Believing something is not an accomplishment...

[SunCoastBlueHen]

A man's got to believe in something.

I believe I'll go fishing.

I believe in WTAG's beliefs

[Chizzang]

Right... The scientific ones are more logical and simple (we agree John)
But your wife and family believe in a cosmic Santa Clause - so you defend that belief - because..?

And here I thought Cleets wasn't referring to religion. Go figure.

I'm flexible...

Are you..?

[kalm]

And here I thought Cleets wasn't referring to religion. Go figure.

I'm flexible...

Are you..?

That's funny. How one views thread creep might be another indicator.

[LeadBolt]

Everyone starts with a paradigm of beliefs. That paradigm should be tested with observations and facts.

No one is capable of observing and absorbing all the facts and being completely logical, so we each fall back on our paradigm to fill in for those places where we can't observe or absorb facts.

Our minds should be open to testing our paradigms, but to completely abandon them and having a completely open mind is to ignore that wisdom that was programmed into us, as well as the foolishness that was programmed into us prior to being able to observe and absorb. A completely open mind is an empty mind, devoid of wisdom and is susceptible to being fooled by each charlatan along the way.

[kalm]

Everyone starts with a paradigm of beliefs. That paradigm should be tested with observations and facts.

No one is capable of observing and absorbing all the facts and being completely logical, so we each fall back on our paradigm to fill in for those places where we can't observe or absorb facts.

Our minds should be open to testing our paradigms, but to completely abandon them and having a completely open mind is to ignore that wisdom that was programmed into us, as well as the foolishness that was programmed into us prior to being able to observe and absorb. A completely open mind is an empty mind, devoid of wisdom and is susceptible to being fooled by each charlatan along the way.

Good thing no one comes even close to a completely open mind.

That said, the most open minded people I've ever met tend to be the smartest and best people I've ever met.

[89Hen]

And here I thought Cleets wasn't referring to religion. Go figure.

I'm flexible...

Are you..?

I think so.

I used to believe capital punishment was a proper response, now I don't.

I used to believe that requirements for voting should be tougher, now I don't.

I used to believe you were smart, now I don't.

[LeadBolt]

Everyone starts with a paradigm of beliefs. That paradigm should be tested with observations and facts.

No one is capable of observing and absorbing all the facts and being completely logical, so we each fall back on our paradigm to fill in for those places where we can't observe or absorb facts.

Our minds should be open to testing our paradigms, but to completely abandon them and having a completely open mind is to ignore that wisdom that was programmed into us, as well as the foolishness that was programmed into us prior to being able to observe and absorb. A completely open mind is an empty mind, devoid of wisdom and is susceptible to being fooled by each charlatan along the way.

Good thing no one comes even close to a completely open mind.

That said, the most open minded people I've ever met tend to be the smartest and best people I've ever met.

I find the folks that test facts with wisdom and insight to be the smartest, not those who are open to those things that are fantasy.

[kalm]

Good thing no one comes even close to a completely open mind.

That said, the most open minded people I've ever met tend to be the smartest and best people I've ever met.

I find the folks that test facts with wisdom and insight to be the smartest, not those who are open to those things that are fantasy.

Define fantasy.

Air travel used to be fantasy.

[89Hen]

I'm flexible...

Are you..?

That's funny. How one views thread creep might be another indicator.

So you believe it wasn't Cleets intent on post one to go this direction? You're too set in your beliefs.

[LeadBolt]

I find the folks that test facts with wisdom and insight to be the smartest, not those who are open to those things that are fantasy.

Define fantasy.

Air travel used to be fantasy.

So did a Federal Income Tax, Space Travel and homosexuality being genetic. Things change and need to be tested with wisdom and insight.

[kalm]

That's funny. How one views thread creep might be another indicator.

So you believe it wasn't Cleets intent on post one to go this direction? You're too set in your beliefs.

I saw the possibility for this to go in many directions.

[kalm]

Define fantasy.

Air travel used to be fantasy.

