This is a long one, but I find it worthy of writing ... it may be tangled at points, it may offend in others, and it is certainly unpolished, but if you get to the end (agreeing or disagreeing), let me know your thoughts (PM or publicly ... just be courteous :D) .. oh, and this was written in response to a claim that Religious Children Struggle To Separate Fact From Fiction Here we go: There are ignorant people in all socio-economic strata and belief systems (yes, believing there is no God or that you cannot know whether or not there is a god or even whether there is a multiverse or aliens, etc. etc. etc. ... could go a long time there ... are all belief systems and worldviews) ... Ive also seen some of the most rational and peaceful people believing in things they cannot see. Which is truly more rational: believing in things you cannot see (love, faith, hope, eternity, metaphysical phenomenon beyond explanation by current scientific understanding) or stating that something you can neither prove nor disprove is false .... funny thing about taking an anti or antagonistic stand against something you believe doesnt exist: By stating that it doesnt exist without proof it doesnt exist, you assent to the intrinsic reality that it exists. Tell me there are no unicorns and I can easily say, Why? Because youve never seen one? Have you seen a thought? Have you seen everything in the universe? Have you seen beyond the universe? Have you seen below the electron level? Have you seen the inception of a creative idea? Prove to me that something doesnt exist ... anywhere (no, I didnt say in your mind, Im asking you to prove to me something doesnt exist ANYWHERE ... prove to me something/anything doesnt exist even outside your understanding of the multiverse) You may believe (oh, theres that word again) that beliefs in things unseen are irrational, but I caution the audacity and arrogance of anyone believing (whoop, there it is again) they know all and therefore they can make dogmatic comments with impunity. Isnt one of the chief endeavors of science to acquire the knowledge of the yet unseen by first believing it is possible, then pursuing the idea that what the mind conceives can be realized. Scientific theories and suppositions are necessary beliefs (dang, again with that word) which incite the curious mind to question what we now believe (sigh, sorry, see, belief is a fundamental part of the human paradigm ) and test whether those suspicions are valid. If you want to believe that those with beliefs in things unseen are ignorant and irrational .... no problem ... thats your right to believe that way . Saying theyre irrational for believing in things unseen is ignorant . Before sailors had mapped distant lands, they set upon the dark waters, believing that there certainly had to be more than what the horizon held. They just knew that the ocean was too vast and too promising to keep their minds on the limited shore. They were considered irrational and ignorant (surely all that we have seen with our eyes and measured with our instruments is all there is, the scoffers would say). Guess what? Explorers with great imagination and the rational belief that unseen and uncharted waters would lead humanity to greater enlightenment proved the naysayers wrong as they (by faith) went beyond the horizon. Every facet of scientific achievement is predicated upon the supposition that we dont know all and dreamers should still be free to dream beyond our current understanding. Fiction has turned to reality time and again ... only weak minds and ignorant people say this cannot be true because I have not seen it with my own eyes or experienced it with my own life. My faith and my continued exploration to search out things yet unknown (to me or others) leads me beyond the shore ... and I hope you will do the same.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:09:30 +0000
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