Posted by njili on November 25, 1998 at 14:23:28:
In Reply to: Waste of time posted by Xavier on November 25, 1998 at 10:35:59:
: njili,
: I believe we are both wasting our time in our attempts to present logic to a "true believer". Belief that a supernatural being created a human from dust is more plausible to Pohl than reality.
Xavier,
Actually, I consider his (or your) views as equally valid with my own ... Pohl just thinks along different lines and has come to different conclusions. Since I hold my beliefs because of what I consider to be my own personal 'comfort' factor, I can hardly expect him (or you, or anyone else) to abide by 'my' personal criteria. I enjoy your posts on here and I enjoy Pohl's. Given my 'druthers', I druther 'not' convince anyone of my views. Imagine if the blue and green of the rainbow agreed to reflect light waves at the same frequency ... what a loss that would be. I'm more likely to learn something from someone with views which are divergent from my own than from someone with whom my views are congruent. If I appear to be trying to convince Pohl (or anyone else) it's because I'm trying to explain my reasoning to myself. I know it sounds strange, but posting like this forces me to examine my own thought processes and conclusions. I'm the last one on here that anyone should expect to be correct since I'll admit that I wont accept that which makes me uncomfortable (not all that different from the theist's way). By that I don't mean that I wont accept that the holocaust took place because the thought of it makes me feel uncomfortable. It's, if I say to myself, the 'acceptance' of that as a fact, makes me uncomfortable. I know the holocaust took place because I visited Dachau many years ago.
Take this URL for instance. I haven't been posting here for very long. I just came upon it by chance and seeing the name 'exmormon', I concluded that someone (apparently rpcman) had given up Mormon beliefs because he felt they didn't allow for free-thinking. (If I'm wrong on this I apologize ... I should have read the FAQ's or something). But if what we're here for is 'free-thinking', then why in hell are we trying to make someone else think our way. I think one might do another a favour by demonstrating why, how, and what he thinks, and the conclusions to which he has come, but it seems a bit out of place to try and 'get someone else thinking as I do'. I think that's probably why I got a bit angry with Boje earlier for his post in which I thought he was trying to tell me what 'I' thought --(he called it 'the world atheistic view' or something similar). To that, I took exception. Boje and I have since cleared the air and I consider him a friend .. I just hope he continues to disagree with me (at least on occasion).
We have much to gain from others on here; providing we accept what they offer. Everyone on here has a strength(s), hidden or otherwise, and although we might have to do a little 'unwrapping' in order to find the gift we're being offered, rest assured, the gift is there. Even if it's not intended. It's a shame to throw it out because we dont feel like unwrapping.
Cheers!
I don't know who's quote this is but "The simplest fool can ask a question the wisest sage can't answer."