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What exactly are MISTAKES in the truth and lie spectrum? The best we can say about anything is that it is uncertain. Uncertainty is the only thing we can be certain about Truth claims are just that, claims. As for Universal Truths in plural, that is simply a lie.
So your assertion there are no universal truths may be false?
So your assertion there are no universal truths may be false?
Perhaps no need, but a word of caution about confusing assertions with universal truths. An assertion CAN be a universal truth, but until confirmed as such, by way of the scientific method for example, an assertion cannot and should not be claimed as a fact or a truth.
Again, I'm not clear where the confusion might be here, or why, but most of us reasonable, intelligent and mature adults don't have much of a problem distinguishing what is a fact, what is a truth and/or what were/are mistakes, falsehoods and untruths.
Yes, that's how I think, and I don't understand anyone who thinks otherwise...
Perhaps no need, but a word of caution about confusing assertions with universal truths. An assertion CAN be a universal truth, but until confirmed as such, by way of the scientific method for example, an assertion cannot and should not be claimed as a fact or a truth.
Correct, that would be something like the fallacy fallacy. But the smile with teeth emoji should have told you I was trying to make a joke.
ONE: There are essentially two realities for all human beings. One reality is as we perceive it to be, our personal reality. The second reality is all that truly exists in the universe, the same for all of us. Our universal truth.
I agree. That's very much true.
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TWO: Human beings cannot know all that exists in the universe. The universe is forever in flux, full of mystery that will forever be marveled and explored by Man as long as he survives.
Well put, and I agree.
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THREE: The first reality for human beings manifests itself in all the great many beliefs and faiths throughout the world; from Astrology to Zoraoastianism. Many books also stem from these beliefs; the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad-Gita, Speaking of Faith, The Celestine Prophecy, the Book of Mormon and others. These are the books about men such as Jesus, Mohammad, Moses and Joseph Smith.
Yeah. I have no problem with any of these as stories, culture, and cultural history. The source of traditions, etc. I have no problem with books as books. I have a problem when people think that a literal creator of the entire universe (of billions of galaxies), actually wrote them. And they base their beliefs and lives around that ridiculous notion.
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FOUR: The second reality, all that exists in the universe, known or unknown, is disclosed to Man most accurately and peacefully by way of well documented history (rather than religious books) and empirical science (rather than theology). Universal truth is all we can accept as reality, the truth, with the most certainty and least conflict. What we can all most reasonably accept as true for all concerned.
Yes. Any objective truth and objective reality, is one that we can observe and collect data and measure independently of each other, and can always test to see if accurate or not. Science is the method of pursuit, not the body of knowledge. The body of our current understanding is ever-changing.
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FIVE: Faith is spawned from the human inclination to speculate or suppose beyond universal truth as determined and defined by science. Such notions, religions, often involve spirituality or a belief in an energy, power or force. A belief in a deity, god or gods, the supernatural. These notions that go beyond common human awareness are typically based or recognized more by emotions and feelings rather than facts, reason and logic. They typically call for faith rather than proof, all stemming from personal experience rather than common observation or scientific verification.
It's things people choose to believe, without scientific evidence. Especially in a religious context.
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SIX: Man's ability to theorize is a faculty that allows Man to advance toward greater awareness and understanding of universal truth. The theoretical guides Man to further scientific discovery. However, when conjecture about the supernatural leads to faith and religious inculcation rather facts, reason and logic, great harm can and does come to Man instead. This is because the great majority of people still today cannot accept the confines of science. Instead conjecture is continuously promoted as truth ultimately to the point of creating profound divisions between people resulting in great conflict, violence and war still raging to this day; the Crusades, Protestants v Catholics, Jews v Muslims, Shiites v Sunnis.
Yeah, we have to base our interactions with each other, and our human society and species in general, around the secular, the objective, the scientific and the observable. It's mass chaos when people's subjective, mutually exclusive religious beliefs clash with a conflicting other's. The personal views need to remain personal, and not external.
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SEVEN: The alternative skeptical challenge and test of faith to limit spiritual conjecture is to foster a greater respect for the truth as currently defined or understood by science. Science is the most universally accepted effort to arrive at truth with no agenda other than greater knowledge and understanding of universal truth for all human beings. This path or quest of scientific discovery offers the way to peace instead of the sure madness that arises from the significant amount of conflict between differing faiths. As Man learns to universally accept both the great promise and reasonable limits of what science can teach, the source of conflict between Man is diminished, the path toward progress cleared and the prospect of peace improved.
In other words, let's be excellent to each other, and go explore the universe peacefully together. Spot on.
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EIGHT: Science fosters the peace of a universal patience and acceptance of our common condition and experience as humans. Faith forbids followers to question thus retarding Man's progress. Science encourages inquiry thus expanding Man's awareness and enlightenment. Faith typically deems any question about God's existence as evil in nature, not to be tolerated. Science has no such restrictions or judgement. Accordingly, there is no manner in which to reconcile these two competing approaches toward revealing Man's universal truth.
Science is good for mankind, and the hopeful good of our future.
