Critical thinking used by believers about their own belief

[Clara Tea]

Yes, I like the idea that the question is far more important than the answer. IMO, understanding that is the key to critical thinking.

Asking the right question is generally far more important than the answers.

 

[Clara Tea]

My critical thinking of thay would offer that is already trying to restrict the words of Christ to a single audience.

Paul was teaching that Jesus Christ is in union with each person, as Jesus the Christ is with all that hear and act on the Word given by Christ.

Jesus the Christ said many sheep I have that are not of this fold, well before Christianity split into different branches.

Regards Tony

Getting the word out is very important.

I sometimes wonder why God allows hell and Satan, since it is obvious, from statements in the Christian bible, that God knows the future (not so, apparently, in the Muslim bible). I wonder if God holds out hope that some day the burning souls of the lake of fire of hell will some day be released, and having served a long term in those fires, might prefer to repent and follow God? Maybe this was God's plan all along?

Since everyone is God's child, it seems odd that the rest of humanity is not considered to be of God, as well. Surely all would benefit from sharing the gospel with all, and share their gospels with us.

 

[Clara Tea]

I think when things are seen through the the lens of dividing things in factions, Jesus tried to teach a variety of Judaism that was also/or especially appealing to non-Jews, just like there are wise people or charlatans who try and/or pretend to be culturally neutral or progressive nowadays.
And even if they are righteous and God-fearing people, it's still a question how their self proclaimed successors would behave.

Jesus did more than pass down his Jewish religion to Christians. He altered the Jewish religion to make it easier. Dietary restrictions were lifted, the bris was no longer required (so hors'derves were okay to eat at those functions...piece of meat on a toothpick).

I worry about cherry picking the bible. Notice that those who go after Gays do so with anger and meanness in their hearts. Are those qualities to get one into heaven? Is heaven filled with angry, insulting, and negative people spoiling for a fight?

Only God is the judge, and we should let God tackle the hard problems (terrorist attacks, Gays, etc). Our jobs are to purify our souls, and get rid of negative energy. So, the notion of wars and torture camps should be strictly forbidden if one is to get into heaven.

 

[Clara Tea]

I think faith and critical thinking are mutually exclusive at Step One:
Critical thinking begins with an attitude of unbiased doubt: "Maybe this claim is true and maybe it isn't. I'll have to think about it." Evidence is required for acceptance.

Faith is an acceptance of the claim from an authority figure free of doubt. Evidence not required.

Faith is trust that doesn't need proof, and generally is trust in a deity (or more than one deity).

There are plenty of authority figures (reverends) who are wrong. Perhaps our knowledge of God should come directly from the bible, itself? That way we won't be led astray by warmongering pastors like Reverend John Hagee, who believes that we need to pray to Jesus so that we can kill more effectively in wars.

 

[blü 2]

This is not something I have done about my of faith....and I should have done it.
What will happen if believers started to do critical thinking about every aspects of their own faith?

Some of RF's believers may already do it daily
Will our faith get stronger or will it be a to big challenge?

I accept that everything I think is based on assumptions ─ three in particular ─ that can't be shown to be correct, and are therefore only useful because they work.

And I accept that outside this sentence there are no absolute statements about reality.

I don't particularly enjoy being wrong, but every time I'm wrong I learn something, which can be the great value of being wrong if you're open to it.

 

[firedragon]

This is not something I have done about my of faith....and I should have done it.
What will happen if believers started to do critical thinking about every aspects of their own faith?

Some of RF's believers may already do it daily
Will our faith get stronger or will it be a to big challenge?

Though most people do not know, the oldest and most prevalent tradition in Islam is Akal. Critical thinking.

The problem is many dont understand what critical thinking is. Critical thinking is not being arrogant and self worship. Critical doesnt mean skeptical. Critical thinking is to engage in hermeneutics, practice critical methods, apply rationality, etc etc etc.

 

[rational experiences]

We are sexual conceived. A baby to adult human. Our conscious human advice is first natural.

Presence by sex only not by any God is the exact human first advice.

No religious or science advice hence owns any status. Equal life conditions.

Equal humans

We live we get told historic Old human advice.

Book written taught records.

So you think. What advice is real as the equal human first.

Life sacrifice ill health is seen.

We state all humans should be healthy. Why aren't they.

