Beliefs define our reality.

[povman]

In theology no one knows they are right.

Then why are some people so intent on evangelizing?

You don't have to answer that, I think I know the answer. But killing in the name of religion... Why?

I guess there's a difference between 'believer' and 'deranged psychotic'.

 

[phsyxx]

Hi. Beliefs define our reality.

For example, pretend I am a christian (well, i sort of am). I believe Jesus was the son of God and he died for our sins. I know of people (probably most self proclaimed christians) who believe that people who dont believe in jesus are doomed to burn in hell.

This is what I believe, and I dont think anything else could be true.

Now picture me as an atheist (i am not). I believe the universe ripped itself out of nowhere and have scientific evidence for that. We evolved from apes, and when we die we decompose.

This is what I believe, and I dont think anything else could be true.

Hang on, if both versions of me are completely sure we are right, how could either of us be wrong? The atheist doesn't believe the bible is true because of his past experience with it, and he is happy with that. The christian believes it IS true, because of his past experience with it, and he is happy with that.
In fact, sometimes each person's belief is that the other person should follow their belief system if they want to live a fulfilling life.

How do you KNOW you're right?

Povman- I agree with you.
This is what, in philosophy, is called individuation of belief through experience.
But ,obviously, in tandem with (I'm not sure it was Dawkins that said this, "bliks"), "bliks", the outside reality DOES affect how you behave, but only to the extent of how you react to it.

 

[Im_A]

Then why are some people so intent on evangelizing?

You don't have to answer that, I think I know the answer. But killing in the name of religion... Why?

I guess there's a difference between 'believer' and 'deranged psychotic'.

imagine, a person, who lives their life horribly, all of a sudden has a lift of conscience through religion (whatever religion it may be), and they start living better. that's enough reason for people to start to evangelize and tell the world their way is the absolute truth cause look at what it did for them. (in my opinion, that's the sad reality with conversion and pointless testimonials.)

seems like when man becomes holy, they make their brain too big with their divinization process. they think their conscience is the only way things should be, and they lose their holiness immediately after.

 

[elman]

Then why are some people so intent on evangelizing?

You don't have to answer that, I think I know the answer. But killing in the name of religion... Why?

I guess there's a difference between 'believer' and 'deranged psychotic'.

I think we can know we all make many mistakes in theology, but I think we can be fairly certain that killing in the name of religion is wrong.

 

[Verv]

Hi. Beliefs define our reality.



Hang on, if both versions of me are completely sure we are right, how could either of us be wrong? The atheist doesn't believe the bible is true because of his past experience with it, and he is happy with that. The christian believes it IS true, because of his past experience with it, and he is happy with that.
In fact, sometimes each person's belief is that the other person should follow their belief system if they want to live a fulfilling life.

How do you KNOW you're right?

[SIZE=-3](Disclaimer: Noone knows my personal belief system, I assure you it doesn't exactly match either of the ones I described here)[/SIZE]

I think that the answer is simple, and that you even know the answer (we all do, really)... It is like when you were learning multiplication in school or learning how to write, and you swore that 7 x 3 was 22, but in reality i twas 21, and there is no other way that it exists; the same for spelling... You thought that confused was spelt with a k, but by all standards, it is with a c.

You really can then say that what if since math is man-made as is language, you do not really know?

Well, by this standard, then we are all just rather lost and confused...

On the topic of God there are no clear answers written down on trees waiting to be discovered, there is no way we will ever know for absolute certain, and that is why Faith is demanded of us by God.

 

[phsyxx]

I think that the answer is simple, and that you even know the answer (we all do, really)... It is like when you were learning multiplication in school or learning how to write, and you swore that 7 x 3 was 22, but in reality i twas 21, and there is no other way that it exists; the same for spelling... You thought that confused was spelt with a k, but by all standards, it is with a c.

You really can then say that what if since math is man-made as is language, you do not really know?

Well, by this standard, then we are all just rather lost and confused...

Alright...please....please, let me go through your post and point out some really rather glaring errors.

Mathematics requires one set answer.
Mathematics is essentially a man-made invention, but its truth exists beyond the expression.
For example, 2 + 2.

It equals four.
You can say whatever you want, but the only way that you are wrong is in the sense that you have either miscounted, miscalculated or misinterpreted what FOUR is.

If I have 2 forks, and I place 2 more forks next to them, I have four forks.

Call the forks what you will, and call the values of counting what you want, but there are still objects there to the count of FOUR.
That is the truth of Mathematics.
It exists outside of the terms and language used to express it.

Language however, is not true in itself.
If I describe objects to you, then no matter what I express the object as, the object remains true outside of the description. EXAMPLE:
toilet, toilette, potty, necessarium, lavatory.

These terms mean the same thing.
But what if I attempt to define something which is not seen by all, and has no physical presence?

How then, is the language true?
The words I am using are essentially meaningless if there is no set being/object which they can be applied to.

Think of a rock.
It's an entirely different rock to you than it is to me.
You need to see it for the words to be definite.
Even if the words have meaning, the meaning is not definite.
2+2 = 4. There are no two ways about it.

The meaning in a sentence?
Poetic prose?
Religious terminology?

No....that's all down to interpretation.

 

[quatona]

Hi. Beliefs define our reality.

Ok. I think, though, that this statement calls for the even more interesting question "What defines (determines/causes) our beliefs?"

 

[quatona]

You thought that confused was spelt with a k, but by all standards, it is with a c.

You really can then say that what if since math is man-made as is language, you do not really know?

Well, by this standard, then we are all just rather lost and confused...

Wait a minute. Just so I understand you correctly: Are you seriously argumentating that spelling (and languages in general) are not the product of - more or less arbitrary - conventions and agreements??