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NINE: Faith can and does promote goodwill between some people. Creation of beautiful places of worship, help for those in need, community and comfort through difficult times. Even a code of conduct necessary for some to be moral. Yes of course, but with the good there is no need for the bad or falsehoods. Truth is best realized and peace most successfully promoted as more people patiently accept and embrace Man's common reality as revealed, defined and/or revised by science. The movement toward this patience and acceptance very slowly growing from one century to the next is the maturing of Man. His best chance for lasting peace and true understanding of all that exists in the universe, proven or yet to be proven.
Faith serves some positive things with believers' personal needs, it serves some positive things in communities today, and it held societies together in the past and humanity's civilized history.
It's not all bad. It's just not the way forward for the species, in terms of objective goals and actions and social cooperation and peace and tolerance.
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TEN: People of faith will deny if not condemn these truths for many reasons; from fear of god to fear of no god. Fear of death to fear of Hell. Typically beginning with the significant influence of inculcation at a young impressionable age, the subsequent effects of confirmation bias over time, development of ego and bigotry all prevent objective reason and logic to prevail for Man as quickly as it should. Instead the condemnation persists even to this day much like when Galileo was even imprisoned for attempting to overcome these same obstacles centuries ago. Much like the Jesuits denounced Elvis Presley. Much like Harry Potter books are banned in Catholic schools today. The ignorance and intolerance persists. Much like the ongoing effort to overcome the ills of racism, sexism, xenophobia and homophobia that also still persist today, the effort to overcome these backward ways very slowly and painfully is the progress of Man that each generation represents better than the last.
They will deny these clear statements of sound reason, because they know that it's not good for the health of their religions in an organized sense, or in a sense of any power or influence or sway. Critical thinking and secular society leads to fewer religious people. Fewer religious people leads to fewer indoctrinated children, etc. It creates a cascade effect that renders a particular religion less and less relevant, and eventually its possibly obsolescence entirely. So it's a fear of that as well, plus everything you mentioned.
Yeah. I have no problem with any of these as stories, culture, and cultural history. The source of traditions, etc. I have no problem with books as books. I have a problem when people think that a literal creator of the entire universe (of billions of galaxies), actually wrote them. And they base their beliefs and lives around that ridiculous notion.
Yes. Any objective truth and objective reality, is one that we can observe and collect data and measure independently of each other, and can always test to see if accurate or not. Science is the method of pursuit, not the body of knowledge. The body of our current understanding is ever-changing.
It's things people choose to believe, without scientific evidence. Especially in a religious context.
Yeah, we have to base our interactions with each other, and our human society and species in general, around the secular, the objective, the scientific and the observable. It's mass chaos when people's subjective, mutually exclusive religious beliefs clash with a conflicting other's. The personal views need to remain personal, and not external.
In other words, let's be excellent to each other, and go explore the universe peacefully together. Spot on.
Science is good for mankind, and the hopeful good of our future.
Faith serves some positive things with believers' personal needs, it serves some positive things in communities today, and it held societies together in the past and humanity's civilized history.
It's not all bad. It's just not the way forward for the species, in terms of objective goals and actions and social cooperation and peace and tolerance.
They will deny these clear statements of sound reason, because they know that it's not good for the health of their religions in an organized sense, or in a sense of any power or influence or sway. Critical thinking and secular society leads to fewer religious people. Fewer religious people leads to fewer indoctrinated children, etc. It creates a cascade effect that renders a particular religion less and less relevant, and eventually its possibly obsolescence entirely. So it's a fear of that as well, plus everything you mentioned.
Good post
It amazes me how much fear is in the hearts and minds of christians (in this case) considering that they believe they have the all-powerful god on their side.
It amazes me how much fear is in the hearts and minds of christians (in this case) considering that they believe they have the all-powerful god on their side.
It is not that they fear god can't protect them, but that they will fail HIM and then give him a basis to forsake them, essentially. For many Christians, God's love is highly conditional upon you never doubting him despite your life experiences, or your own reasoning abilities. So they live in terror of unbelief, insufficient faith or piety, and of being punished / chastened / abandoned by god as a result.
It is not that they fear god can't protect them, but that they will fail HIM and then give him a basis to forsake them, essentially. For many Christians, God's love is highly conditional upon you never doubting him despite your life experiences, or your own reasoning abilities. So they live in terror of unbelief, insufficient faith or piety, and of being punished / chastened / abandoned by god as a result.
It is not that they fear god can't protect them, but that they will fail HIM and then give him a basis to forsake them, essentially. For many Christians, God's love is highly conditional upon you never doubting him despite your life experiences, or your own reasoning abilities. So they live in terror of unbelief, insufficient faith or piety, and of being punished / chastened / abandoned by god as a result.
And, God's always watching, even when they're in the shower. (He's a perv like that.)
I remember Hitchens really did the best job of laying out the true hell on earth that it would be, to actually be a Christian, and actually believe in half of that. To have a master, always watching and judging everyone. One who is known to be temperamental, and has murdered a lot of people.
It's like a cosmic North Korea prison camp, except worse, because you can't escape with death.
It is not that they fear god can't protect them, but that they will fail HIM and then give him a basis to forsake them, essentially. For many Christians, God's love is highly conditional upon you never doubting him despite your life experiences, or your own reasoning abilities. So they live in terror of unbelief, insufficient faith or piety, and of being punished / chastened / abandoned by god as a result.
Interesting. .
I wonder how many Christians would acknowledge what you said here. I'm not seeing anything to disagree with. And you've been there, so you know it first hand.
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