We stand on the one same planet.
We live in nature oxygenation of water by garden of our water heavens. Plants. Holy water we say as it is cooled water.

We ask what cools wAter ice does. Ice saves our biology as cooled water.

Pretty basic human equal life advice first.

Then you have thesis about creation.

Said by just other humans. Yet it was for invention then resources to allow the invention to work.

Such as electricity.

A basic human advice. No invention no machines no resources.

No problem of ice unnaturally melting no human life ill health irradiated by fall out either.

Heavens non protection.

Pretty basic just human advice.

So documents say humans caused natural earth to attack and hurt life by science causes.

The modern scientist says no it never happened. Life's sacrifice so he can keep inventing new destruction.

Then science as science says it never happened as it is not scientific by human thesis about earths natural body. Its natural heavens.

Science knows in other words it should not have happened.

Two arguments only about science. Not about life survival. Not natural life.

If you cannot believe in family equal human first then obviously belief is part of the human problem also.

 

[icehorse]

This is not something I have done about my of faith....and I should have done it.
What will happen if believers started to do critical thinking about every aspects of their own faith?

Some of RF's believers may already do it daily
Will our faith get stronger or will it be a to big challenge?

If you pursue this (which I'd encourage), I think a key distinction is between "belief" and "faith". There are many definitions, but in this case I mean:

- belief: something you believe in that has strong evidence, like believing in gravity
- faith: something you believe in without strong evidence, like most specific religious claims.

As an atheist, I take no issue with a religious person who tells me that they know they don't have good evidence for their religion, but they have faith. I'm much more worried about religious people who claim that their faith is based on strong evidence.

 

[rational experiences]

I believe life is not an instant microbe or bacterias. Humans live by owning red blood. I would claim that identification a human biology decomposed.

Hence I believe by self owned evidence...yes I bleed red blood that microbes as water energy food does not own that a human was life sacrificed.

By humans who theory back into reactive bodies themes instances where human life isn't living.

I truly believe by string evidence you lie. Thoughts all strung together first.

I truly believe that when another human a baby doesn't say sperm little body and a little ovary wasn't their life beginnings owns by theory instant human biological destruction.

I think some belief is self evident. Only in self presence observing natural life as not a humans scientific thesis.

As a planet and it's heavens is self apparent first is not in realism humans advice. It is evident.

So I believe men said God the planet was human sciences beginnings from dusts is evident as today they still take dusts and convert melt them into machine parts.

Self evidence in a human law court bible sworn no man is God from the dusts. Don't name earth as a nuclear power or else human DNA gets removed out of the book of life.

Medical human review.

 

[PruePhillip]

Jesus did more than pass down his Jewish religion to Christians. He altered the Jewish religion to make it easier. Dietary restrictions were lifted, the bris was no longer required (so hors'derves were okay to eat at those functions...piece of meat on a toothpick).

I worry about cherry picking the bible. Notice that those who go after Gays do so with anger and meanness in their hearts. Are those qualities to get one into heaven? Is heaven filled with angry, insulting, and negative people spoiling for a fight?

Only God is the judge, and we should let God tackle the hard problems (terrorist attacks, Gays, etc). Our jobs are to purify our souls, and get rid of negative energy. So, the notion of wars and torture camps should be strictly forbidden if one is to get into heaven.

Jesus didn't update the Jewish religion. The New Testament states that he:
1 - fulfilled all the Jewish law
2 - ended the law

When you see the historic rise of Christian cathedrals, a new priesthood etc
you see people who either cannot undersand this, or refuse to accept it.

 

[firedragon]

He altered the Jewish religion to make it easier. Dietary restrictions were lifted

Jesus did that? Or Paul?

 

[Spirit of Light]

If you pursue this (which I'd encourage), I think a key distinction is between "belief" and "faith". There are many definitions, but in this case I mean:

- belief: something you believe in that has strong evidence, like believing in gravity
- faith: something you believe in without strong evidence, like most specific religious claims.

As an atheist, I take no issue with a religious person who tells me that they know they don't have good evidence for their religion, but they have faith. I'm much more worried about religious people who claim that their faith is based on strong evidence.

I will absolutely pursue this
Even the quran say it is important to question everything

 

[Revoltingest]

Even the quran say it is important to question everything

But can they question the book itself?
Or their prophet?

