Can you admit when you're wrong?

Question

In daily life, when you get "owned" by somebody, do you have the stones to admit that you were wrong, take notes, accept it as a learning experience, and incorporate the lesson into your life so as to avoid similar mistakes in the future? Or do you take it personally and refuse to back down, and keep defending your position with increasingly ridiculous arguments, even though you know and everybody knows that you're wrong?

The one is Science, the other is Religion. Can you guess which is which?

Yeah, I know this was a reductive statement, but I think there's a lot of truth in it. Science is constantly modifying itself, constantly incorporating new discoveries, constantly adapting its theories to these advancements – constantly progressing towards a more perfect understanding of the problems at hand and their potential solutions. The greatest scientific discoveries, in fact, are precisely those which demand an entirely new conception of the universe. Religion, by contrast, is a dead end. You have the “complete picture” handed to you by an external “authority,” with the warning that any deviation from this ready-made truth is not merely wrong, but "wicked" and liable to land you in Hell forever.

You could sum all this up for the American voter by saying that science is a “flip-flopper,” whereas religion is a veritable George W. Bush of stalwart stick-to-it-iveness.

Of course, when you’re wrong in the first place, stick-to-it-iveness is just another name for stupidity.

Answer 1

yes i can!

In science it often happens that scientists say, "You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken," and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
~Carl Sagan

Answer 2

Ultimately, it depends on the situation.

If it's a matter of opinion, morals, beliefs, theories, or ANYTHING that can't be proven, I will never back down.

But, in the case of something that I can be proven wrong on, I rarely present my thoughts with absolute certainty. If you ask me a question, and I didn't know the answer, I'd most likely pick the most likely answer, and say, "Well, I cannot be one hundred percent certain, but based on the facts and previous knowledge, I'd guess.."

Just the same, I'd accept their ownage, and move on.

As for increasingly rediculous arguments, I rarely do so. Therefore, I don't have the experience to say what I would or would not do. However, I can presume that I would most likely back down before it got to the point of "increasingly rediculous."

Answer 3

I think I can admit cause I have grown to seek out change
so when I learn I am wrong on something then I want to know more and find all the information relating to what I was mistaken on

and I have my own thing on science and religion
I think especially Quantum Physics is coming out with stuff that with a discerning eye gives new view of words in ancient scripts
although mostly proving many of the annotated additions wrongo in the congo it is interesting to see things obviously psychicly percieved long ago now being validated specificly things such as the structures of the vortices of the atom

Answer 4

I have seen those of a scientific bent refuse to admit their mistakes and use ridiculous arguments to defend themselves. I have seen religious people humbly own up to their mistakes and publicly admit that they were wrong, asking forgiveness for misleading people if necessary.

Inability to admit mistakes is human nature. It isn't limited only to Christians...I know just as many non-Christians who have been that way, sir.

For the record....I am a Christian and I do both. I try hard to admit to my mistakes and ask forgiveness for anyone I've wronged. Most of the time I can do this graciously. But I am not perfect, and I have days where I'm feeling petty and selfish and immature. Those are the days where I get angry when someone points out my error, and when they prove to me that I was wrong I just mouth off. I'm not perfect. But I try to do the mature thing and "own my stuff".

That's an awfully broad brush you paint with, and your paint looks a tad bitter from this perspective.

Answer 5

My husband always says: I am never wrong! I thought I was once, but I was mistaken.
I can admit I am wrong, and say so! But, on here, if you make a mistake, misread a question? Somebody will email you to tell you of your mistake, faster than you can turn around twice!
I dislike those people INTENSELY!
I often reread the questions that I answer! So if someone FEELS, I have overstepped my bounds, or made a mistake? Feel free to tell so, THERE!

Answer 6

I freely admit when I am wrong. I want to grow and mature, and so I welcome learning opportunities. I am disheartened by the seemingly increasing number of people, both secular and religious, who make no admission of wrong, and who are unteachable. It seems arrogant to deny the possibility of being wrong. There are many who practice religious observance who are willing to admit wrong. While I am confident in my belief system, sometimes I must re-evaluate my understanding or interpretation of Scripture; sometimes I must view issues from a different angle or in a different light; and sometimes my understanding may be correct, but my presentation to / communication with others needs correction. Whether in the scientific or religious communities, we are participating in this progressive journey of life.

