but not all people believe. Some will want change, some won't and then lo and behold a conflict will start. It happens all through history and will continue to happen. Religious beliefs doesn't necessarily have to be what is fought over. What I'm saying is beliefs will always be fought over, but they are also what hold us all together. That's what I BELIEVE may be you agree may I'm completely off base here. You decide.

Answer 4

Notice that you are presenting your own perspective as the one right way to think and act and insulting those who disagree as being arrogant?

That doesn't mean you don't have a point, of course, but the problem with refusing to make any moral judgments out of humility is relativism. Based on what you said, there's no reason to suppose child rape is wrong, for example. You KNOW it is wrong irrationally but your logical system here can't see that as anything but a personal preference. Thus, at a social level it is the blueprint for a situation where might makes right.

There is a philosophical alternative to relativism, one that accepts the postmodern truth that there are multiple points of view seem just as good as others: we accept what is ethically true and verifiable from every seemingly acceptable point of view and hold this in common as a decision rule for living among each other. That decision rule is this: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

And since I want other people to respect my beliefs and faith practices, the correct question to ask is not "where do you arrogant people get off" but "aren't you violating your own moral code here?"

And, yes, I would be if I were like the believers you are assailing. Incorporate this stuff and you'll get far more airtight at this argument.

Answer 5

You misdefined atheist. The word literally means without theism. It does not mean "believe there is no God". It's religiously neutral.Believe it or not there is a neutral ground and that is atheism.

I can't force my belief on others if I have none. I can only resist having beliefs forced on me.

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Oh, and for Rick S. the cheering agnostic - are you a theist? If not then by definition you are also an atheist. The two are not mutually exclusive.

In fact the hardest position to defend would be the agnostic who is not an atheist because he is saying, "I believe there is no proof of god but I believe in god."

Notice I didn't say that even that was wrong - just hard to defend. Whatever people want to believe is fine with me. But if you ask me to accept it you can't very well fault me for asking for proof.

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Actually you are unquestionably misdefining it. And perhaps it would help if you look at the word itself. The prefix 'a' mean not or without. I've seen many attempts to redefine it but the fact is the word defines itself. Agnostics are as I said before often portrayed as some middle ground but the simple irrefutable fact is that if someone is not theistic then they must be without theism and tell me what is that?

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And do they define asexual as denying the existence of gender? Do they define amoral as denying the existence of morals. Funny they chose only one instance of the prefix 'a' to define this way.

All that you have proven is that dictionaries are exactly what they claim to be which is lists of the common "usage" of words. I suggest you also look up the word 'OR' although you may be actively trying to redefine that also it does not yet mean 'AND'. Even if we accept that usage you are selecting only the part supports your generalization and rant.

I've seen this bastardization of the word happen over the years and if it means anything it means we need a new word because the usage is being actively changed. We lost the battle for the neutral ground because we got redefined by the "either you're with us or against us" people.

What they and you are claiming is that there is no middle ground and everyone is one extreme view or the other. Sorry but no rational person could accept that we must fight over this.

The high ground, the rational ground, the sane ground is the middle ground without either extreme. And I'll ask again if someone is not theistic then they must be without theism and tell me what is that?

Answer 6

by Obsidian:
"It's not, it's just what I believe, which is why it is called My belief. No one person has to belief in the same thing as any other, that is the beauty of free will. I'm not going to hate you or shoot you if you don't belief the same things I do, because everyone having the same beliefs would make for a very boring world. There are people who will hate/kill you for what you believe, that is the irony of free will."

I agree with you. Too bad that I will probably be killed for my beliefs one day, and probably my little children also. At least then we will be in heaven and won't have to worry about all the stress of life anymore. Which one of you atheists will actually be killed for your beliefs, and with the government's approval? The day is coming when Christians will be hunted down and killed if they do not renounce Jesus.

Answer 7

I wouldnt believe what I believed if I didnt believe it was the truth. But I dont presume to claim to be able to prove my religion any more true than someone elses. All I can do is share my testimony with those that would like to hear it and let the Holy Ghost do the rest. Why do people have an issue with other people just asking if they want to hear what they have to say? You can always just say no thanks.

Wars have been fought over land, resources and greed. Not arrogance or religion.

Answer 8

I AGREE!

It is the height of ARROGANCE to think that you have the answers and know best for everyone!!!
Religious are particularly irritating and disturbing "because they feel they are the watchdogs over the whole damn society".
They think they ARE God and I disagree. :O)))

I'd laugh if it wasn't so pathetic that the blindest, most controlling, mightier than thou, hypocritical, and least tolerant among us, are the very ones who perceive themselves as the persecuted.
You don't actually believe this is going to change do you?
It won't. You need to learn tolerance yourself and just ignore it all. Get on with your life and let others do what they will with their own. We still have the ability to vote and work towards peace as individuals. We can only impact our own world.

Answer 9

It's not, it's just what I believe, which is why it is called My belief. No one person has to belief in the same thing as any other, that is the beauty of free will. I'm not going to hate you or shoot you if you don't belief the same things I do, because everyone having the same beliefs would make for a very boring world. There are people who will hate/kill you for what you believe, that is the irony of free will.

Answer 10

As I read your words, I felt as if your judgements were reflecting to your self as well.
I believe no one can force Love or God on anyone, Both are a choice, I do not try to force either on any one.
I care less of how any one chooses to worship, or if they choose not to believe. It has been a wonder to me, why do
non-believers come on R&S to Q or to A.
I believe what I believe, because it works for me. If your's works for you that is fine with me. I agree to disagree. And let
it go at that. Peace to all is the way to peace for us all.
Blessings

Answer 11

And so you yourself are in the "height of arrogance" thinking that your way as described is better than the believers or the atheists....

Also - we can't "force" anybody to believe anything. That comes through a change of heart, no other way.

god bless