How many theists here believe they are infallible? I have noticed several that will go to great lengths to avoid admitting they are wrong about something, even when it is not central to their belief system, or even to their current argument. I recall a certain JW who seemed to believe that admitting error was equivalent to failure as a Christian, and I recently encountered another poster who simply would not admit a single failing even when it was crystal clear that he was wrong.
Are there any non-theists that behave that way?
Do I appear to behave that way? (maybe I do, and just don't realize it, so be honest here).
Originally posted by twhiteheadPlease get back on the bus, twit. It's getting late; dispatcher just announced that we're pulling out.
How many theists here believe they are infallible? I have noticed several that will go to great lengths to avoid admitting they are wrong about something, even when it is not central to their belief system, or even to their current argument. I recall a certain JW who seemed to believe that admitting error was equivalent to failure as a Christian, and I recen ...[text shortened]... t way?
Do I appear to behave that way? (maybe I do, and just don't realize it, so be honest here).
- Joined
- 29 Dec 08
- Moves
- 6788
Originally posted by twhiteheadhttp://www.rburton.com/_i_on_being_certain_i___believing_you_are_right_even_when_you_re_not_63166.htm
How many theists here believe they are infallible? I have noticed several that will go to great lengths to avoid admitting they are wrong about something, even when it is not central to their belief system, or even to their current argument. I recall a certain JW who seemed to believe that admitting error was equivalent to failure as a Christian, and I re ...[text shortened]... y?
Do I appear to behave that way? (maybe I do, and just don't realize it, so be honest here).
"Burton thinks that just as we perceive our external world through our physical senses, our internal world presents itself in the form of feelings, such as familiar or strange and correct or incorrect. And he shows that these inner perceptions are necessary for us to function properly in everyday life, because our thoughts are subject to constant self-questioning. For example, even though reason may tell us that running up a tree to escape a lion is an excellent strategy, experience shows that great strategies can fail and that there may be better options. Because alternative choices are present in any situation, logical thought alone would be doomed to a perpetual “yes, but” questioning routine. Burton reasons that it is the feeling of knowing that solves this dilemma of how to reach a conclusion. Without this “circuit breaker,” indecision and inaction would rule the day."
The above is from a review of a book by Robert A Burton, ON BEING CERTAIN: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not. The main thesis is that certainty is a feeling about a thought. Certainty is induced by the magnitude and immediacy of a threat, when two or more alternative reactions to that threat exist in the mind.
The issue of theism is of far greater and constantly immediate importance than escaping a lion, to the theist.
There are plenty of people in the world not just on this website
who think that they are always right and cannot make a mistake
ever.
They don't have to be religious nuts either. Religion just makes them
worse than they already are.
But all the religious nuts that are on here cannot prove their religion to be true.
If there was one true God don't you think he would have revealed himself
by now and told you that all the other religions were just hocus pocus?
Don't you think he would have shot like lightning across the sky and said
hear me all you muppets down there, this is the way and that's the end
of it. Do it this way. Live this way and you will be rewarded.
Don't and you will be destroyed.
If he did then there would only be one religion on the whole planet.
Originally posted by johnnylongwoody"If he did then there would only be one religion on the whole planet."
There are plenty of people in the world not just on this website
who think that they are always right and cannot make a mistake
ever.
They don't have to be religious nuts either. Religion just makes them
worse than they already are.
But all the religious nuts that are on here cannot prove their religion to be true.
If there was one tru ...[text shortened]... ll be destroyed.
If he did then there would only be one religion on the whole planet.
... or 'many man-made religions but only one vertical, personal relationship available'.
Originally posted by twhiteheadOne of the joys of Christian radio for me in the 1990s was listening to Bob Larson's talk show. He invited people to call in to his show and debate theological issues with him. It was especially interesting when he had a Mormon on the line. Both sides would dig in their heels as they went at it mano-a-mano.
How many theists here believe they are infallible? .
You can sometimes get that same sort of thing on Hank Hanegraaff's 'Bible Answer Man' radio program.
Originally posted by Paul Dirac IIActually the heyday of that show may have been in the 1980s. I am remembering that in the 1990s it morphed into a radio program that was largely tape recording playbacks of Rev. Bob performing exorcisms. That was interesting for a few months, but I gradually quit tuning in.
One of the joys of Christian radio for me in the 1990s was ...
I just found a video of him in action:
Originally posted by twhiteheadYes, and when will they learn that to get things wrong is ok. It's more than ok, it's the way we learn about what is right.
How many theists here believe they are infallible? I have noticed several that will go to great lengths to avoid admitting they are wrong about something, even when it is not central to their belief system, or even to their current argument. I recall a certain JW who seemed to believe that admitting error was equivalent to failure as a Christian, and I re ...[text shortened]... y?
Do I appear to behave that way? (maybe I do, and just don't realize it, so be honest here).
Originally posted by twhiteheadThe Pope is the only one I have ever heard of that is supposed to be infallible and that is only once in awhile in very rare cases. 😏
How many theists here believe they are infallible? I have noticed several that will go to great lengths to avoid admitting they are wrong about something, even when it is not central to their belief system, or even to their current argument. I recall a certain JW who seemed to believe that admitting error was equivalent to failure as a Christian, and I re ...[text shortened]... y?
Do I appear to behave that way? (maybe I do, and just don't realize it, so be honest here).