Question everything?

1. 61

   Kyle Payneposted 11 years ago

   I have always been a large proponent of questioning everything, and believe it is a needed exercise. I concur with Socrates that the unexamined life is not worth living. What is your opinion and why?

   replyreport
   1. 59

      Disappearingheadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is by questioning everything that mankind progresses forwards and helps to keep the charlatans and snake oil sellers in check.

      replyreport
      1. 59

         Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Gotta say I find it very funny that believers in majikal beings think they question things.
         
         If what you say was true - there would be no "walks with god."

         replyreport
         1. 59

            Disappearingheadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Really Mark? Maybe if you questioned everything you might discover majikal beings existed. Far be it from me to suggest that you just sit about waiting for proof to come to you of course.

            replyreport
            1. 59

               Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Odd that you think I didn't look for myself. Turns out to be garbage when you do actually question things instead of doing as you do.

               replyreport
               1. 59

                  Disappearingheadposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Odd that you give the distinct impression that you have never looked for your self, because your distain for others kind of convinces people that you haven't.
                  
                  Odd that you presume I have not questioned everything considering the posts I have made here challenging Christian dogma.

                  replyreport
                  1. 59

                     Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     Challenge the Dogma all you wish. Odd you don't challenge the existence of a Majikal realm instead, just the "interpretation," of the majik book.
                     
                     But - that requires actually questioning things instead of the interpretation of a majik book.
                     
                     Good luck in your new walk - there is only one conclusion to be had once you genuinely question things. When you understand that the majik book is nonsense, you will understand my disdain, because you cannot have questioned this.

                     replyreport
            2. 59

               A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Not sure if you've noticed, but Mark is one of those who does question everything, like others here, and those who do are not the ones that have discovered magikal beings. In fact, the more we ask questions, the more the answers preclude majikal beings.

               replyreport
               1. 57

                  A Troubled Womanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Yep!

                  replyreport
   2. 82

      Don Wposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You can't question everything. Well actually you can, but it's not helpful. Questioning everything is a philosophical position known as scepticism. From a practical perspective, it is a hindrance and potentially fatal.
      
      E.g. is that really a car coming straight at me, or am I dreaming? Or perhaps I'm in a matrix style simulator ? Or perhaps . . . splat.
      
      For that reason we have developed in a way that allows us to make assumptions. One of those assumptions is that if we think we're experiencing something, then we believe we are, unless we have very good reason not to.
      
      This has some interesting consequences. When someone experiences feeling loved, forgiven etc. and they attribute that feeling to an omnimax deity that can't be detected by scientific means, and when that belief gives solace in times of trouble, then for the person holding that belief there is neither a desire nor a reason to question it.

      replyreport
   3. 80

      Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think that we absolutely ask questions. God gave us brains, He expects us to use them!
      
      But there are three caveats:
      
      1) Many people, some of whom are frighteningly intelligent, think the maxim about the unexamined life is an invitation to narcissistic self-indulgence (this is known as about 85% of the blogoshpere.)
      
      2) Many people think that the maxim "question everything" means also "trust nothing," which means that although  sometimes questioning something might lead you to the conclusion that it's true, your own sense of independence and self-worth demands that you never submit to anyone or anything else, as if your stubborn independence were an unalloyed good thing in all circumstances. Which segues into...
      
      3) The feeling that life is all one big joke, and nothing is funnier than what "other people" (meaning mainly ones you disagree with) feel to be true. When I was a teen and twenty-something, this was true and it's true now.
      
      So absolutely ask questions, but don't reject the answers out of hand!

      replyreport
      1. 59

         Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Gosh - you know what "many "people think then? Odd you needed to suggest that anyone who does not believe the garbage you refuse to question is "stubborn." I think you will find that believing silly superstitions is where the "stubbornness," lies.
         
         Does your self worth rest upon believing regardless?

         replyreport
         1. 80

            Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            

            replyreport
         2. 80

            Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            However, more directly -
            No
            No
            No
            and No.

            replyreport
            1. 59

               Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               You certainly claimed so.
               
               
               Yes - you did.
               
               Yes.
               Certainly seems that way.
               
               This is why your religion causes so many conflicts.

               replyreport
               1. 80

                  Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  The claim is in the eye of the beholder.
                  No, I didn't. I apply that equally to all. If you think that I am only applying it to those who reject God, that is your perception, not my claim.
                  No. And I've gone over that one enough times both with you and with others that by now, if I need to go over it with you again, then you're simply not paying attention.
                  I believe that to you, it does seem  that way. It's not.
                  Which is why your belief causes so many conflicts (sorry, kinda. Too good an opportunity!)

                  replyreport
                  1. 59

                     Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     No - you made a claim.
                     Yes - you did it is in black and white where you single out non believers.
                     I am paying attention - you are being dishonest.
                     Of course - it is always the other guy - never you.

                     replyreport
                     1. 80

                        Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        Did you ever stop to think how often that "it is always  the other guy - never you" statement you make (it's the single most often used phrase by you that I've read) could be turned back on you?
                        
                        Just curious.

                        replyreport
                        1. 59

                           Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           Yes - of course. But it is not true. It is also not a statement I make very often.
                           
                           You are the one making the claims. Then accusing anyone who questions or disagrees as being the problem.
                           
                           This is why your religion causes so many conflicts.

