On what basis do you believe your religion is the only and the absolute truth? - Page 5
Personal responsibilit
08-07-2005, 00:45
It would be so simple for a person to just preface their assertions with 'I believe'... or 'I have been taught', or some similar comment... and defuse most of my responses...
But, some people take 'revealed' insight to be equivalent to verifiable proof... and that is something I am ALWAYS going to bump heads over, I guess... :)
You couldn't chose to recognize a defacto 'I believe' or 'I have been taught' and save yourself some angst or at least argument?
Grave_n_idle
08-07-2005, 00:55
You couldn't chose to recognize a defacto 'I believe' or 'I have been taught' and save yourself some angst or at least argument?
Well, yes... I COULD assume a qualifier... but some people don't MEAN that... some people really believe it is okay to state, as incontravertable fact, that their chosen belief structure is valid.
Also - even those who MEAN the qualifier implicitly... are not stating it explicitly... and so, I have a service to perform, to balance out a stated 'fact', where such is insupportable.
I'm like a latter day Superman... :D
Personal responsibilit
08-07-2005, 01:10
Well, yes... I COULD assume a qualifier... but some people don't MEAN that... some people really believe it is okay to state, as incontravertable fact, that their chosen belief structure is valid.
Also - even those who MEAN the qualifier implicitly... are not stating it explicitly... and so, I have a service to perform, to balance out a stated 'fact', where such is insupportable.
I'm like a latter day Superman... :D
I realize that many people don't intend for the qualifier to be there, however it is whether they want it to be or not, it is simply a reality even if they chose not to acknowledge it.
Yes, sometimes it is helpful to assist in making the implicit explicit, however, in my experience, it is, more often than not, just a precursor to an argument. Even then, at times, argument can be a beneficial thing, but only if the individuals involved are genuinely interested in the pursuit of the truth that neither of them will ultimately be able to prove. ;) :p :D
Willamena
08-07-2005, 12:41
I realize that many people don't intend for the qualifier to be there, however it is whether they want it to be or not, it is simply a reality even if they chose not to acknowledge it.
I agree; however, for another reason. I assume the qualifier "I believe" even on behalf of those who think it's true, since my own understanding of god makes all talk of it opinion. This is probably terribly unfair on my part. But fortunately, you would never know. ;)