So did a Federal Income Tax, Space Travel and homosexuality being genetic. Things change and need to be tested with wisdom and insight.

Some consider the bible fantasy.

[LeadBolt]

So did a Federal Income Tax, Space Travel and homosexuality being genetic. Things change and need to be tested with wisdom and insight.

Some consider the bible fantasy.

Yes they do. It should be tested as well. So far archaeology has not disproven anything in the Bible, while it has discovered several forgotten cities and events in history in the Bible once thought to be fantasy to have been real.

[89Hen]

So you believe it wasn't Cleets intent on post one to go this direction? You're too set in your beliefs.

I saw the possibility for this to go in many directions.

I don't disagree. Every thread here has the potential to go anywhere at any time, but we all knew what Cleet's intentions here were.

[Gil Dobie]

I have more faith in what Jesus said, than what any politician says.

[∞∞∞]

My grandpa used to say, "One thing I've had to learn in life is that no one thinks or shares the same beliefs as me. And they're all idiots for it." God I loved that man.

[bandl]

My grandpa used to say, "One thing I've had to learn in life is that no one thinks or shares the same beliefs as me. And they're all idiots for it." God I loved that man.

And then BOOM
Right?

[andy7171]

My grandpa used to say, "One thing I've had to learn in life is that no one thinks or shares the same beliefs as me. And they're all idiots for it." God I loved that man.

And then BOOM
Right?

Yep. Beat me to it. Well played.
"Just before he set off the vest"

Jk trip.

[HI54UNI]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Hi6uf0fiM[/youtube]

[Chizzang]

I'm flexible...

Are you..?

I think so.

I used to believe capital punishment was a proper response, now I don't.

I used to believe that requirements for voting should be tougher, now I don't.

I used to believe you were smart, now I don't.

Well the good news is...
I'm probably not any dumber now
than I was when you thought I was smart...

[CAA Flagship]

I think so.

I used to believe capital punishment was a proper response, now I don't.

I used to believe that requirements for voting should be tougher, now I don't.

I used to believe you were smart, now I don't.

Well the good news is...
I'm probably not any dumber now
than I was when you thought I was smart...

Link?

[JohnStOnge]

Right... The scientific ones are more logical and simple (we agree John)
But your wife and family believe in a cosmic Santa Clause - so you defend that belief - because..?

Because in the final analysis it's every bit as reasonable as what you believe with respect to how things came to be as they are. Whatever you believe about that, there's going to have to be some substantial leaps of faith.

Unless, of course, you are agnostic. Then you get to say, "I don't know. for sure" That's very reasonable.

But I mean, really. You like so many others just believe what you are told. You happen to decide to believe what you are told by some people rather than what you are told by other people. Very unlikely you are in any position to really independently judge for yourself. You just live in a culture where "science" is revered so if it comes from "science" you believe it.

[kalm]

Right... The scientific ones are more logical and simple (we agree John)
But your wife and family believe in a cosmic Santa Clause - so you defend that belief - because..?

Because in the final analysis it's every bit as reasonable as what you believe with respect to how things came to be as they are. Whatever you believe about that, there's going to have to be some substantial leaps of faith.

What about the stuff in the middle? I mean they REALLY believe in some of that too, right?

[JohnStOnge]

Because in the final analysis it's every bit as reasonable as what you believe with respect to how things came to be as they are. Whatever you believe about that, there's going to have to be some substantial leaps of faith.

What about the stuff in the middle? I mean they REALLY believe in some of that too, right?

Darn. I didn't edit fast enough. Read the edited version, think about it, and post again. Think about the idea that most people....way more than 99%...are simply believing what they are told by SOMEBODY.

[kalm]

What about the stuff in the middle? I mean they REALLY believe in some of that too, right?

Darn. I didn't edit fast enough. Read the edited version, think about it, and post again. Think about the idea that most people....way more than 99%...are simply believing what they are told by SOMEBODY.

I've posted this before but the smartest guy I've ever met had a father who told him at a young age:

"Question everything in life, Norm. Including me".

Norm did and he was brilliant.