"We don't know" - why can't religions except that?

[Taylor Seraphim]

I think there are unanswered questions no mater WHAT you believe.

If you are an atheist, you have to wonder how-on-earth the extraordinary complexity & diversity of life arose simply "chance".

If you are a believer in God, you have to wrestle with the question of how can evil exist if an all-loving creator made us.

That's just off-the-top-of-my-head ...

All the best!

That is a really bad thing to put forth as an example for atheist as most atheist agree with science and say that it occurred through the process of evolution.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

Well, not really. Evolution answers that question perfectly well.

However, as to the OP, I think it is perhaps unfair to categorize religions as necessarily always denying the absence of knowledge. It is true that it appears as a common argument on these forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of religious ideologies which at least teach the value of logical humility and accepting the limits of your own knowledge. Still, it is a curiosity how often the statement "I don't know" simply isn't considered acceptable in certain discussions.

Yeah for example classical Buddhism says that science should take precedence. (though classical Buddhism is atheistic)

 

[Reflex]

Scientists are happy with admitting they don't know all the answers (usually with the rider, "but we're looking into it") why do most (every?) religion have to have an answer for everything? Even if they make the answer up.

Is that why Thomas Aquinas famously said, "In the end, we know God as unknown"? Because he claimed to know everything? I would like to know how many theologians make the claim you say they make..

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

Is that why Thomas Aquinas famously said, "In the end, we know God as unknown"? Because he claimed to know everything? I would like to know how many theologians make the claim you say they make..

Some theist do not but most do, for example many religions claim to know what happens to our consciousness after we die despite not providing evidence.

 

[RRex]

Meh. I don't need to know everything. I've grown up.

Knowing why a thing is reminds me of what Spock said -

"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting (it)."

It's the quest that drives us. Perhaps we're not meant to know.

LLAP.

 

[Milton Platt]

Why can't atheists accept there non-position? How can so many atheists be sure that there are no deities? If they aren't sure , why are they arguing, for the position, that there aren't?/ deities

To what degree do we need to think something is true or not to say we are "sure? What does "sure" mean to you? Are you seeking 100% certainty?

 

[Quagmire]

"I don't know" is always a phrase of last resort for a lot of us when it comes to probably most things.

Just read some of the threads in here.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

"I don't know" is always a phrase of last resort for a lot of us when it comes to probably most things.

Just read some of the threads in here.

Well I think that is usually because:

A) They started debating in a topic they do not know.

or

B) The realize a contradiction in their beliefs.

 

[Quagmire]

Well I think that is because

A) They started debating in a topic they do not know.

Which we all do, sometimes without even realizing it.

or

B) The realize a contradiction in their beliefs.

"Realize" may be too generous. I think it's more like, "vaguely perceive that I've just been shown something that suggests that some of the elements of my belief system don't quite mesh perfectly with reality. . . " . People tend to respond to things like that in the same way they would to a thrown punch: duck, dodge, block, and/or hit back without thinking.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

Which we all do, sometimes without even realizing it.



"Realize" may be too generous. I think it's more like, "vaguely perceive that I've just been shown something that suggests that some of the elements of my belief system don't quite mesh perfectly with reality. . . " . People tend to respond to things like that in the same way they would to a thrown punch: duck, dodge, block, and/or hit back without thinking.

Very true.

 

[Geoff-Allen]

That is a really bad thing to put forth as an example for atheist as most atheist agree with science and say that it occurred through the process of evolution.

Ah yes! But NOT everyone shares your belief in evolution.

Including many scientists.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

Ah yes! But NOT everyone shares your belief in evolution.

Including many scientists.

Weather the belief is shared or not is irrelevant as it is true nonetheless.

Can you quote any prominent biologist?

 

[9Westy9]

Scientists are happy with admitting they don't know all the answers (usually with the rider, "but we're looking into it") why do most (every?) religion have to have an answer for everything? Even if they make the answer up.

Because they often claim to be inspired or written by supernatural beings. When you believe that there's often very little room for "maybe I'm wrong" types of thinking.

 

[Flankerl]

Religions usually can't accept or disregard anything. They aren't people.


Also why do you care about what other people believe? I have several neighbours, I have never asked them about their religious views. Who the hell actually cares about stuff like that?
I think Hobbies might help. There is also Sex. It can also serve as a wonderful Hobby. Though I wouldn't say that at a Job Interview.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

Religions usually can't accept or disregard anything. They aren't people.


Also why do you care about what other people believe? I have several neighbours, I have never asked them about their religious views. Who the hell actually cares about stuff like that?
I think Hobbies might help. There is also Sex. It can also serve as a wonderful Hobby. Though I wouldn't say that at a Job Interview.

This website is for the growth and understanding of various people on the topic of religion.

I personally care because religious thinking can cause irrational actions that can affect others.

 

[Revoltingest]

I have several neighbours, I have never asked them about their religious views. Who the hell actually cares about stuff like that?
I think Hobbies might help. There is also Sex. It can also serve as a wonderful Hobby. Though I wouldn't say that at a Job Interview.

I'd avoid it with neighbors too.
- They might tell the spouse.
- If things go south, you still have to see them regularly.
- All my neighbors are ugly, germ laden, mean, or have uninspired landscaping.

 

[Sunstone]

Scientists are happy with admitting they don't know all the answers (usually with the rider, "but we're looking into it") why do most (every?) religion have to have an answer for everything? Even if they make the answer up.

Jiddu Krishnamurti somewhere says something to the effect that a mark of extremely high intelligence is accepting that one does not know what one cannot know --- only he says it much better than that, if I recall.

 

[Sunstone]

Also why do you care about what other people believe? I have several neighbours, I have never asked them about their religious views. Who the hell actually cares about stuff like that?

LOL! How's the Religious Right doing in your country?

 

[Sunstone]

If you are an atheist, you have to wonder how-on-earth the extraordinary complexity & diversity of life arose simply "chance".

No you don't. Evolution explains that quite well, and evolution is about much more than chance.

 

[Flankerl]

LOL! How's the Religious Right doing in your country?

404 not found

Okay not entirely true, those that exist usually seek asylum in the US.

This website is for the growth and understanding of various people on the topic of religion.

I personally care because religious thinking can cause irrational actions that can affect others.

But OP didn't even ask about people, he asked about Religions. That in itself makes no sense.