Several times over the past few months I have had conversations, both here and in real life, with religious people making all sorts of interesting and conflicting claims. I like to know how things work, so generally I will ask questions to net out what I am being told and see if it can be explained and make sense.
For instance, if someone said 2+2=4 and I asked how, there are a variety of ways that could be shown to me, a number line, physical objects being put together, counting on fingers and toes, etc. Indeed, in my personal life, I often have to explain how certain technologies work, sometimes planned, sometimes off the cuff, from a variety of group sizes to a varying degree of technical expertise.
I have to back up what I say, either by showing the group how something works or explaining it in detail. There is nothing wrong with, when asked a question, saying "I'm not sure" or "I don't know that" or "That's not my field of expertise". It's usually followed up with "However, I can and will go find out for you and get back OR I will find out who can do that and bring them into the conversation."
With religion, the spiritual, etc., it seems that is never the case. For instance, I started a thread asking what spirit is made of since it gets brought up so often. No one could tell me.
I am told how to communicate with God but, when asked how the works, the person telling us does everything they can to prevaricate, change the subject, pretend they've answered, etc.
Just last night I was told that I am dead and unable to understand anything even if they were to tell me, which they proceeded not to do. That particular question was around prophecy, someone claiming it had been fulfilled and then being completely unable answer which prophecy or what it said.
I cannot imagine putting myself in a position to make claims and then be completely unable to answer even basic questions about that claim. It would be humiliating, frankly, to pretend to know something and then get caught not knowing anything. Even once would be bad, but multiple times? I shudder at the idea!
Why can't religious people simply say "I don't know"? What is wrong with that level of honesty? Why all the claims to know stuff and, when caught NOT knowing any of that stuff, the insults, the subject changing, the pretend answers?
I simply don't get it.