Answer 7

I must respectfully disagree with you. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. I find scientific thought very valuable and intruiguing and I don't shy away from it. I am also a religious person (catholic, specifically). I believe that evolution is a matter of science and that its scientific basis is quite well established.

As I have stated many times before, science tells us what agents operate in nature, not what, if any, operate outside of it. God cannot be "put under a microscope" so I think if anyone is looking for scientific proof of God they are starting in the wrong place. Science is not in a position to validate or invalidate the existence of God. It is making a categorical error (the question of God's existence is outside of the realm of the scientific) to put the two on the same level of thought.

EDIT-Your observations about religious thought are mostly correct but I think your estimation of it is wrong. Speaking for christianity, (I cannot speak for other religions) revealed truth must necessarily be of a higher more perfect degree of knowledge as it is Gods revelation to humanity about Himself. The human mind is incapable of abstracting certain truths about God through reason alone. I once heard it described that the whole of christian/judeo religion is not man's search for God, but rather God's searching out of man. I quite agree with that estimation.

Natural reason, though incomplete, can I believe, lead one to God's existence. The mere fact that this universe exists is the first clue. Also, that human beings are innately spiritual is another...the list goes on and on, including various philosophical demonstrations. I believe reason testifies to revealed truth but is incomplete without it.

It is wrong actions which lead one to hell. Even the very simple minded can obtain heaven. The end purpose of humanity is unity with God, the source of all goodness, truth and beauty. That one has free-choice in the matter is quite obvious as I think we are all conscious of our own wrongdoings and falure to live up to what is good, true and beautiful. A bird is made to fly, if it does not acheive that end, it has failed. Hell is a failure, a negative. Free-will necessitates hell.

If one devaites from christian revelation they are no longer christian, just as if one deviates from atheistic principles they are no longer atheistic. Christians believe the revelation to be true, of course they are going to believe it. Atheists don't believe in the revelation, hence there is the conflict.

God did not provide us with an encyclopedia of answers in life, God provided us with what was necessary to be saved.

Answer 8

when anybody gets criticized, a natural reaction is to get defensive, but your question is can you get over that feeling and own up to the truth. yes, i do get mad when im proved wrong, it happened today. i saw the other persons point of view, and i see now that i was too drastic in my earlier reaction. and now im seeing what i have been doing wrong, boy do i feel like like a horrible person. but now im going to start paying attention to me. it is good to critique people(not all the time cause that would aggrivate) because otherwise they wouldnt know if what they were doing would be good or bad, even if they dont want the input.

Answer 9

Yes. I have no superiority complex, for sure. But if I come onto R&S and give an opinion, I'm not just pulling out of my a&& or parroting something I heard a priest say. If I say it either in the real world or in cyberspace, it's something I've given a lot of thought/prayer to, so before I'll admit I'm wrong, I might have to look at and make sure I made a mistake in my reasoning.

But if you show me the error of my ways, I'm always glad to mend 'em.

Sorry but I don't understand your final sentence: what is the referent for "one" or "other" when you say "The one is Science, the other is Religion. Can you guess which is which?"

Answer 10

When I surrendered my life to Christ is when I started realizing how wrong I have been about so many things. I learn something new every day by reading the Word of God.

I didn't believe in capital punishment until I found it in the Bible.
God said if man sheds blood by man will his blood be shed.

I thought abortion was okay until the Holy Spirit convicted me of "life is in the blood" and that is not a glob of flesh, but a living child with life in its blood. And the blood came from the child's father.

I've made some gross mistakes in my life. One of my worst was believing in evolution and finding out it is wrong when the lies of Nebraska Man and Pilt Down Man started coming in.

I made a pact with God (like a covenant) and Apostle Paul taught me how to do it. Apostle Paul said, "Let God be true and every man a liar."

I'll finish out my days with that as my slogan, "Let God be true and every man a liar."

God has never disappointed me. Man has disappointed me time and time and time again.

Answer 11

I can admit when wrong and take it as a lesson learned.
These experiences which you are talking of are like stepping stones through our life.

Those who are in denial of being wrong will always be right in their own mind, there for never going anywhere.