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Do religious people understand the difference between absolute truth and that which evidence supports?
Desiree asked:
Someone was asking yesterday about accepting historical facts as truth when the evidence is not entirely accurate. It seemed to me that this person didn’t understand that rational people don’t perceive this type of information in terms of absolute truth or outright falsehood which is how religious people seem to perceive this information. Rational people look at information like currently accepted historical facts as just that, currently accepted facts; nothing more, nothing less. Rational people say, “The evidence we have at present supports this understanding of historical events. We may discover evidence in the future that suggests something different, but for now, all the evidence we have supports this understanding.”
Someone was asking yesterday about accepting historical facts as truth when the evidence is not entirely accurate. It seemed to me that this person didn’t understand that rational people don’t perceive this type of information in terms of absolute truth or outright falsehood which is how religious people seem to perceive this information. Rational people look at information like currently accepted historical facts as just that, currently accepted facts; nothing more, nothing less. Rational people say, “The evidence we have at present supports this understanding of historical events. We may discover evidence in the future that suggests something different, but for now, all the evidence we have supports this understanding.”
See, rational people are not saying that the currently accepted historical facts are absolute truth and they’re not saying they are outright falsehoods either. Do you think that’s one of the main problems religious people have with understanding intellectual pursuits; they look at it terms of absolute truth or outright falsehood? Do you think this erroneous reasoning is a side effect of the religious indoctrination and brainwashing they endured as children and it has warped their ability to effectively perceive reality?
truth scripture
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20. June 2009 at 11:14 am :
I won’t bother to read all that you say so just give me an example of something that you think is an absolute truth.
21. June 2009 at 5:19 am :
Yes, but followers of the religion of atheism don’t.
For example, the laws of thermodynamics makes it clear something can’t come into existence from absolute nothing with absolutely no cause. Rational people would conclude that there has to be a God. However atheists say there is no God. I think it is because of the brainwashing they endured as children and it has warped their ability to effectively percieve reality.
So I agree with your rant inso far as it should be applied to the religion of atheism. However, it is not applicable to rational religions like Christianity.
24. June 2009 at 9:28 am :
Of course we do. You know, not all “religious people” are non-rational … necessarily. Not every religion considers itself to be the “absolute truth”. You knew that, right?
27. June 2009 at 12:02 pm :
Most don’t understand it at all. There are a few who incorporate logic into their religion though.
29. June 2009 at 9:39 pm :
Wow, you were sounding so intellectual until your true colors came out in the end. Brainwashing, erroneous reasons, and warped abilities?
1. July 2009 at 12:03 pm :
It could be a side-effect. A scripture in James (forgot the chapter) says that “bitter water cannot flow from a sweet stream”, they don’t accept the inbetweens…
I’m not sure if its actually explicitly said, but its like doubting the Bible/God. Its just a cultural(refering to Christian culture) taboo. Believing in in-betweens is just something they normally don’t do.
Then again, this might be stereotyping. And Correlation does not equal Causation.
3. July 2009 at 8:07 am :
This isn’t an absolute. Some religious people are highly educated and have made a choice to live in faith. Some are uneducated and ignorant, and accept anything their religious leader tells them. It would be ignorant on my part to presume them all to be the same. I’m an atheist with an inquiring mind.
Whodat: Atheism is a belief, not a religion. You know that, I’m sure. Does it offend you to call a religious person religious? I’m not offended to be called an atheist.
Norma Jeane: Evolution is a scientific fact with a complete fossil record. It’s safe for you to accept it now.
5. July 2009 at 4:04 pm :
The advice given to combat cot death has changed so many times over the years because the cause is not really known. A christian would not be able to take the new advice as they believe what they have been told without question.
5. July 2009 at 8:37 pm :
Are you speaking about evolution, or just regular facts??? Yes religious people can use logic. Logic tells you that if you lie down in the middle of the highway, you will most likely get ran over. That’s logic. To me, evolution, if that is what you are speaking of, is a religion itself. If people believe it, that it might as well be. Does your logic ever tell you that scientists may be…..WRONG??? Gasp. I know. Genius.
