by leavingwt 16 Replies latest jw friends
This video is by far my favorite explanation of my stance on this issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69TOuqaqXI Starting at the 7:25 mark specifically, but the whole thing is excellent and relevant. It's not so much an issue of an open mind VS skepticism, or about finding middle ground between gullibility and closemindedness. That is actually quite missing the point. The key is an open mind with a properly installed, maintained, and updateable evidence filter.
[inkling]
well put Sylvia...
...many, if not most of the world's greatest scientists were also men of faith... skepticism and faith need not invalidate each other
...many, if not most of the world's greatest scientists were also men of faith... skepticism and faith need not invalidate each other
Many, if not most drunk drivers are also Christian. Clearly alcoholism and Christianity need not invalidate each other.
[inkling]
A bit late but here is an organization dedicated to a skeptical approach to life.: http://www.skeptic.com/about_us/
Note the definition of 'skeptical' differs from cynical or unbelieving.
Which approach do you consider preferable?
Faith with discernment and testing.
Is there any real way to find a middle ground between them?
Yes, see above.
And for those whose religious standpoint leads them to believe that God prefers one or the other of these approaches (or looks favorably on humans who adopt one or the other), why do you think that might be the case?
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
LWT, have you watched the Finger Of God film?
Blessings, Stephen
The morning bowl of Frosty Miracle Flakes...............they'rrre GREAT! Tony the Tiger,,, of course 18,000 children will die of hunger today.
'Do a little good each day'. Drop off some real food at your local Food Bank.
Today in my religion and science fiction class ....
We are just going to let that statement go????
I am just a G.E.D. graduate, but are we supposed to take philosophy lessons from the X-Files? I mean, there is the philosophy of Star Trek, Star Wars, the Simpsons, Family Guy, Lord of the Rings, etc. etc.
There's some validity in looking at such stuff, but ultimately, the X-Files (and the others) are entertainment. They are fiction. They do help teach us that anything can be written in a way to lead people toward a certain viewpoint. Just like those things that people put faith in: the Bible, book of Mormon, Koran, Watchtower mag.
I saw a PBS show on an area near New Orleans ravaged by Katrina. Mixed into the tear-jerking message of the horrendous events was a personal message of how the government let down these people. We were supposed to automatically side with the comments and basically not be happy unless the government built brand new homes for these people. It was automatically racism because the majority of people were black. Not that there are not issues involved, but to narrowly view this from the reference of this documentary would be so misleading. Same with any book or film or television show that offers a message, be it the Bible or the X-Files.
