Do you find this answer from a theist disturbing ?

Question

When asked about the quest to find out about the world around us "Fish" replied.........

"Why work hard at learning things when you already have the answers. When I repair my car I don't spend days figuring out how a system works, I simply pick up a book and find the answers. We do that in cooking (cookbooks) for example. If you want answers to life, consult the Bible."

That scares me......... especially the first line.

Where are we headed as a society with thinking (or indeed non thinking) like this.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvXXxAmO7K0sKCicjZHXuRXsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071207070029AAUyw4g

Answer 1

Very strange. No one with that outlook will ever accomplish anything meaningful in their lives. How sad.

Answer 2

The answers here, on one hand, express exasperation towards "Fish's" intellectual laziness, or one the other hand, allow "Fish" the right of expression (which really NO ONE is denying since we are ALL expressing our opinion about opinions which WE have a RIGHT to dispute). But I have not seen anyone address what I see is a fundamental problem in "Fish's" prose. He builds his logic on an inept analogy, as I believe human existence and the meaning of life is not similar to a cake or a car. HAS ANYONE EVER SORTED OUT THEIR LIFE BY MIXING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FLOUR AND MILK? So let's get further to the bottom of "Fish's" analogy: I want to repair a problem with the gas line of my car, so I find the specific instruction for that part of the car, but do I understand the ENTIRE theory of internal combustion, and if I did, might I not begin to question the negative aspect of fossil fuel? My simple need to repair my car to working order had made me go beyond the purpose of my repair manual. NOW, the most obvious retort to "Fish's" disingenuous analogy is that The Bible has so many contradictions that one must EXACTLY interpret, or deduce meaning from it. The Bible is not as straight forward as a recipe for Angel Food Cake.

Answer 3

For that person consulting their bible feels right. As to repairing a car, well I personally think it's better to know how it works and works with other systems. That gives you a better insight as to how to repair it. Yes a book can tell you but you only get a part of the picture. As to cooking, experiement! There wouldn't be some many different recipes if people didn't try to change a recipe. To me digging deeper is always better.

Answer 4

No. In the first place,the writer is obviously a "born-again' and they are and will always remain a lunatic fringe of christianity,which in any event only encompasses about one-fourth of the global population. In any event most christians are well-educated,particularly mainstream christians and in this country catholics also. As far as being "headed" anywhere,religion has been a part - an integral part - of civilization for as long as it has existed,and that is not likely to change. You sound as if you think it is some kind of new trend. As far as being non-thinking,I personally have found hard-core atheists at least as close minded and ill-educated as bornagains. All the statement replects is the continuing committment of a fringe element to wilfull ignorance.

Answer 5

I agree with antihero. It sounds as though Fish doesn't really care that much about the answer to life. He is just being lazy or chooses to stay in denial. Either that or he has decided to make the Bible his guide book.. which is fine, but not for everyone. People who earnestly seek the truth may explore the Bible, but will also seek out other avenues and then make up their own mind based on what feels right for them. As they say, nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Answer 6

I've never been a particularly hard-working person, but I'm not brain dead either. I'm an individual, and I don't believe in things simply because people tell me to.

I haven't done any research on the Big Bang--therefore, I'm not entirely sold on the idea. I have, however, done research on evolution--I'm COMPLETELY sold on that idea.

People need to start thinking for themselves--I don't have a problem with Christians who have researched their own religion and decided it was right for them. What I do have a problem with is the Christians who don't question, who blindly follow their faith without ever being open to other possibilities.

Answer 7

I think the point he is making is similar to the concept of why try to reinvent the wheel. You wouldn't think badly about someone that only looked at the car repair manual for information on how to figure out what was broken, but not how the entire system works. I see his point and I think you misunderstanding his intent. (assuming that he is saying we don't have to learn anything when he is saying we don't have ro reinvent it.) But that is just mho.

Answer 8

Some people are leaders, some are innovators, some are just followers who are comfortable taking pre-established paths. Perhaps some people are just better off not thinking too much. Who knows, your friend might become dangerous if he did. I hate "sheep" too, but being one is ultimately a personal choice like any other.

Answer 9

Someone should tell brain surgeons and rocket scientists that they are wasting their time with all that studying

and if you're using the bible as a guide for life you're being excessively selective about what parts you use

Answer 10

It really is scary.

Even if you accepted the premise that the Bible was filled with wisdom appropriate to its time, how can it possibly have relevance in a world with perfect contraception, international travel, transplant surgery, and models of reality that include evolution, M-theory and Artificial Intelligence?

Pick the wisest man in the Bronze Age and drop him in a modern city - he'd think his brain had fallen out.

CD

Answer 11

Thank you Sassy for adding something worth reading. I totally agree; people SHOULD be allowed to believe in whatever they wish and more power to them ESPECIALLY if they have done their own research before coming to their final conclusion of what fits best for them.

Hasn't anyone ever heard of reliqious persecution? Did we all forget what it is/was like for those who cannot follow their own faith? Imagine what it would be like to fired from your job because you don't believe what your boss believes in?

I for one do not want to be told what to believe in or that not believing in something is 'bad'. I am not even sure why this is up for discussion but it quite amusing to read the answers. Why doesn't anyone ask specific questions regarding faith/reliqion? Or does everyone already claim to know everything?