"I am only asserting that, within the framework of Western culture and the English language, asserting certainty that the God of the Bible exists is either ignorant or stupid because, to do so, one couldn't possibly grasp the difference between certainty and certitude."
I agree. One only needs to respect the fact that there are over 10,000 distinct religions at present with just under 34,000 different denominations of Christianity. They cannot all be right, therefore their "certainty" as to who God "favours" (in those who profess such certainty) is a nonsensical notion.
One keeps in mind also that those claiming a certainty of reason (if there exist such) may have their claims rationally examined by others in accordance with acceptable standards of proof.
Now for a matter which perplexes and disturbs me:
Another poster has framed your argument as an either/or between the infallibility of reason and the infallibility of the Pope. Is that your position? Do you believe that reason can determine Ultimate Truth, and therefore that the reasoners are ultimately Perfect?
"if you tote up the number of people over the centuries of Western thought who have believed in Papal infallibily vs. those who believed in the infallility of deductive reasoning, the Papists would win hands down. Not that I think that majority vote is any basis for discerning truth. But for you to implicitly contend that your view is the more prevalent Western thought view is, IMO, simply wrong.".
This indicates that you believe in the infallibility of deductive reasoning as a guide to Ultimacy.
"So your concept of a world view that is based on reason and logic as bases for ultimate truth, as opposed to submission to a Divine as a basis for ultimate Truth, is, based on my observations, diminishing in importance and influence"
This indicates that you believe in reason and logic as bases for Ultimate Truth. I got this from:
siliconinvestor.com
I am surprised to find that these are the viewpoints you hold. I don't read a lot of threads, so I do not know where you espoused these beliefs. I am wondering if context had something to do with it. I would appreciate you steering me to the thread where you made those comments--thanks...
If you do truly believe that reason leads to infallible certainty as to Ultimate Truths, then I must say that I vehemently disagree with you--and I would challenge you to support such an argument. |