                           replyreport
                           1. 80

                              Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              It's also the single most incorrect phrase you've often made about me.
                              
                              I am making claims, yes that's true and I don't deny it. But the claims are not all made about people who disagree with me. If you go back and read what I actually wrote, the fact is that you can only make that claim about what I wrote if you want to make that claim. The actual writing doesn't support it. But just to be clear, there are just as many narcissistic, self-indulgent believers as non-believers. As these forums so eloquently attest, neither side has a monopoly on people who like to get on make blanket statements.
                              
                              Nor did I accuse anyone of "being the problem" simply, only, largely (or any other modifier you wish to apply) because they question or disagree with me. I would think after all  this time that you, of all people, should know that I can withstand being questioned. And to apply that logic in this forum, of all of them, where I specifically said that people should ask questions! I don't exempt myself as either questioner or questionee.
                              
                              Gainsaying in some Python-esque argument clinic is not the same as questioning, although it is certainly a form of disagreement.

                              replyreport
                              1. 59

                                 Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                 No - you can't stand being questioned. You resort to dishonesty every time. As you are doing now. You added three caveats.
                                 
                                 This is why your religion causes so many conflicts.

                                 replyreport
                                 1. 80

                                    Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                    Quite the contrary, Mark. I have answered all your questions.
                                    
                                    I've also learned quite a bit.
                                    
                                    What is the old saying, "You never really know a man unless you fight him?"
                                    
                                    I didn't pick the fight but I certainly learned a lot about my (unintended) opponent.
                                    
                                    Peace.

                                    replyreport
                                    1. 59

                                       Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       Yes - you answered dishonestly. I doubt you learned anything at all as you clearly have no idea about me.

                                       report
                                       1. 80

                                          Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                          I'm sorry, but that one really made me laugh!
                                          
                                          Back at ya, ace!

                                          report
                                          1. 59

                                             Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                             I was fairly certain it would. Always the other guy huh?

                                             report
                                             1. 80

                                                Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                I always wondered if you have much of a sense of humor, at least about yourself. Whether you do or not, you certainly are funny. At least, you make me laugh!
                                                
                                                I do need to congratulate you, though, on one thing. You've successfully taken a forum that was supposed to be about finding objective truth and turned it into a clash of personalities. Bravo.
                                                
                                                Good day.

                                                report
                                                1. 59

                                                   Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                                   Objective truth? Now you are making me laugh. Tell us about God telling you stuff into your head. 
                                                   
                                                   All me huh? Right.

                                                   report
                                    2. 57

                                       A Troubled Womanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                                       Long live our hero Mark Knowless! He is our savior! He has no idea of things, he can't tell how life (and human beings) appeared on the planet. Yet, he must be right on every occasion!
                                       
                                       
                                       

                                       report
2. 0

   ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

   In reality  the only thing wrong with this is that people actually do this , at the cost of  being  stupid about it !   Conforming  isn't a bad thing . In spite of the liberal intellectual  idealism  professed to be the in thing !

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Peelander Gallyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh anti-intellectualism, you so funny.

      replyreport
3. 75

   jacharlessposted 11 years ago

   "Reason is, and always to be the slave of passion" - David Hume, Treatise of Human Nature.
   Reason is bound to itself, an inescapable paradox. Left is right where right is wrong. A jumbled state of endless questions mirroring themselves as answers. Answers are left where wrong is right. Reason is the collective of knowledge within. Can you truly "question" what you know? Not really. You can Reason and convince of a solution. This is the Tres Priori { a priori, priori, posteriori }. One question begins and ends itself -and another. One answer ends itself and begins another. Duality, my friend, is Reason. And, as Hume said, is a slave of passion. It was passion that caused the divide of Understanding and is Reason that continues to believe itself and that itself is ultimate power.
   
   James

   replyreport
4. 63

   Claire Evansposted 11 years ago

   I question everything! I am a curious person and like to find out what I can.  When it comes to God, I may wonder why He sets me on a certain path and may ask "why" but I don't question His wisdom.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      Mark Knowlesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So - no questioning then. Far as I can tell - you already have all the answers. They are all wrong, but you still have them to comfort you in times of no nukular 'splosions.

      replyreport
5. 61

   Kyle Payneposted 11 years ago

   Thanks for the participation everyone. I have another question. What proof or absence of proof do you believe shows mostly that any type of transcendent being exist? Also, for those who do believe in a God, what proof do you regard as the basis of your belief in God?

   replyreport
   1. 80

      Chris Nealposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Knowing that I'm painting a target on my chest by doing this, I still have to say that, at least in my case, God reached out to me, not the other way around. I was really just about the last person who would become a Christian, because I was so not concerned with spiritual things. Although my late father was a Christian, I didn't live with him. My mother is not a Christian. But one day He made Himself known to me (and no, I never did drugs.) A lot of things that didn't make sense before do now. As for external proof (which I assume is what you're really asking about) I would point to all  the things that Christians usually point to as proof of an orderly universe and that atheists point to as proof of a random universe. Perspective has a lot to do with it.

      replyreport
      1. 57

         A Troubled Womanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Don't be worried, Chris. Think this way - if all the people on Earth were color blind, except you, in that case could you ever prove to others how colorful our world is?
         
         Only you would know that truth.
         
         (The bullies are numbered around here. These trolls are incredible specimens of neurosis. Just ignore.)

         replyreport