God Bless!
9. July 2009 at 1:36 am :
Honestly, I think there are a lot of people on both sides (theist and non-theist) who don’t realize that. There are lots of atheists, for example, who don’t question the existence of people like Aristotle, Julius Caesar, and Columbus, yet they (not all, but some) have what seems like an irrational denial about even the possibility that Jesus existed. So it’s not just (some) religious people who don’t understand the difference – there are quite a few atheists as well.
Btw, your line about being brainwashed as children does not account for people who were atheists/agnostics and became religious as adults.
9. July 2009 at 2:18 am :
I think you’re absolutely right. About everything you said.
11. July 2009 at 9:10 am :
I’m sorry, did you say something? I couldn’t understand you w/ all that $h!+ coming out of your mouth…
12. July 2009 at 11:09 pm :
All and I mean all religions know the truth they just do not accept it, so religious ignorants continues on feeding billions of dollars yearly into it, simply unbelievable.
14. July 2009 at 6:45 pm :
I totally agree. I grew up in the church and the bible was always referred to as the Truth. (note the capital T) They really referred to anything that was interpreted as god’s word as ‘the Truth,’ whether god said it or not.
I think anytime things are considered either black or white, extreme left or extreme right, information gets ignored. That’s devastating to the process of learning and growth.
I can accept that there is sometimes only one truth, but I always consider that no one knows definitely what that truth happens to be – at least I don’t know.
The idea of god is the end-all. You can’t question god and have faith, therefore god is the Truth in the eyes of believers or else they become non-believers.
“If you could rationalize with religious people, there would be no religious people.”
~ House M.D.
17. July 2009 at 3:02 am :
rofl….. who are you trying convince ?? You are others ? sure use lots of big words to say such a *simple * thing….. rofl….. Talk about straw man arguments and grasping at straws !!! You have gotten real good at it……. go in peace….. God bless
19. July 2009 at 11:17 pm :
I have a “higher” IQ – I consider myself strong in my faith! If you wish to carry this debate, they are no absolute truths. There is always room for interpretation and correction. Religion is not about just a written word but about an inner search for meaning and peace.
I happen to be Christian and within my “family” we have Dr’s, RN’s, PHD’s and more. I don’t think we have a “problem” with understanding intellectual pursuits. I think the pure intellectual has a problem with understanding faith! It takes a greater mind to acknowledge that which can not be tabulated or recreated.
23. July 2009 at 12:48 am :
Why do you ‘lump’ all religious people together as if they were not individuals that may be part of different sub-groups of differerent religions, and perhaps even believing in different gods or having different world views or different beliefs about the nature of reality or of truth? Why does it appear that you assume that they were all indoctrinated as childen or that many are not also rational thinkers?
This is not to disagree with some of your statements or your general argument, but an effort to help you to make better or more rational arguments in the future and to help you avoid appearing as if you had the absolute truth and those who disagree with you believe in falsehoods.. Look at your last few sentences and see how you might re-word them, so as to be less prejudiced, close-minded, and irrational.
23. July 2009 at 6:12 pm :
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.(1 Corinthians 1:21 NIV)
Do you understand what God teaches?
The wisdom of the world has nothing to do with the wisdom of God. Otherwise, man would be able to understand the wisdom of God through the wisdom of the world. As it is, the message of the cross seems foolish to the worldly wise.
Those who believe in the message of the cross will be saved, but those to whom the message seems foolish, will not be saved.
God our Savior…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.(see 1 Timothy 2:3,4)
26. July 2009 at 3:37 am :
Your first paragraph from “Rational people look…” to the end of that paragraph; I agree. Your second paragraph, I somewhat agree.
I have done extensive research on absolutes. There are very few absolutes, in science. In theism, there are no limits, to absolutes. And, in philosophy, it is the ultimate basis of all thought, reasoning, or being. I have concluded, that is either true or untrue. Nothing more, nothing less. Hopefully, this is what you may be referring to.