 

[loverofhumanity]

This is not something I have done about my of faith....and I should have done it.
What will happen if believers started to do critical thinking about every aspects of their own faith?

Some of RF's believers may already do it daily
Will our faith get stronger or will it be a to big challenge?

I think intention is the most important aspect in choosing a belief and lifestyle.
Is our intention pure or are we just believing to make ourselves feel good?

There are so many personal development programs that all they really teach is to focus on oneself. I personally believe many beliefs are based on self-centredness. To be saved. To go to heaven and so on. To meditate to experience bliss.

I believe that the true test of any belief is ‘what does it do for others?’ ‘Does this belief help mankind’? How does it assist the poor and lonely? Does it encourage me to love all people including all religionists of whatever religion as well as atheists and agnostics? If it’s just only to make myself feel good then I would question my motives and sincerity for holding such a belief.

Does my belief stop me from befriending people of other faiths and welcoming them as equals? Is only my religion right and all others inferior? Does my belief build or burn bridges?

What we believe is the spirit that is spread across the world. If we feel superior to others then ego and things like war and oppression dominate. But if our belief embraces all humanity as brothers and sisters then the world will be like a family.

Beliefs can harm or help both ourselves and the world around us so I believe we should always have beliefs which put others not ourselves first.

 

[Spirit of Light]

But can they question the book itself?
Or their prophet?

Some will answer NO you can not do that. Others may answer. Yes you can.
For me, there are certain question i probably will not ask, but I will see what happens in the future.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I think intention is the most important aspect in choosing a belief and lifestyle.
Is our intention pure or are we just believing to make ourselves feel good?

There are so many personal development programs that all they really teach is to focus on oneself. I personally believe many beliefs are based on self-centredness. To be saved. To go to heaven and so on. To meditate to experience bliss.

I believe that the true test of any belief is ‘what does it do for others?’ ‘Does this belief help mankind’? How does it assist the poor and lonely? Does it encourage me to love all people including all religionists of whatever religion as well as atheists and agnostics? If it’s just only to make myself feel good then I would question my motives and sincerity for holding such a belief.

Does my belief stop me from befriending people of other faiths and welcoming them as equals? Is only my religion right and all others inferior? Does my belief build or burn bridges?

What we believe is the spirit that is spread across the world. If we feel superior to others then ego and things like war and oppression dominate. But if our belief embraces all humanity as brothers and sisters then the world will be like a family.

Beliefs can harm or help both ourselves and the world around us so I believe we should always have beliefs which put others not ourselves first.

You asking good questions

 

[muhammad_isa]

But can they question the book itself?

Yes.
It is important to question that which we don't understand.
I don't mean to question in a way that perhaps the Qur'an is NOT of Divine origin.
..but in a way of "that can't be right" and trying to ascertain the correct understanding in the light of the whole.

Some verses are allegorical, for example.
Pondering over them might illuminate further.

Our intentions will affect our futures. It is the most important thing of all.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I would never use critical thinking about my belief. It would go in circles, as the intellect is prone to do in such cases. That would be a waste of time, when I could be enjoying the flowers, the scent of bhakti. Sadly, many are unaware of other uses of the brain besides intellect.

Does one go to a beautiful waterfall and ask: How much water is flowing? How high is it? What are some comparable waterfalls? Has anyone ever jumped from it? Is it polluted?

Or do you just go there and sit and listen and appreciate?

That's an interesting observation. I'll start by saying I agree that the mind has other tools than intellect, by which to make sense of what the senses tell it.

So one could sit and contemplate the waterfall without thought; silence the chattering mind, and let the power and majesty of nature flow through the soul, as it were.

Equally, one could ask all the questions you suggest, and many more; where does the water come from, where is it going, what are it's true (physical) qualities, what forces are acting upon it? etc.

Both approaches are valid, but neither, on their own, can give us a complete picture either of the waterfall, or our relationship to it. We can respond with both mind and spirit; for we are human, and our consciousness allows us to do that.

 

[viole]

What will happen if believers started to do critical thinking about every aspects of their own faith?

That they risk to lose it.

ciao

- viole

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

That they risk to lose it.

ciao

- viole

Well, no! Not IMO. As a global skeptic all I have are beliefs and faith. The worst believers IMO are those, who treat their beliefs as not really beliefs, because they are special. Everybody else have beliefs, but not them. And that has nothing to do with religion or not.